Receiving Notification from Local Home Device When Power Outage

geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 15:37
Last edited 26/11/2024 - 16:23

While discussing a security system installation with my dad today, an interesting question came up. Both of us use UPS units for our networking and security equipment, but my dad asked, "Can the security system notify you during a power outage?"

With our Reolink setup, this wouldn’t be practical since it’s connected to a UPS and I don't believe Reolink even has this sort of option. However, it got me thinking—what if there were a separate device that could alert you to a power outage? Such a device could help determine whether the issue is with the power grid or something more concerning, like an intentional power cut designed to disable the cameras. In the event of an outage, you could remotely access the camera system, review the footage, and review if it was tampered with or at the meterbox or if it was a Grid issue. Then appropriate action can be taken, like asking a family member to restore power. If it’s just a grid issue, there’s no need to worry a lot.

The ideal solution would be a device plugged into the mains power that sends an alert when the power goes out. Does anyone know of a product like this that is cost effective or cheaper than the below eBay option?

What cheaper/cost-effective solutions can the OzB community come up with? I did find this Power Failure Alarm 4G Remote Power Outage Notification on eBay. Pair that with a $10 PAYG Amaysim, cheap ongoing ish solution (after the unit cost). I found this on Amazon which is slightly cheaper.

What other options/ideas are there?

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • coxjon on 26/11/2024 - 16:05
    +3

    If you're on apple home, I get notifications: "None of your home hubs are available" when the power goes out

    • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 16:21

      Don't have Apple Home or any other automation besides Tuya. I do have a Ubiquiti Network and I can generally tell the power is out because a bunch of devices disconnect notifications through the Ubiquiti App. But that isn't exactly super reliable and/or immediate. Can be delayed few up to a minute.

  • Sunny84 on 26/11/2024 - 16:23
    +1

    As mentioned above, most main powered IoT devices can be configured to notify you when they go offline (via cloud).

    Otherwise if you have a NAS, you can use something like NUT with a backup 4G dongle to have a notification you the UPS changes from grid to battery.

    • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 16:24

      As mentioned above, most main powered IoT devices can be configured to notify you when they go offline (via cloud).

      Yes, I have this setup already but it can be delayed.

      Otherwise if you have a NAS, you can use something like NUT with a backup 4G dongle to have a notification you the UPS changes from grid to battery.

      I don't have a NAS (yet), but my Dad does. I might look further into it.

  • Jimothy Wongingtons on 26/11/2024 - 16:33
    +2

    like an intentional power cut designed to disable the cameras.

    Maybe you already have but I can also recommend getting an Energex compatible lock to lock down the switchboard from tampering.

  • smashman42 on 26/11/2024 - 16:47

    are you on FTTP so your internet stays up in this scenario (you mentioned network gear being on it, mine stays up in that scenario), or is it one of the other techs that mean you need the 4/5G backup connectivity?

    the not having a NAS yet made me think - do you have an old raspberry pi or the like that you could setup just for the notification email or whatever?

    • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 16:49

      are you on FTTP so your internet stays up in this scenario (you mentioned network gear being on it, mine stays up in that scenario), or is it one of the other techs that mean you need the 4/5G backup connectivity?

      For me, I have a Private PtP Wireless solution with a local provider that is very reliable and quick, they have batteries/UPS solution for Power Outages, but they only last so long. I have Starlink as a failover. For my Dad, he has NBN Fixed Wireless.

      the not having a NAS yet made me think - do you have an old raspberry pi or the like that you could setup just for the notification email or whatever?

      A pi could be an option. I don't have anything currently, but could buy something.

      • smashman42 on 26/11/2024 - 16:52

        it'd be reusing a free device to achieve what the paid devices you mentioned above do, so if you don't have one already it'd be more expensive than those unless you have another use for it eg: DIY NAS based off a Pi or something

        • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 16:56

          Not at the moment. I do have 2 x Ubuntu Mini PC running through the UPS units doing speed tests (one on primary internet, one on Starlink). So maybe getting something to hook into that? I have Cyberpower UPS units, so maybe https://www.cyberpower.com/global/en/product/sku/powerpanel_… could work and then it sends me a notification somehow via an SMS service or something.

  • apsilon on 26/11/2024 - 18:29

    You said you're on UPS, are you sure it doesn't have that ability? Every UPS I've ever had has been able to send alerts for a variety of conditions.

    • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 19:35

      Yes, the UPS has the ability to let me know via USB, using this but I will probably need to hook into an API to send me an SMS.

  • Stingo on 26/11/2024 - 18:34

    I believe that some UPS systems indicate a power failure. They do that so systems can schedule an orderly shutdown before the UPS runs out of juice but equally you could program the monitoring system to send an alert, Perhaps your UPS has a feature you can leverage? Will your internet connection stay up during a power failure?

    • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 19:35

      I found this that I could plug my Ubuntu Mini PC into (which is on the UPS) and then when it is on battery backup, send me an SMS via some sort of API.

