Product help / direction please

[johnnybv]

I am in need of a device that will send me an text  or phone call when power goes out on specific circuits.  I need 7 separate outlets monitored, and am not putting an apex unit on each one, not to mention these are outdoor outlets.  Cost is a factor obviously due to the quantity needed.  Just need something simple that would detect power loss have enough battery power to send a text via wifi, or even a old school hard line.  Im sure members have found something.  I do not want to build anything either.

Thanks

john

[AlanM]

Do you have an apex already?  

 

If so I can give you something I rigged that will open one of the I/O ports on an apex when the power turns off.  It uses a 5V phone charger and a tiny circuit with a little 2n2222 transistor on it.  When the power turns off, the 5V charger turns off, and the 2n2222 opens which the apex sees as the I/O port opening as if it was a float switch.  

 

You can hook a really long wire up to the two leads coming off and put it in to your apex with a breakout box.  The Neptune I/O breakout box has 6 inputs, so that almost gets you there for your 7 outlets.

 

I only have one made up, but I can probably rig some more, or I can draw up a little circuit diagram you can do with a soldering iron and some cheap parts.

[johnnybv]

Alan, thats too much trouble.  I will have to have several wires running 100' out to several outlets outside, this is for the koi tanks....

[AlanM]

Right, I get it.  There are lots of things that can be rigged up at home that don't really work at a business.  It might end up needing to be pretty sophisticated to be a totally wireless sensor with battery backup that can send txt or email messages with battery backup.

 

For our server rooms we use products from ServersCheck which has power monitors:

 

https://serverscheck.com/sensors/sensor_power.asp

 

But you'd probably be in to $1000 or so for the ability to monitor 8 outlets, which might be too much.  

 

And you would have to have Cat5 cables running to each monitor.  They're not wireless.

[John Ford]

They have branch circuit monitoring systems you hook up at the panel and they monitor how ever many circuits you want through small ct boots. They get expensive quick though.

 

Having a monitoring system though you could look into how much current is being pulled and get notified if there is low or high current running through each individual circuit using set points. Also as the current slowly rises you could start to determine when the pumps need cleaned out as an added bonus.

[BowieReefer84]

Do those smart outlets that pair with an alexa or echo and have free apps send notifications when power stops? I know some allow you to monitor power usage. Might be worth calling a couple customer support for the different brands.

 

Here is an example of what I am thinking:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Required-Control-Anywhere-HS100/dp/B0178IC734/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495468702&sr=8-3&keywords=smart+outlet 

[johnnybv]

Do those smart outlets that pair with an alexa or echo and have free apps send notifications when power stops? I know some allow you to monitor power usage. Might be worth calling a couple customer support for the different brands.

 

Here is an example of what I am thinking:

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Required-Control-Anywhere-HS100/dp/B0178IC734/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1495468702&sr=8-3&keywords=smart+outlet 

looks like an option, just have to find out if they can notify when power out or gfi trips/..

[BowieReefer84]

looks like an option, just have to find out if they can notify when power out or gfi trips/..

Let us all know what you find out, or perhaps someone with more knowledge could post up. The more I look at these outlets the more I want a "smart house."

 

Hopefully it can work for you.

[YHSublime]

Let us all know what you find out, or perhaps someone with more knowledge could post up. The more I look at these outlets the more I want a "smart house."

 

Hopefully it can work for you.

 

I've started moving a lot of stuff over in my condo to hook up to Alexa. I just installed a nest for my parents, so they can voice control the temp, and it learns when they are around and not, and can self program. 

 

I use a smart outlet for some of my lamps, I don't think they will e-mail or notify, but like you said, worth calling customer service. 

 

Something to consider as well is that you'll want your WiFi to extend out to all the outlets, or else the hardware becomes useless. 

[davelin315]

John, we used to use some small plug in devices that would dial out but you needed a landline to do this (or VOIP).  It worked great and they were cheap individually, but when you are doing as many as you are it could get expensive.  I don't remember what we used but if you are interested, let me know and I'll reach out to the person who purchased them for me at NADC.

[scott711]

Many ways to do it with Samsung Smartthings.

 

one main hub

 

 

then there are several ways to do it.  Do a search on their community board. 

[johnnybv]

all good ideas, but i havent found a solution yet...