power outage alert!

crankbait09 · 02/01/2016, 08:45 PM

With the technology that we have nowadays, does anyone know if there is a device or something that would alert you if power goes out at your home while you're away.

sith8888 · 02/01/2016, 09:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankbait09

With the technology that we have nowadays, does anyone know if there is a device or something that would alert you if power goes out at your home while you're away.

Apex's fusion website will text and email if it loses connectivity. No guarantee it is a power failure but it is a major indicator. You battery back ups in place for Internet and 1 EB8 power bar you could monitor for Amps <1 to indicate power out on one side.

ucdcrew · 02/01/2016, 09:22 PM

Your power company doesn't text you? Mine does.

wattos-reef · 02/01/2016, 09:25 PM

I have my security monitoring system notify me with a text message when the power goes out and again when it comes back on. There's a simple add-on module for the DSC panels that allows you to configure what events are reported and where they're sent. Previously I had the monitoring service call on a power fault but this was by special request and not 100% reliable.

crankbait09 · 02/01/2016, 09:36 PM

yep, i just found a link to have them text me. I am set up and ready to go!! phew!!

wattos-reef · 02/01/2016, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ucdcrew

Your power company doesn't text you? Mine does.

I have to text them to let them know the power is out. They'll eventually text back with an estimated repair time but that message can be 30 minutes or more after the outage.

Reef Frog · 02/01/2016, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crankbait09

yep, i just found a link to have them text me. I am set up and ready to go!! phew!!

Unless there is some magic in these new smart meters and you have one, you may not be in the safe zone. I can think of several scenarios where it's possible that only your house, or a small cluster of houses, goes dark and nobody is around to report it. And the power company can't email you about an outage it doesn't know about.

I'd like to know about a power outage too - right down to the circuit level. Anybody else know of a simple non Apex solution that doesn't cost a fortune? Maybe a device that can call a designated number via a land line (remember those?)

ucdcrew · 02/01/2016, 09:58 PM

Wouldn't you need power for an auto dialer to work?
Mine is based off the smart meter, but yes, my whole house has to go off - not just a GFCI trip or something.

crankbait09 · 02/01/2016, 09:59 PM

I did find a honeywell wifi thermostat that notifies you of a power outage. home depot sells them. thay are around $200

Reef Frog · 02/01/2016, 11:29 PM

Thanks ucd & crank. I just realized last month my power company put in a smart meter and I'm going to see if they offer an alert service. I'll look into the Honeywell too as I'm hoping it also has a feature to alert if inside temperatures go haywire due to an AC malfunction as well.

02/01/2016, 08:45 PM	#1
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	power outage alert! With the technology that we have nowadays, does anyone know if there is a device or something that would alert you if power goes out at your home while you're away.

02/01/2016, 09:22 PM	#3
ucdcrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 563	Your power company doesn't text you? Mine does. __________________ If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable! Current Tank Info: 25g nano, working on new 65g

02/01/2016, 09:58 PM	#8
ucdcrew Registered Member Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 563	Wouldn't you need power for an auto dialer to work? Mine is based off the smart meter, but yes, my whole house has to go off - not just a GFCI trip or something. __________________ If it weren't for gravity and law enforcement, I'd be unstoppable! Current Tank Info: 25g nano, working on new 65g

02/01/2016, 09:25 PM	#4
wattos-reef Registered Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Coral Coast, Fiji or Dallas Posts: 23	I have my security monitoring system notify me with a text message when the power goes out and again when it comes back on. There's a simple add-on module for the DSC panels that allows you to configure what events are reported and where they're sent. Previously I had the monitoring service call on a power fault but this was by special request and not 100% reliable.

02/01/2016, 09:36 PM	#5
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	yep, i just found a link to have them text me. I am set up and ready to go!! phew!!

02/01/2016, 09:59 PM	#9
crankbait09 Registered Member Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 932	I did find a honeywell wifi thermostat that notifies you of a power outage. home depot sells them. thay are around $200

02/01/2016, 11:29 PM	#10
Reef Frog Registered Member Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Maryland Posts: 3,121	Thanks ucd & crank. I just realized last month my power company put in a smart meter and I'm going to see if they offer an alert service. I'll look into the Honeywell too as I'm hoping it also has a feature to alert if inside temperatures go haywire due to an AC malfunction as well.