Statistically, that happens once or twice in 100 power cuts in my areaHello,
How sure are you that after a main power failure the backup power is used and not a returning of the main power?
Bertus
Yes you are right but differentiating the source just on the basis of time variation wont be that accurate i guessIs there a difference in time when mains power dropps & gen. pichs up & the reverse? Seems that going from gen. to mains should be shorter, maybe somerhing like 10 sec?
Might be able to power ckt. with a charged cap. LEDs to come on only when power is restored.
If that can be done, it would prove to be a fully automated solution to the problem but then i think i have to study the type of wave of each source which i have no idea how to do so. Also forgive me if im wrong as i dont have much knowledge about electronic circuitryI would expect that there is a discernible difference in the mains power and generator power, e.g., a slight difference in voltage, a slight difference in frequency, and almost certainly a difference in harmonic distortion. If this is correct, then a circuit could be designed that identified the power source based on that difference.
Yes if that can be made, nothing better then it, but for a bit simple though inaccurate solution we could have what GopherT has suggested (but only if your idea needs too much effort)I suspect that the real way of figuring out if the power is coming from the power company or from a generator will have to do with the frequency, voltage, harmonics, fluctuations, or other attributes of the AC waveform. In that case, a microprocessor based solution is likely to be required.
Oops, I just noticed that Tracecom already suggested this...
Y
You would need a Microcontroller with EEPROM. The ideas is that each time the Microcontroller turns on, it writes a flag it reads the current value of an EEPROM register and then changes that value (if it was "0" - backup, change to "1" - mains) and writes the new. Aloe to EEPROM. Then it lights the appropriate LED based on the 0 or 1.
This circuit assumes that EVERY time time the power goes out, the alternate power supply is used.
The circuit must be on all the time and you should check on a regular basis if it is in the proper state because it could happen that the same power supply comes on when power goes off.
Also, this circuit expects a zero power situation for both switch TO and FROM back-up power.
I know Mike you are right but as the generator is almost a mile away from my apartment i had to rule out that idea. But if there can be some sort of wireless link between a transmitter(at gen room) and the indicator(at apartment) it would solve the problem as drawing a mile long wire seems quite impracticalNow you are understanding that your device needs two inputs, as I said way back in post #6. One input is that you have AC line voltage (but you don't know if it is coming from the power company or for a local generator). The other input is that the local generator is running, or not.
Can't you hear the local generator by putting your head out the window?
That depends on how sophisticated the generator is. The one at our facility can send snmp, email, or text alerts. If yours supported snmp, it could send any of these alerts via an snmp management station.I know Mike you are right but as the generator is almost a mile away from my apartment i had to rule out that idea. But if there can be some sort of wireless link between a transmitter(at gen room) and the indicator(at apartment) it would solve the problem as drawing a mile long wire seems quite impractical
What do the technicians use to remotely monitor the generator?By calling one of the technicians who monitor the generator 24/7
No i dont think so that we would have such an advanced system but still ill checkWhat do the technicians use to remotely monitor the generator?
eT
There isSo, is there or is there not internet access at the generator's location?
by Aaron Carman
by Jake Hertz
by Aaron Carman