      • Stingo on 26/11/2024 - 20:26

        Price is right. The curl or wget commands would be the easiest way of sending SMS via a provider that offers a web API or you could invoke the same URI in a more elaborate program in the computer language of your choice. Crazytel are cheap Australian provider and offer a web SMS API but they do not document it very well. Read their documentation in conjunction with that of 3CX. Alternatively, they offer an email to SMS gateway. Twilio who focus on telecoms APIs is another possibility. Check out this example available in multiple programming languages including a shell script with use of curl. Looking around there is an open source package called NUT that is available for Ubuntu. I'd consider that instead of the proprietary offering.

        • geekcohen on 27/11/2024 - 05:39

          I was thinking of using Twilio, as I have experience using it for work, and they have a PAYGO solution.

  • pjetson on 26/11/2024 - 19:07

    I did find this Power Failure Alarm 4G Remote Power Outage Notification(ebay.com.au) on eBay

    The eBay listing doesn't say which 4G bands the device supports, so it might not work here at all.

    I'm sure that I've come across free apps that you can run on any phone to send an SMS when the power fails. You just connect the phone to a charger 24/7, and when the charger stops charging, the app sends a message.

  • GordonD on 26/11/2024 - 19:13

    Sorry to say this OP, but you clearly have too much money, and not enough real problems in your life to spend it on.

    • geekcohen on 26/11/2024 - 19:34

      Thanks for that lovely input.

  • Markusaus on 26/11/2024 - 22:03

    If you have a static IP address use https://uptimerobot.com/
    Their system has worked flawlessly for me for around 6 years

    • geekcohen on 27/11/2024 - 05:36

      That is only going to be good when the UPS units go flat.

      • Markusaus on 27/11/2024 - 20:26

        You open a port on your router (port forwarding feature) to a device assigned with a static IP, that is not on the UPS
        If that device loses power, you get the alert.

  • srsparky on 26/11/2024 - 23:11

    I have my ups connected to home assistant, which i have a notification set up for when the power goes off, and another when it comes back on.

    Everything in my rack runs off the NAS, including the fttp nbn stuff.

    • geekcohen on 27/11/2024 - 05:37

      I don't have any Home Assistant type automation.

  • geekcohen on 27/11/2024 - 10:16

    So, here's a bit of an update for everyone. I was able to use the CyberPower Linux tool and then set up a monitor to check the status. When the Status goes to Battery (IE—Power Outage), it will connect via the Twilio SMS API and send me a text message.

    It will also send me a text when the power is reinstated. If the power hasn't been reinstated within 15 minutes, it will text me every 15 minutes with an update. The text includes Battery Capacity and the Remaining Time with the Last Power Event Time as well.

    PAYGO Twilio account and then just a existing Ubuntu Mini PC and USB cable from the UPS to the Mini PC.

    My only cost, the PAYGO Twilio account.

    • Stingo on 27/11/2024 - 23:57

      Thanks for the update. What language did you code the script in?

      • geekcohen on 28/11/2024 - 11:17

        Its a bash script. Here it is and then I just setup a service to run continuously run the script.

        You could setup a cronjob to run every minute as an alternative as well.

        • Stingo on 28/11/2024 - 22:25

          Thanks for making it public to benefit others I assumed you would just be relying on the ability of the daemon to invoke the script on power fail and low battery but that wouldn't have told you when the power was back on. I think it would be a good idea to start shutting down things when battery capacity falls low enough.

          Is your only ongoing Twilio cost just for the actual SMs?

          • geekcohen on 29/11/2024 - 05:36
            +1

            @Stingo:

            Thanks for making it public to benefit others I assumed you would just be relying on the ability of the daemon to invoke the script on power fail and low battery but that wouldn't have told you when the power was back on.

            It sends a notification based on the power status change and there is a service constantly monitoring. So within about 5 seconds of a power fail, it sends a text message.

            I think it would be a good idea to start shutting down things when battery capacity falls low enough.

            Whilst, yes, I can do that. It would only be the Ubuntu Mini PC that the UPS is connected to. Unless I wrote further code to trigger other devices over the network some how. Most of my other computers have a UPS connected, so they are covered for any safe shutdown process with the USB connection to those UPS units.

            Is your only ongoing Twilio cost just for the actual SMs?

            Yes.

            • Stingo on 29/11/2024 - 16:31

              @geekcohen:

              It sends a notification based on the power status change and there is a service constantly monitoring. So within about 5 seconds of a power fail, it sends a text message.

              I understand the script. I was just saying the daemon can invoke scripts for power fail and low battery events directly without the need for a script to poll for that information.

              Whilst, yes, I can do that. It would only be the Ubuntu Mini PC that the UPS is connected to. Unless I wrote further code to trigger other devices over the network some how.

              Of course, there are multiple ways this can be done. The designers of NUTS have actually catered for this scenario.

              Most of my other computers have a UPS connected, so they are covered for any safe shutdown process with the USB connection to those UPS units.

              Impressive.

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