Winter-Electric power fail warning device +

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Scubadoo

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I am thinking of getting one of these GSM remote cameras mainly to be set-up to warn me if the electrics go off during the winter. As a bonus it also functions as a security camera (well actually that is the main function). As I understand it, if the power fails it sends a SMS to your phone to alert you.

It seems a good cheap solution and piece of mind on those very cold winter days/nights.

What does everyone else think, anyone got a better solution and do you know of UK supplier, most websites seem to be direct from China.

Here is one example of the many variants available:
http://www.viditech.co.uk/GSM-Remote-Security-Camera-with-Nightvision-Motion-Detection.html
 
i could do with something like this aswell as i am 240 miles from the boat so cant just nip and check on it

if it did text me to say power had gone off i could then ring the marina to check and turn back on for me

will be interesting to see the response on this thread
 
I have an Eye-Spy camera which is very similar but no longer available through the supplier who supplied me.

It did work very well but the battery on mine seems to have packed up so, although it senses that the power has been removed, it hasn't enough power to send me the text!!!
I can send it a text and it does reply - indicating that the power is in fact still connected to the boat.

Mine was about £150

This one is slightly different so I may give it a try.
Like you, I cant find a better option - seems huge overkill - just to monitor the mains supply - but when working it does work well.

I did think of leaving a smart phone connected with an app to do the same but if the supply were to go off for longer than the smart battery capacity, I don't think it would automatically reboot when the supply was restored. The camera solution that I have used to work the way we want - i.e. it used to send an SMS when the supply is restored.

Anyone else got any ideas for a device like this?
 
We have looked at mobile CCTV and, for the moment shelved it.

We aren't interested in systems which sent a single image, we tested units with full streaming video, local storage, 2 way audio and GPS locator / map plotting.

The biggest problem with them was the fact they needed to run through a proxy server and the ones we used were just too slow and problematic. Set up was a bit of a nightmare because you never knew if your problem was with the hardware, software or the proxy server.

What you actually needed was your own dedicated proxy server and we weren't prepared to chuck that sort of money into the pot to have a play.

It is something we have another look at every now and again so if a solution becomes available which meets our standards and price point I will let you all know.

Henry :)
 
Henry, thanks for the info, but I was thinking more on alerting of a power cut than as a security camera device. So it might be worth a try just to reduce the risk of a power cut during the winter.
 
""It did work very well but the battery on mine seems to have packed up so, although it senses that the power has been removed, it hasn't enough power to send me the text!!!""

hehe
 
As my boat is in SoF & it's not unkown for people to unplug & forget to plug the AC back in again so i had the same issue.

Last winter i set to with an old latop, linux, an Arduino (Microprocessor PCB) & an ancient mobile. I now have a system that sends me a daily text with: Date & Time, AC Power on or Off, Bilge Pumps Running or not, Battery volts for each of my four battery banks, inside & outside temperatures.

I can also request this satus text at any time by sending the boat a text. If the AC power goes off or on, or the bilge pumps run or stop, i get a text straight away.

I also get a text if the paserelle goes down or up, so i know if the guardianage chappie has been on board.

If the power goes off for a long time & am worried about my house bank which feeds this kit, then i can send a text to shut the laptop down.

I have to say its nice to get a text every day, but not so nice when it tells me the bilge pump is running!

Going to add sending a text to run the bilge pumps for a preset time and maybe being able to switch the electric heaters on/off. Like all software you do anything really, it's just the actual interfacing to the real world that takes the work.

Doesn't cost much to run either, using a LeClerc PAYG SIM it's 1.50 euros a month & 15 cents a text to the UK.

Thought about doing a commercial version as a single box but can't decide if it would sell.

Could probably do it all on a Raspberry Pi methinks. Got one on order so let's see how it goes. Would be neater than my laptop with it's current external box which uses an Arduino to interface to the outside world. Would use less power as well. :)
 
Forty_Two said:
As my boat is in SoF & it's not unkown for people to unplug & forget to plug the AC back in again so i had the same issue.

