Good times are back for manufacturers and sellers of Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) systems thanks to the frequent power-cuts and the newly-announced half-an-hour load shedding.
Sales have picked up fast and dealers have enough stocks in view of the increasing demand for inverters and batteries in the market.
UPS manufacturers point out that sales of branded inverters seem to have gone up despite the sharp difference in the price compared to the local inverters.
A customer sales department official of a leading brand said that the cost ranged between Rs. 17, 000 and Rs. 20, 000. For an 800 VA inverter with 150 ampere battery, the cost will be about Rs. 20, 500 while the average cost of a 100 ampere battery and an 800 VA inverter will be around Rs. 17, 950.
The official said that an 800 VA inverter with 150 ampere battery will ensure uninterrupted power to four lights, four fans and one television for two to three hours while a 600 VA inverter will supply power for one television, four tube lights and two fans.
But the local manufacturers have not lost ground, as people still prefer buying cheaper inverters available in the market.
A dealer of batteries at Vyttila said that an inverter and a reasonably good battery ranged from Rs 10,000 to Rs. 15, 000. Tubular batteries are the most sought after ones for inverters and dealers said that the demand has picked up even before the announcement of the load-shedding season.
“Unofficial power cuts have become a regular feature in many areas and people opted for inverters to escape from the scorching heat. Parents were also worried that disruption of power would affect the performance of their children especially during the annual examination,” a dealer said.
Customers prefer tubular batteries with latest technology and lesser maintenance. They also opt for brands that provide good after-sales service. Dealers have advised people to limit the use of inverters for lighting and essential household appliances to ensure a long battery life.
