Remote monitoring a freezer.

[gdmellott]

Hi all,

I' endeavoring to ~bleed~ some brains and save myself time and money. I have no hands on experience with any automated systems so far. Basic electronics are familiar.

How does one monitor a remote freezer [about 100 ft] in an out building and get a system to warn one that it has failed. We lost a unit full in the past. Money, time and what a smell. Your help is apprecitated in the realm of prevention.

Sincerley,

Gregory D. MELLOTT

 

[sic0048]

I'd also be curious on how people actually wire the freezer. I think there are plenty of temp sensors or even freeze sensors that could be used, but how do you get them into the freezer?

Drill into the unit somewhere and seal it back up? Poke a small wire through the rubber gasket surrounding the door?

 

[gdmellott]

I'm not too concerned, about getting the sensor inside, myself. We've had a top door freezer with a sensor in it for years. The small wires seem to be of no concern. the seal is pretty tight with it just laying across the lip. Sincerely, GDM

 

[FrankMc]

Hi

Maybe have a look at the wireless RFXCOM kit ....You would need a pc to monitor the reciever and some software....Heres a link to the temp sensor

http://www.rfxcom.com/sensors.htm

HTH
Frank

 

[Rupp]

One of the more economical ways would be to monitor it using cat5 wire and a one-wire temp sensor. This assumes that running wire is an option. It this isn't an option the RFXCOM hardware is a very good platform for wireless sensor monitoring. I have temp and humidity sensors as well as my scales being monitored by HomeSeer. The wife doesn't like the idea of the scales being monitored so much though

 

[gdmellott]

Hi

Maybe have a look at the wireless RFXCOM kit ....You would need a pc to monitor the reciever and some software....Heres a link to the temp sensor

http://www.rfxcom.com/sensors.htm

HTH
Frank

Looks like quality stuff for monitoring an X10 system, or the likes. I'm afraid I'm not quite that well funded. though.
Sincerely, Gregory D. MELLOTT.


PS: I'm also trying to address a gravity feed sprinkler system's pentstock [water storage] some way, some day, but that needs a range of about 1000 ft.

 

[gatchel]

Winland electronics makes several temp devices:

http://www.winland.com/TempandHumidityAlerts.htm

Most of the (if not all) have a dry contact output so than anything can be done, trip an alarm, turn on a strobe light, etc.

Depending on the manufacturer, you may already have an alarm in it with dry contacts available, unless it is a residential freezer then good luck with that one.

 

[aehusted]

If you are putting the sensor inside and it is not a frost-free type freezer, make sure the frost does not build up on the sensor. Any ice on the sensor will insulate it from the real inside temp and delay any warning you would get.

This is something I plan on getting around to some day...

 

[gdmellott]

Winland electronics makes several temp devices:

http://www.winland.com/TempandHumidityAlerts.htm

Most of the (if not all) have a dry contact output so than anything can be done, trip an alarm, turn on a strobe light, etc.

Depending on the manufacturer, you may already have an alarm in it with dry contacts available, unless it is a residential freezer then good luck with that one.

Looks interesting. Finding a seller and prices are being a challenge. Yes, this is a common freezer, fridge. I'd have to dig into the circuits to not what the thermastat was up to. Not an easy way to go. I've got an old system I made up that uses a common furnace thermostat, piezo electric buzzer, swithes, and latern battery, all jury rigged up. I'd have to run alot of wire to a place where I'm sure I could hear it though. I'm going to have to head out for now. We'll be checking on responses... Sincerely, Gregory D. MELLOTT

 

[dutchyn]

I'm not actually monitoring the temperature; I have a current sensor on the 120V outlet, and I wrote a simple rule to write a variable whenever there's a current draw (i.e. the compressor is running). Another rule, each morning and evening, checks that the variable was set, and then clears it. I expect the freezer to run at least once every 12 hours.

Chris D.

 

[carry15+1]

I use an Ademco TS300 connected to my M1G. The rule in the M1G delays an announcement unless the temp sensor reports above a certain setting for more than 15 minutes. You need the optional remote sensor which can be run into the freezer and the door closed with no apparent problem.

 

[twilo123]

this is probably way overkill but we have used these in data centers to monitor various values such as temp. setup is web based. has the usual alerting systems built in.

http://www.netbotz.com/

 

[AndrewF]

this is probably way overkill but we have used these in data centers to monitor various values such as temp. setup is web based. has the usual alerting systems built in.

http://www.netbotz.com/

I've used the netbotz to monitor the hvac system.

But for my freezer, I use the 1-wire protocol with a DS18b20 chip with great success.
I'll be adding one to the deep freezer in the garage in the near future.

I update the temperature into a mysql database every 60 seconds....and could write an event or cron script that checks the temperature and sends me an alert if it is above a specified value.

Total project cost was about $2 per sensor, $7 for the controller (homemade) and maybe $30 in wire.

Being that it is 100' away, I would recommend the RFXCOM unit if you can afford it.

 

[drozwood90]

Care you share any info. on your homemade 1-wire controller?

 

[fleetz]

Can you let us know more on how you connected the TS300 to the M1. I have been looking for a suitable temp sensor for the M1 for years!

I need to connect 4 inside and one outside.

Cheers,

Fleetz

I use an Ademco TS300 connected to my M1G. The rule in the M1G delays an announcement unless the temp sensor reports above a certain setting for more than 15 minutes. You need the optional remote sensor which can be run into the freezer and the door closed with no apparent problem.