Last winter i set to with an old latop, linux, an Arduino (Microprocessor PCB) & an ancient mobile. I now have a system that sends me a daily text with: Date & Time, AC Power on or Off, Bilge Pumps Running or not, Battery volts for each of my four battery banks, inside & outside temperatures.

I can also request this satus text at any time by sending the boat a text. If the AC power goes off or on, or the bilge pumps run or stop, i get a text straight away.

I also get a text if the paserelle goes down or up, so i know if the guardianage chappie has been on board.

If the power goes off for a long time & am worried about my house bank which feeds this kit, then i can send a text to shut the laptop down.

I have to say its nice to get a text every day, but not so nice when it tells me the bilge pump is running!

Going to add sending a text to run the bilge pumps for a preset time and maybe being able to switch the electric heaters on/off. Like all software you do anything really, it's just the actual interfacing to the real world that takes the work.

Doesn't cost much to run either, using a LeClerc PAYG SIM it's 1.50 euros a month & 15 cents a text to the UK.

Thought about doing a commercial version as a single box but can't decide if it would sell.

Could probably do it all on a Raspberry Pi methinks. Got one on order so let's see how it goes. Would be neater than my laptop with it's current external box which uses an Arduino to interface to the outside world. Would use less power as well. :)
Click to expand...

frig me thats clever sounds great but well above my ability i can only just manage to send a text of my phone :o

i would be interested in buying something if you did put it together and i bet others would too
 
cheap and cheerful solution.
take an old mobile with a cream crackered battery which will only work on its charger.
plug into mains on the boat.
Ring when you feel the need for reassurance
If it rings all is well
If it goes directly to message power has gone off

Call marina to sort. :D
 
I bought one of these last year and it works great;
http://www.gsmalarms.co.uk/gsm-controller.htm
About £100 if I remember rightly;it plugs into the mains and will sms you if power fails or is restored. You can also sms the unit and it will respond with the status and temperature (it has a sensor) - you can also remotely turn an appliance - such as a heater - on and off.
I got a pay as you go SIM from Vodafone (the Sim from most mobile companies is free) - I put 20 quid on it and still have 14 quid left after using the unit for 4 months over last winter.
great bit of kit.
 
I've got one of these:

http://www.intech.co.nz/products/other/sms.html

I don't think it's a current product now, I got it four years ago when we had the P42, and we had a tricky liveaboard as a neighbour who was endlessly tripping the power out.

The box is powered off the domestic batteries; there's a relay connected to the mains, when the mains fails, the relay closes, this triggers an alarm in the gsm box, and it sends me a text. Handy when the boat's in a different country.

Cheers
Jimmy
 
Hurricane said:
I have an Eye-Spy camera which is very similar but no longer available through the supplier who supplied me.

It did work very well but the battery on mine seems to have packed up so, although it senses that the power has been removed, it hasn't enough power to send me the text!!!
I can send it a text and it does reply - indicating that the power is in fact still connected to the boat.

Mine was about £150

This one is slightly different so I may give it a try.
Like you, I cant find a better option - seems huge overkill - just to monitor the mains supply - but when working it does work well.

I did think of leaving a smart phone connected with an app to do the same but if the supply were to go off for longer than the smart battery capacity, I don't think it would automatically reboot when the supply was restored. The camera solution that I have used to work the way we want - i.e. it used to send an SMS when the supply is restored.

Anyone else got any ideas for a device like this?
Click to expand...

I've got one of these bought at London boat show about 3 yrs ago maybe 4 it's still going strong, it does tell you when the power is off and back on again. Ive also put a door sensor on it.

Can get from
http://www.logictoyz.com/security-/v900-gsm-camera/v900-a1-gsm-remote-camera.html

Phill
 
jfm said:
this requires a subscription though, which is seems unattractive when there are plenty of subscription-free units
Click to expand...

Presumably the "free" ones require a sim card or similar, which is included with c-pod. In which case the cost is there or thereabouts ?
Edit: Still a little more expensive. Does your system offer PIR sensors which I prefer to magnetic hatch switches ?
 
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