Ideas for uses of current detectors

[robolo]

I was trying to think outside the box a little and find some interesting uses for current detectors I recently purchased. I have heard about cocooners using them for washing machine/ dryer end of cycle notification and tracking duration of time that HVAC fans are on.

My wife suggested we place them on the refrigerator power cord. If the fridge remains off for more than a few hours and does not cycle on then maybe the power is out and a notification would be given to check if it is working. This might save a lot of thawed out frozen foods (happened to us not too long ago). I thought that was a pretty good idea and was wondering if anyone has any other novel uses for these detectors.

 

[Lagerhead]

. . . was wondering if anyone has any other novel uses for these detectors.

Have you seen this thread?
http://www.cocoontech.com/index.php?showtopic=11210

Though it is rather long, there are some good ideas and how-tos here.

I am using one for monitoring a thermostat-controlled attic fan and another to monitor an outdoor motion-detector light.

 

[robolo]

Thanks for pointing out that thread. Some of the uses discussed were for:

well pump status
radon fan status
attic fan status
turn old-fashioned outdoor motion activated light into motion detector
dryer status
tv status

Anything else out there?

 

[123]

• sump pump activated
• pool pump running; running without water (current draw decreases ... could also be done with a pressure sensor)
• doorbell activated
  
  Can be used to confirm if a controlled device received a command. For example, send a signal to activate the furnace fan and the current sensor can confirm it is, in fact, on.

 

[broconne]

Interesting, would be good to use a current sensor for a few things dryer/washing machine until those machines accept the ethernet cables I am going to pre-wire for them.


Did some research, looks like they use two wires. 22/4 should be a good wiring choice then - is that accurate?

 

[hucker]

Interesting, would be good to use a current sensor for a few things dryer/washing machine until those machines accept the ethernet cables I am going to pre-wire for them.


Did some research, looks like they use two wires. 22/4 should be a good wiring choice then - is that accurate?

I'm currently using a 22/4 for monitoring my furnace. It works great.

 

[dBeau]

I've got three in place. One is tracking the burn time of my oil burner, another tracks the on time of the circulator pump to my hot water storage tank. Both of these feed a zone on my Elk. The last is connected to a DS10a mounted to a box on an extension cord. I move that one around to satisfy any current curiosity I might be experiencing.

 

[robolo]

Interesting, would be good to use a current sensor for a few things dryer/washing machine until those machines accept the ethernet cables I am going to pre-wire for them.

That is a good idea to prewire cat5e to the washer/dryer for the future when we do our remodel next year. I think I should also run to the fridge/ dishwasher/oven and other major appliance locations to futureproof. I wish I had thought to do that for my plasma TV when I ran wires in the wall 3 years ago. I since got a Pioneer model that has internet connection capability. Who knew from only 3 yrs ago?

 

[Lagerhead]

some interesting uses for current detectorsrs.

Monitoring a warming drawer. These are handy little units but it seems nobody remembers to turn them off.

 

[Quixote_1]

An interesting "How-to" would be how to build your own current sensing unit using MOSFETS or transistors (if that's possible).