Cellular Cabin Power Monitor

So I've recently acquired a cabin that doesn't have telephone but has power. I'd like to install a very simple system to notify me via txt of a power failure/return. The idea is some sort of power monitor (amp or voltmeter i guess) that can be hooked to a cell phone or a cellular based device, preferably one that I can install my own pay as you go cell sim card in. When the power goes out, I'd like to to send me a text message saying the power is out, also when the power is back on, I'd like to receive a text message that it's back on. Any help on a simple solution to do this?

A security system such as the Elk m1g that is capable of calling you to announce a problem (such as power failure), plus an HAI C3 cellular unit will do what you ask. It isn't exactly cheap but once you have it, you can complete your system for fire and security at minimal additional cost.

Lou Apo said:

A security system such as the Elk m1g that is capable of calling you to announce a problem (such as power failure), plus an HAI C3 cellular unit will do what you ask. It isn't exactly cheap but once you have it, you can complete your system for fire and security at minimal additional cost.

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I agree, M1Gold plus a C3 will achieve this. The nice thing about an Elk is that it is modular- you only buy the pieces you need. Which is perfect for a cabin like yours.

Easiest would be a sum cellular transmitter, like an Uplink 2500 or similar, then have an appropriate power supply that has an AC trouble relay wired in to a generic zone trip on the cellular.

Price would be comprable to a voice dialer setup, less the recurring charge for the cell.

Then if it's decided to have an alarm, it could be used again.

THIS is an interesting product for $250.

Hmm i can paste the url right now but i see the agm will work with t mobile sims and they have a 10 dollar top up which lasts three months so thatd be $3.33/ month which i like. Used with the agm this could be the winner

BraveSirRobbin said:

THIS is an interesting product for $250.

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That looks interesting. It looks like it does everthing the HAI C3 does plus some very basic HA/Alarm functionality.

The battery is optional so you would obviously need it if it is going to call you to report a power failure.

It looks like it has built-in power failure reporting.

You might consider using this as your cabin's only phone as it appears it can provide a dial tone to regular phones. This is how I use my HAI unit in my home.

Lou Apo said:

That looks interesting. It looks like it does everthing the HAI C3 does plus some very basic HA/Alarm functionality.

The battery is optional so you would obviously need it if it is going to call you to report a power failure.

It looks like it has built-in power failure reporting.

You might consider using this as your cabin's only phone as it appears it can provide a dial tone to regular phones. This is how I use my HAI unit in my home.

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Yea Lou, that's what I was thinking. What impressed me is what you also noticed in it has alarm functionality plus battery backup capability.

BraveSirRobbin said:

Yea Lou, that's what I was thinking. What impressed me is what you also noticed in it has alarm functionality plus battery backup capability.

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And it doesn't even cost more than an HAI C3. So, no loss if you decide later to put a full blown alarm system on it and ignore it's built in mini-alarm.

The only thing I am not quite sure on is if it will pass an incomming ring through to connected regular phones. If it does that, then it is a total match for the hai not included the added features. And if it passes caller id through, then it really is a winner. (HAI does not pass caller id through, except every once in a while for some completely random reason???)