Seeking a 'Power Outage' Alarm - with Audible Alert Indicator

mshanann on 04/02/2019 - 11:42
Last edited 04/02/2019 - 11:43

Hi

Can anyone recommend a cheap 'power outage' plug adapter with audible alert buzzer/tone indicator for sale in Australia with Aus (Electrical) Approval Certificates?

Something like a double adapter with buzzer built in, but without the hefty costs of the ones with SMS alerts and the like.

I've got a fridge that occasionally trips the power circuit (I believe due to load issue on circuit in conjunction with dishwasher drying cycle) during the night, and I'm looking for some audible indicator when this occurs.

I've seen cheap mobile apps like the following - but would prefer not to have to keep a phone plugged in all the time. http://agiledimension.com/power

thanks

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • hoey888 on 04/02/2019 - 11:51
    +4

    Why not consider a uninterrupted power supply? People use this in servers providing them backup power. Comes with a audible beeping alarm until power comes back online.

    • mshanann on 04/02/2019 - 13:46

      Looks like I can get an APC UPS for $89 - and presumably the 390 Watts max power would be sufficient to cover fridge when compressor running .. not to mention quality electronics. However it seems a little overkill and large - but definitely an option I guess.

      https://www.umart.com.au/APC-Back-UPS-BX700U-AZ-AVR-LED_3029…

      • ATangk on 04/02/2019 - 13:59

        A UPS is more useful than you think. Though I haven't got one, you can hook it up to your modem as well to keep internet and things running during a blackout.

        • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 14:33
          +1

          A UPS is really more aimed towards keeping things running for a while in the event of a blackout so you can save your work and shut down your electronics properly. And while running a modem is fine, I'm not so sure about recommending a UPS to keep the fridge running for any real amount of time.

          But for OP's use case it would be pretty good because it's his fridge tripping a breaker, not actually frequent blackouts.

          • ATangk on 04/02/2019 - 15:53
            +2

            @HighAndDry: True, but the base of the problem isn't going to be solved by putting a UPS in anyways. If there is something faulty with the fridge, better to fix that.

            • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 15:57

              @ATangk: Yeah definitely. A UPS is useful for use cases they're designed for, but I agree with you - keeping a fridge running isn't it. And while it fits OP who wants something to beep when a breaker is tripped, they're probably a bit expensive for just that use.

      • Switchblade88 on 04/02/2019 - 14:30
        +1

        A UPS will be ideal - just DON't hook it up to the fridge downstream!!

        The startup amps that a compressor draws for startup is crazy high - like 10x the 'rated' current. This is probably what's tripping the circuit breaker. A UPS won't be in any way rated to carry that surge current, and it'll immediately trip - hopefully… Otherwise it'll burn out the internal inverter straight away. Off-grid people with 2000w inverters constantly struggle with this problem with refrigeration equipment, so a 390w UPS certainly won't keep it running.

        Just install the UPS parallel to the fridge, and if it ever trips then the UPS will beep at you, but won't die from the surge.

  • bobbified on 04/02/2019 - 11:53
    +2

    I've got a fridge that occasionally trips the power circuit (I believe due to load issue on circuit in conjunction with dishwasher drying cycle) during the night,

    I think you're better off getting someone to look at and try solve this issue once and for all.

    I haven't seen a buzzer, but I've seen emergency lights that turn itself on (with backup battery) when the AC power is cut.

    • mshanann on 04/02/2019 - 13:52
      +1

      I received a second hand F&P fridge from a mate which had been disconnected for the best part of two years. I've only had it a handful of days, but it has tripped my circuit twice. I'm running my old fridge concurrently with this second-hand one until I can be sure of its integrity - all on the same 10a kitchen circuit.

      • HighAndDry on 04/02/2019 - 14:34
        +1

        You might want to plug it into another circuit because I'm not sure well you can tell its reliability/integrity if it's tripping the breakers every odd night…

        • hoey888 on 04/02/2019 - 14:56

          Agree with this one. If you got a spare extension cable, try plugging the fridge into that and see if it helps.

          It trips for a reason. The question is if
          a) you are plugging in and using too many devices for the power circuit
          b) the actual device is faulty
          c) the wiring itself. (rats and water come to mind)

  • qwerty on 04/02/2019 - 12:05

    Cheap power failure alarms on ebay with buzzers

    Just get a converter plug

    • dust on 04/02/2019 - 12:24
      +1

      OP wanted something with "Aus (Electrical) Approval Certificates". Might not find that on eBay.

      • qwerty on 04/02/2019 - 12:46

        Then probably head off to jcar or l and h or similar electrical stores

        • mshanann on 04/02/2019 - 13:53

          I looked at Jaycar and couldn't see anything. And yes, as per 'dust' comment - I want something Aus approved - primarily in the unlikely event it was to contribute to a house fire and void the insurance.

  • [Deactivated] on 04/02/2019 - 12:07
    +2

    I think the cheapest/safest option might be a digital thermometer with alarm.

  • pjetson on 05/02/2019 - 08:54

    Something like a double adapter with buzzer built in, but without the hefty costs of the ones with SMS alerts and the like.

    I've been looking for something that can send an SMS alert when the power goes off. Where can I get such devices?

    • [Deactivated] on 05/02/2019 - 13:32

      One way would be to use a cheap Raspberry pi zero w. To send the sms you would use an internet SMS provider. You probably need UPS for your modem.

      Another option is finding a cheap UART modem module ~$60 and a cheap microcontroller costing only a few bucks. You would use a sim card and your contract with your phone carrier.

      Another option would be just to use a cheap smart phone and a program written for android. Obviously that needs power to work, so charging should taken into account.

      It's quite common in the IT industry to use IP triggered alerts. The hardware for that method could be $10 of an arduino clone and an ethernet shield. You could even use the modem configuration page or an IP camera as a URL to ping. There might be a monthly fee for commercial monitoring or you could set up your own.

      • pjetson on 13/03/2019 - 16:37

        It's quite common in the IT industry to use IP triggered alerts

        In most homes, the internet infrastructure needs power. So, once the power goes out, IP triggered alerts won't work :-(

        I kind of like the mobile phone idea. Basically, you run an app on a cheap phone which is plugged into its charger 24/7 and dedicated to the task of detecting power outages.

        The app detects whether the phone is plugged into a charger, and sends out an SMS when it detects that the charger is not supplying power, which means that the power has gone out.

  • rendo on 24/05/2020 - 23:49

    Hi mshannon,

    I am looking for exactly the same thing you were/are.

    Did you end up finding something? What did you get?

    Would be great to hear from you

    Thanks,
    Rendo

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