Detecting loss of mains power remotely

pc1966 · Aug 22, 2021

A friend of mine has solar panels & inverter and rents out the property. However, the RCD feeding it trips occasionally for no obvious reason (could be local supply disturbances, etc). Those renting it won't bother checking the RCD so is there any simple/cheap device that will periodically say its alive so they know the RCD has tripped?

It is quite remote so would have to be based on mobile network or similar as I'm not sure the tenants would leave the (rather slow, copper phone line) wifi on all the time, etc.

TL;DR Simple way to check power is on using public networks

telectrix · Aug 22, 2021

wire it up so that the TV and internet goes off if the RCD trips. that will get the tenant off his fat arse.

SparkySy · Aug 22, 2021

Do they have an alarm system at the property? If so you should be able to rig up a simple power failure auto-dial 2g SIM to alert them to the issue!
Can't remember what make I used last time but managed to make it work with a Honeywell alarm panel. I'll see if I can find out which one it was as they were really good units!
Sy

Edit: it was advent controls!

Advent Controls GSM DIALER / GSM GATE OPENER - A5GSM

DESCRIPTIONThe C5 GSM Alarm Dialler allows remote monitoring and control of alarms and other electrical devices. They are ideal for use in fire and intruder alarm panels.

www.superlecdirect.com

Not sure but think it was this one!
Sy

Strima · Aug 22, 2021

SparkySy said:
Do they have an alarm system at the property? If so you should be able to rig up a simple power failure auto-dial 2g SIM to alert them to the issue!
Can't remember what make I used last time but managed to make it work with a Honeywell alarm panel. I'll see if I can find out which one it was as they were really good units!
Sy

I've used a couple in the past, be sat down when you look at the prices for buying and monthly SIM contract... ?

SparkySy · Aug 22, 2021

Ah I'm sure we found a company that did them specifically for this type of application and were very reasonable as it was only 2g SIM, again I will have a look and see if I can find out who we used!
Give me a minute!?

Avo Mk8 · Aug 22, 2021

I can't believe I'm even suggesting this, but there is a dreaded Chinese product that does exactly what is required (amongst its sensing options).
It might require a little ingenuity to determine where to connect it !
And then in the 'home electronics' category there seem to be some even cheaper options, which would require a little more effort.

54.07€ 5% de réduction|Alarme De Surveillance Sans Fil Gsm 3g 4g Lte Ac/dc Rtu5028, Alerte De Panne De Courant, Sms Pour Ferme, Hôpital, Entrepôt D'aliments Frais - Kits Système D'alarme - AliExpress

Achetez malin, vivez mieux! Aliexpress.com

www.aliexpress.com

Yozza19 · Aug 22, 2021

one solution would be to use a simple contactor switching a gsm dieler would be a fairly cheap set up contactor 12v psu battery and a gsm

pc1966 · Aug 22, 2021

Avo Mk8 said:
I can't believe I'm even suggesting this, but there is a dreaded Chinese product that does exactly what is required (amongst its sensing options).

That is exactly the sort of thing I had in mind!

Another, possibly better, solution is to look at an auto-recloser for the RCD. For example:

A9C70132 | Schneider Electric Auto Recloser Circuit Trip for use with Circuit Breaker | RS

uk.rs-online.com

But this opens a whole 20% extra-free can of worms. For example:

Do the domestic wiring regs have anything to say about auto-reclosing? I know it is common in the DNO's HV world but never seen one for real in end user circuits.
Her place has an old Wylex board with plug-in MCBs and I'm not sure I want to get in to doing any work on it as (a) I'm not a professional electrician by trade, and (b) really I would only be happy to sort it ALL out in one go, and that is probably too much disruption to her & tenants. (Nothing to do with Tennent's lager, our national favourite exercise in industrial chemistry).
It probably costs (including matching RCD and DIN enclosure) more than she is likely to lose on missing PV feed-in

pc1966 · Aug 22, 2021

Yozza19 said:
one solution would be to use a simple contactor switching a gsm dieler would be a fairly cheap set up contactor 12v psu battery and a gsm

I was also thinking along such lines, but also maybe just a relay on the output with the N/C contacts switching when power failed to enable a red warning lamp that might get someone's attention at some point.

Avo Mk8 · Aug 22, 2021

pc1966 said:
I was also thinking along such lines, but also maybe just a relay on the output with the N/C contacts switching when power failed to enable a red warning lamp that might get someone's attention at some point.

This would get someone's attention with 118dB ?

DefyG · Aug 22, 2021

We've used these on various sites and would do the job. The sim contract is about £2 per month.

RF Solutions EZTEXT Remote Control System & Kit,Quad Band GSM

SparkySy · Aug 22, 2021

I've used RF solutions a number of times and found them to be very good for a number of remote control gear options good shout! ?

littlespark · Aug 22, 2021

If you’ve got Wi-fi on site, lock the router away so it still works, and it can’t be switched off….

then have some device…. Whatever… some cheap smart device that can accessed via phone.
if there’s a power cut, router goes down, loss of connection to smart device.

Gavin John Hyde · Aug 22, 2021

we have a ring alarm system - if power goes off we get umpteen messages and notifications telling us the power is off and using cellular backup. could do the job and act as an alarm.
May aswell add soem ring cameras to see what is going on there aswell

Dartlec · Aug 22, 2021

Gavin John Hyde said:
we have a ring alarm system - if power goes off we get umpteen messages and notifications telling us the power is off and using cellular backup. could do the job and act as an alarm.
May aswell add soem ring cameras to see what is going on there aswell

Same here - though you do have to subscribe to the £8pm plan to unlock the sim card and battery backup options within the alarm system, which is a bit sneaky imo...

If the wifi can be made reliable you could wire in a Shelly EM and clamp the relevant circuit to have a nice history of the consumption too. It works via the cloud so requires registration for remote access, but with no monthly fees.

Not tried this particular model but recently been dabbling with smart home stuff and their Shelly 1 switch/relay has been working flawlessly, as has their lamp.

Detecting loss of mains power remotely

pc1966

telectrix

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SparkySy

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Advent Controls GSM DIALER / GSM GATE OPENER - A5GSM

Strima

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SparkySy

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Avo Mk8

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54.07€ 5% de réduction|Alarme De Surveillance Sans Fil Gsm 3g 4g Lte Ac/dc Rtu5028, Alerte De Panne De Courant, Sms Pour Ferme, Hôpital, Entrepôt D'aliments Frais - Kits Système D'alarme - AliExpress

Yozza19

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pc1966

A9C70132 | Schneider Electric Auto Recloser Circuit Trip for use with Circuit Breaker | RS

pc1966

Avo Mk8

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DefyG

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SparkySy

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littlespark

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Gavin John Hyde

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Dartlec

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