Tools

495 readers

1 users here now

Tools of all sorts are welcome. They include hand tools, power tools, automotive tools, welding, etc...

founded 1 year ago

MODERATORS

tonystark29

A tool/device you plug into socked and it emits an alarm if the power goes off? (lemmy.ml)

submitted 10 months ago by [email protected] to c/tools

26 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Come on you tool lovers out there. Has anyone heard of the device I described on the subject line? Anything close?

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[–] Possible_EmuWrangler 2 points 10 months ago* (last edited 10 months ago) (1 children)

I don't know of anything commercially, but I have an idea of where to go.

I'm not sure exactly what you're after, so let's say I am living with someone who needs medical equipment to live and it needs.mains power and it's for breathing support or whatever. If there was an extended power outage in the middle of the night, bad stuff might happen if the equipment wasn't manually switched over to battery.

I could make something up using customized components bought from a hobby electronics store.

I would buy a low voltage plug pack, say 9 volts and this would plug into the wall and connect to a low voltage relay kit.

Relays have a common point and a normally open point and a normally closed point. Without power you can run an electrical current through common and normally closed. With power, this changes. The electrical pathway between normally closed and common is broken and common is connected to normally open.(or vice versa, been a while)

The shop sells a low voltage relay kit which I would connect to the plug pack and when it's powered, flips the relay.

I'd wire up a secondary circuit, connecting normally open and common to a battery and piezo buzzer. When the power goes off, the relay flips and buzzer makes noise.

I'd also consider wiring a LED up to the battery as a way to confirm it still has energy and check the batteries monthly and replace yearly or so.

I would have to solder some wires and components to do this, but it wouldn't need an electricians license here as it's a low voltage component.

Hope it helps.

Edit: from the website jaycar.com.au, sample parts are:-

Mini piezo buzzer 3-16v dc 12v dc relay card kit ( picture and description doesn't show me if it has wiring I'd need, but I think so) 12V DC 400mA Ultra-Slim Power Supply 7DC Plugs 4AA battery holder.

I'd also ask the staff for advice when Id go to buy the stuff as you probably want a resistor somewhere in both circuits.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 10 months ago (1 children)

Thank you so much! I was hoping for a How-To if a simple device was not available.

[–] Possible_EmuWrangler 1 points 10 months ago

I just remembered something else which can remove the requirement for soldering.

A breadboard is a prototyping board where components can be plugged in and wires used to join different areas and make circuits. It's common in kits for kids to learn about electronics but could also be used for a long term solution.

If you went to an electronics store like jaycar, and said " I'm looking to make a project where a plug pack holds open a relay open so when the power goes out and it closes to complete a battery powered circuit with a buzzer" then they should be able to sort you out with something.

And on second thoughts you do want a resistors between the plug packs and relay and the battery and piezo. If you don't then it could use up more electricity to run.