Apex power outage scenario question

[Reefer_Rob]

Im looking into controllers and battery back up options in an emergency situation.

If the power goes out, can and how can the Apex notify me of the event?

Does anyone have a link to a comprehensive thread on this or similar subjects?

Thanks in advance

 

[jbarn1225]

Im looking into controllers and battery back up options in an emergency situation.

If the power goes out, can and how can the Apex notify me of the event?

Does anyone have a link to a comprehensive thread on this or similar subjects?

Thanks in advance

It's called neptune apex heartbeat

 

[rkpetersen]

Heartbeat is useful, but it isn't the Apex itself notifying you, it's the Apex Fusion server in California.
You typically get the notification about an hour, more or less, after communication is lost.
Doesn't tell you that it's a power failure, necessarily. Internet outage or problem with your home network will also do it.
If that's close enough for your needs, then Heartbeat may be all you need.
However if you want more definitive information about power failure specifically, you need to set up Power Monitoring.
With power monitoring, you attach a separate power supply to just the head unit, and plug that into a wall outlet.
Put your energy bar on a UPS. Also need to have your router, cable modem, etc on a UPS.
Then Enable Power Monitoring from the Misc page in Fusion.
And set an alarm in your base_email output: If Power Apex Off 000 Then ON

 

[User1]

**** SNIP ****

Also need to have your router, cable modem, etc on a UPS.

This is so very important with any backup solution at home if you want notification. Glad you raised this.

Also wanted to suggest to the OP that when you are ready and think you have everything run a test to see if it is doing what you want. Did you get the notification, alert, text, etc. Sometimes it may be you have all the power needed but network is still out due to ISP.

Since this is apex related if you have Cor 15's and 20 pumps remember the 15 is getting power from the energy bar. The 20 is using its power supply and outlet. Use a wall outlet or outlet off a properly sized battery backup for redundancy.

 

[Reefer_Rob]

Great info guys. Right now I only have my powerheads on a battery back up. I havent timed it but I think I can get a few hours out of it for sure.

I could totally put the Wifi on one. My concern is putting the whole EB on a battery backup. I just dont think it will last that long with the COR 20, 2 MP40s heaters, lights etc. I know I dont need those in an outage but since theyre hooked up the EB they will draw, correct?

Im just thinking of scenarios where im away from home and the power goes out. If I can get 12 hours out of a battery back that should over 95% of the scenarios or give me time to hook up or get someone to hook up the lil Honda generator.

 

[Montiman]

If you have 2 EB 8s you can have one connected to the battery back up as well as your brain with the triac adapter and then have the Apex notify you of the power outage and only run some of the outlets on the EB 8 plugged into the wall. You will also need a separate battery back up for your router.

 

[Flameback Pair]

Instead of putting an energy bar(s) on an UPS, I put the Base Unit 12V DC power on UPS plus router on same UPS. Then I have a line of code in email_base outlet to send out an alert if power goes out to an energy bar. In order to do this you have to have power monitoring setup in Misc page in Fusion, and have a line of code in email_base outlet to send you an alert whether email, text, or both when the Base Unit detects no power in the energy bar(s).

The reason I have the Base Unit on BBU instead of energy bar(s) is I figure I have 24 hours of total power outage before I have to do something. The oxygen content in the display tank should give me that much time to connect my Tunze 6040 to a Tunze Safety Connector and car battery. And with an energy bar(s) on BBU I would drain a lot of power just switching from the BBU's DC power to the energy bar(s) AC power, and then back to a pump's DC power to provide water movement on the surface.

The last paragraph is true if I know I'm not going to be out of town. If I am going to be out of town I might not get back in time for the 24 hours grace time the oxygen content in the display tank will give me. So I then plug my Tunze 6040 into a secondary BBU before I leave town. This battery gives me about 30 hours run time on the DC pump.