Load Shedding and Your Business: Equipment That Keeps Running
Load shedding doesn't just switch the lights off. For anything running a motor — a pump, a conveyor, a compressor — an outage mid-cycle is a hard stop, and depending on what's fitted, restarting afterwards can mean a manual reset, a support call, or in the worst case, damage from a motor that tripped badly rather than shutting down cleanly. There are two real strategies here: equipment that handles the outage and recovery gracefully, and equipment that reduces how dependent you are on grid power in the first place. Most sites end up using some combination of both.
Strategy 1: equipment that rides through the outage
A lot of the drives we sell already have this built in, and it's worth knowing what to look for. Momentary power-loss ride-through and DEB (deceleration energy backup, sometimes called flying start) — both present on Delta's ME300 and MS300 series, for example — mean a drive can handle a brief dip or interruption without necessarily tripping and needing a manual reset. Instead of the motor cutting hard and the drive faulting out, it manages the deceleration and, depending on the outage length, can pick back up automatically once power returns.
For pumps specifically, dry-run protection and sleep/wake control — both present on the solar/hybrid inverters we stock — add another layer: the drive won't try to run a pump that's lost its water source, and it can idle down and restart automatically once conditions recover, rather than requiring someone on-site to reset it every time.
None of this makes a drive immune to an outage — power is still off, and the motor still stops — but it's the difference between "the system recovers on its own when power returns" and "someone has to drive out and reset a tripped panel."
Strategy 2: reduce dependence on the grid entirely
The more direct answer, where it's applicable, is running the pump on something other than grid power in the first place. The Slanvert Hope65-SP Solar Pump Inverter range is built for exactly this — a variable speed drive that runs a standard pump motor directly from a solar array, with no batteries required:
- Covers 0.75kW to 22kW, across 220V single-phase and 380V three-phase classes
- Wide DC input range (up to 450VDC for 220V models, 900VDC for 380V models) to handle fluctuating irradiation through the day
- Built-in MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) to maximise energy harvest from the array as light conditions change
- Sensorless vector control and V/F control for precise motor speed and strong starting torque
- RS485 with Modbus RTU, for integration into SCADA or remote monitoring where a site needs to be checked on without a visit
- Overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating, phase-loss and motor overload protection, in an IP20, force-air-cooled enclosure rated −10°C to +50°C for outdoor agricultural and industrial sites
Because it runs directly off the array rather than through a battery bank, it's a simpler and cheaper system than a full solar-battery installation — and for a borehole, irrigation block or livestock watering point, running on daylight availability rather than grid schedule is usually an acceptable trade-off, particularly where a load-shedding stage would otherwise cut water access for hours at a time.
It's not either/or
The two strategies work together rather than competing. A site can run its main pump on a Hope65-SP for daytime independence from the grid, while other motors on the same property — a workshop, a conveyor, general machinery — benefit from a standard VSD's ride-through and restart behaviour when the grid does drop. Which combination makes sense depends on the site, the budget, and how much downtime is actually acceptable.
Panel-level protection matters too
A properly built control panel — with correctly rated isolators, contactors and surge protection — reduces nuisance trips and protects equipment from the voltage spikes that can come with power being restored after an outage, on top of whatever ride-through features the drive itself has. We cover what goes into getting a panel right in our control panel sizing guide.
Quick FAQ
Does a VFD protect a motor during a power outage? It can reduce the damage from a bad restart — ride-through and DEB features manage the deceleration and recovery — but it can't keep the motor running with no power at all. For that, you need an alternative power source, like a solar pump inverter.
Do I need batteries for the Hope65-SP solar pump inverter? No — it runs directly off the solar array's DC output during daylight and, where AC mains is also connected, can draw from the grid when solar isn't available. No battery bank required.
Can I retrofit an existing pump with ride-through protection or a solar inverter? In most cases, yes — the drive is matched to the motor's kW rating and phase rather than a specific pump brand. Send us the motor's nameplate details and we'll confirm the right unit.
Browse the Slanvert Hope65-SP Solar Pump Inverter range or the general VSD/VFD range for ride-through-capable drives. Not sure which approach fits your site? Contact us with your motor and site details and we'll recommend the right setup.