How To Tell Electricity Went Off At Boat
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
jwnall
Moderator Emeritus
An interesting question! It would certainly be possible (and not all that difficult) to make a battery-powered circuit (probably with an Arduino board) which would do it, but I do not know of any commercial units available. I'll be interested to see if anyone knows of any.
Bay Pelican
Moderator Emeritus
An electric analog clock or an analog timer will be off during the power outage and will restart when the power comes back. Time lost is the time power is out if less than 12/24 hours depending on device.
101TUG
Senior Member
RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
Mr. k. Real simple. Take a plastic water bottle. Fill it half full with water. Put it in the freezer ON IT'S SIDE. When frozen, stand the bottle upright. IF the freezer ever defrosts/thaws, the "pillar" of water in the bottle will melt and refreeze at the bottom of the bottle. Cost? Maybe $.05...
Mr. k. Real simple. Take a plastic water bottle. Fill it half full with water. Put it in the freezer ON IT'S SIDE. When frozen, stand the bottle upright. IF the freezer ever defrosts/thaws, the "pillar" of water in the bottle will melt and refreeze at the bottom of the bottle. Cost? Maybe $.05...
jwnall
Moderator Emeritus
Yeah, that would probably cover it pretty well. Few of us do military time these days (although I do), so probably 12 hours would be the normal limit for an analog clock. Not sure how long before frozen stuff will defrost enough pose a danger. So far as the OP, if it were me, and I was in doubt, I would toss the frozen stuff just on general principles.
jwnall
Moderator Emeritus
Brillant!!! How in the everloving blue-eyed world did you come up with that, RTF???
I spent a few minutes typing up how to make a simple relay outage timer, then decided to search for a page * to make it easier for you guys to see what I meant, and found something that would work for about $20.
Follow this link and you will see there's nothing to it.
I like the wall wart angle for the input, it will make it even cheaper since everyone has these lying around the junk drawer.
~Regards!
A $20 Power Failure timer
* there is nothing new under the sun..
Follow this link and you will see there's nothing to it.
I like the wall wart angle for the input, it will make it even cheaper since everyone has these lying around the junk drawer.
~Regards!
A $20 Power Failure timer
* there is nothing new under the sun..
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Ask the power provider?
ksanders
Moderator Emeritus
couple ice cubes in a glass or bowel is easiest and requires no forethought.
Hi tech method is a marine alarm system. My Lowes Iris informs me of a power outage or a charger failure within seconds.
But I still keep a cup of ice cubes in the freezer just in case.
Hi tech method is a marine alarm system. My Lowes Iris informs me of a power outage or a charger failure within seconds.
But I still keep a cup of ice cubes in the freezer just in case.
BruceK
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I dunno, the second proposed location might.
.
andrewf
Veteran Member
This what I use. Sends a text to your mobile when power is off and another when it resumes.
Not cheap but works well, cheaper than having your batteries ruined by running flat, cheaper than loosing your frozen food or having a bilge pump fail and your boat sinking.
Before I got this device my batteries went flat for possibly weeks and were never the same again, since I have had it I have had many power outages at several different marinas and I just call them up and let them know I have a problem and they are on to it.
www.blueray.com.au/SMS power monitor
Works for me.
Not cheap but works well, cheaper than having your batteries ruined by running flat, cheaper than loosing your frozen food or having a bilge pump fail and your boat sinking.
Before I got this device my batteries went flat for possibly weeks and were never the same again, since I have had it I have had many power outages at several different marinas and I just call them up and let them know I have a problem and they are on to it.
www.blueray.com.au/SMS power monitor
Works for me.
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FF
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Reefer truck shippers have recording temp units to know how the load was kept during transport.
Steve Dashew sells a recording thermometer on his web site .
Steve Dashew sells a recording thermometer on his web site .
fryedaze
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I have one of these that I stuck in my refrig and freezer to determine what the cycle time was. Cheap and easy.
Waterproof USB Temperature Data Logger RC 5 Mini Recorder 32000 Points Sensor | eBay
loafs and fishes
Senior Member
We use the same principle at work. Freeze a very small cup of water, then place a penny on top of the ice. So long as the penny remains on top, no thaw.
