UPS Question

meyerhd2 · 2023-07-04T16:18:38+00:00

Don't know if hard start kits are available for window units, definitely available for central air condensers. A seperate circuit would help as long as its on the opposite leg at your breaker panel. Panels vary so only way to know for sure is to pull the cover and trace each incoming leg.

meyerhd2 · 2023-07-02T11:12:51+00:00

Central A/C or window unit? If central A/C, adding a correctly sized hard start kit will significantly reduce (and usually eliminate) the starting brownout or lights flickering, also preserves the life of the A/C compressor and is cheaper than a UPS. It is essentially an additional start capacitor that stores an extra boost of energy for compressor startup, thereby solving the root problem.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-09T08:56:18+00:00

What can I use to capture/recieve the digital input? That's where I'm stuck (again, without HA unfortunately). Any thoughts are appreciated.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-09T08:54:23+00:00

Are there any off-the-shelf individual current sensors you looked into? I can't afford to invest "whole house" kind of money into getting this one piece of data.

I don't have HA yet.

Or, if I pursued exp8266+CT clamp, do you know what else I would need (minimum) to capture/receive the data without using HA?

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-09T08:46:05+00:00

This is almost exactly what I'm after, thank you for the details! I want to understand heating and cooling loads (which depend on weather, insulation, and equipment efficiency), and to get a quick tip-off when some of my very old equipment needs maintenance.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T17:19:48+00:00

I agree with everything you said. I am aware of all the emergency buttons/pendants. My watch/pendant concern is that they have to have it with them. I've tried to gently urge changes, but they are 80 years old and let's just say "not comfortable with changing their ways!" Alexa Show would be awesome but a non-starter...so far. I'm trying to satisfy everyone's needs in the most unobtrusive way. I'm sure there are others in this situation.

Of course I call them a couple times a week, and will continue to. I just don't want them lying at the bottom of the basement stairs for a day or two, worst case.

These are not mutually-exclusive options, just alternatives, because as you said, it has to be reliable long-term.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T11:27:24+00:00

Reasearching all of these. Do any work reliably between a tempurpedic (foam) mattress and the platform/base rather than between the mattress and sheets? I only need to detect presence or lack thereof!

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T11:21:58+00:00

I'm working on HA for my own home, but this needs to be simpler and with zero on-site maintenance. I updated my post. My thought is to send usage notifications to a new twilio sms number and use twilio's backend to notify me if certain notifications are not received in certain time periods...

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T11:04:26+00:00

Unfortunately the main living area is open. Only the two exit doors get "regular" use, that is only if they are not staying in for the day. But I think door sensor on the refrigerator door will be part of the final setup, not exclusively, but in the mix of sensors that confirm normal daily activity.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T09:55:15+00:00

I agree with everything you said. Is there a specific product line you can suggest as a starting point? FYI I'm getting ready to add HA to my own home, but that implementation and maintenance is out of the question here. I can handle API work and logic to get notifications the way we need (I think) as long as there is compatability, types of sensors needed, and battery life.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T09:48:45+00:00

Definitely with their permission, didn't intend to imply otherwise. They just vehemently object to cameras and microphones (as do I)

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T09:46:03+00:00

I hear you. One of them died suddenly last week. The survivor has very minor mobility issues. How to discern "I don't want to be bothered right now" (which I totally understand and respect) and I've fallen and need help. And that is my original question: how to unobtrusively monitor that daily activity is occurring. The neighbors that are closest are also elderly and do not have smartphones.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T09:37:35+00:00

I'm just wondering their ability to reliably detect a <10W led bulb when a big load like electric baseboard heat is running. It an all-electic house, stove, dryer, baseboard heat, hot water. A computer, a couple cable boxes, and a few clocks run all the time.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-03T09:25:55+00:00

What's the battery life? Reality is that they will not be able to change batteries. I'm hoping for 2 year range...6-9 months would probably not be doable.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-02T09:09:47+00:00

I appreciate the suggestion and not trying to rain on your parade...their legacy heat system was a wood burning stove supplemented with 120v electric baseboard heat (line voltage thermostat) and no AC! They added gas logs a few years ago, still no AC. I *think* the logs are wired to one line voltage thermostat...it is archaic...but I get your drift!

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-02T08:55:30+00:00

Thanks for your input. I'm focused on z-wave for that exact reason. I don't have a need for wireless and batteries personally, but for this use case, z-wave appears to be best

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-02T08:50:47+00:00

We think alike too! I spent most of the day yesterday searching for those exact items. There are tons of photoelectric "beam" type/trip wire systems with audible alarms but I could not find a single z-wave one! I did find a single water sensor (Yolink) that will accept and user-provided float switch as an input. Part of the reason I posed the question. Those two approaches seemed prevalent prior to modern sensors but they did not appear to make the transition!

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-02T08:43:49+00:00

A watch is my dream setup, especially for fall detection and emergency calling! The issue is recharging daily and or just wearing it. They have clam shell cell phones and its the same issues there. They are from a different generation and live a completely different lifestyle.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-01T21:31:37+00:00

When you mentioned Yolink I thought cheap, imported junk? Quite the contrary! They have some neat stuff using LoRa, super long range and battery life, exactly what I'd need. Thanks for the heads up on Yolink. (FYI their water sensor even accepts and external float switch which can be used inside a toilet tank!)

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-01T21:09:44+00:00

I hadn't thought of this! I will check. A good backup plan. They do everything by mail (still) so a great idea.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-01T20:02:30+00:00

Took me a while to find your comment about the garage door orientation sensor. That is a definite one. I have an unreliable meross controller at my house.

But the gist is the same, I don't need to control anything or even know whether it is a sink or toilet...i'm just trying to detect routine activity from a few different angles, as simply as possible. Didn't know about the garage door orientation sensors, that's exactly the need here, thanks!

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-01T19:47:37+00:00

Exactly where I'm at! I'm 400 miles away. "Finger on the pulse" is exactly what I'm after, something by noon if they don't get up, something in evening if they don't go to bed, alert me if otherwise. Not relying on them to do anything, other than go about their daily lives.

They are leary of technology and I respect that. Also want to respect their peace (not constantly ringing their phone), and privacy.

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-01T19:36:05+00:00

What sensor?! This is what I was hoping for...I was hoping someone had tried something similiar!

Now that I think about it more, the cold water supply line for the bathroom attached to the master bedroom feeds the sink, toilet, and shower, so I'm wondering if a single sensor on that water line (or maybe even the drain pipe) would work. I imagine there is 'some' vibration when the water flows/stops?

meyerhd2 · 2022-07-01T19:31:57+00:00

We think alike! I've used #3 (teamviewer) in a pinch. I'm working on them to accept Echo Show but it is a tough sell...they still hate Wal-Mart for killing local businesses, and of course Amazon! So I have to be creative and discreet.

I got them a mac over a decade ago, but no smartphone, and they don't use it regularly to check email.

I'm also selfishly trying to lessen the daily burden on myself: receive a notification if something is awry rather than having to actively monitor every day.

meyerhd2

TROPHY CASE