RT Firefly
Enigma
Greetings,
Mr. l&f. Oh ya, sure...Now you've upped the cost to $.06. Where does it end?????
Mr. l&f. Oh ya, sure...Now you've upped the cost to $.06. Where does it end?????
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I posted this recently on another thread, but I'll repost here.
This is what I installed.
http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Refri..._=lp_11102085011_1_15&sr=8-15&srs=11102085011
It records the current temp from 2 sensors (fridge 1 & fridge 2 or fridge & freezer) and also records the max and min of the sensors. If the freezer max temp exceeds freezing, it alarms indicating you've had a problem. How long it was off doesn't really matter much to me. If the freezer reached 40 degrees, I'm tossing the food, but the beer in the fridge is probably still OK.
Total cost under $30.
This is what I installed.
http://www.amazon.com/AcuRite-Refri..._=lp_11102085011_1_15&sr=8-15&srs=11102085011
It records the current temp from 2 sensors (fridge 1 & fridge 2 or fridge & freezer) and also records the max and min of the sensors. If the freezer max temp exceeds freezing, it alarms indicating you've had a problem. How long it was off doesn't really matter much to me. If the freezer reached 40 degrees, I'm tossing the food, but the beer in the fridge is probably still OK.
Total cost under $30.
Put a penny on top of an ice cube in the freezer. If you return to the boat and the penny is at the bottom or into the ice, the power went off for too long. If the power flickers, it won't detect it but who cares?
Cost...$.01....and you even get the penny back.
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Now I've got to go shopping for ice trays! I threw all mine out years ago.
Edit: Waitadarnminute...I just remembered one came with my new NovaKool! I remember I chuckled to myself when I saw it.
Edit: Waitadarnminute...I just remembered one came with my new NovaKool! I remember I chuckled to myself when I saw it.
BruceK
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The problem with the 1-6c systems is you find out too late, but you do find out before you get food poisoning. And the penny is reusable!
Because we have solar, we don`t rely on mains power while docked.
Because we have solar, we don`t rely on mains power while docked.
Phyrcooler
Senior Member
Yup... like when your neighbor turns off your breaker, unplugs his shorepower, and heads out for the day?
We use a basic refrigerator thermometer that shows current and hi / low temps. Simple.
No need to reinvent the wheel. https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...0ahUKEwjw3tzk2JzNAhVU0mMKHcG1BgM4KBDzAgjJAjAA
We use a basic refrigerator thermometer that shows current and hi / low temps. Simple.
No need to reinvent the wheel. https://www.google.com/shopping/pro...0ahUKEwjw3tzk2JzNAhVU0mMKHcG1BgM4KBDzAgjJAjAA
BruceK
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We use similar simple ones for fridge, and freezer. Tried the Engel wireless version, cost more and frequently lost signal contact.We use a basic refrigerator thermometer that shows current and hi / low temps. Simple.
SCOTTEDAVIS
Guru
I have a container of ready ice in the freezer and if the cubes are gone and replaced with a block of ice, well the freezer was off.
I also have like most here a not frost free refer so defrosting is a regular need, if all of a sudden I did not need to do it the next time aboard I would then look at the ice cube container.
Simple really, KISS is great on boats when it can be implemented.
I might add, I never leave anything in my refrigerator that could spoil and ruin the frig. Seems kinda silly to risk a $2500 refrigerator to save 20 bucks worth of lunch meat. Only water, drinks and snacks kept in unit when away. Had the cord disconnected a few years ago and only lost my made ice cubes to cry over.
I also have like most here a not frost free refer so defrosting is a regular need, if all of a sudden I did not need to do it the next time aboard I would then look at the ice cube container.
Simple really, KISS is great on boats when it can be implemented.
I might add, I never leave anything in my refrigerator that could spoil and ruin the frig. Seems kinda silly to risk a $2500 refrigerator to save 20 bucks worth of lunch meat. Only water, drinks and snacks kept in unit when away. Had the cord disconnected a few years ago and only lost my made ice cubes to cry over.
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