Power outage alarms

[Sylvia Bernstein]

Hi All.  My wonderful husband is spending most of the day looking into what types of notification systems are available for letting us know if the power goes out in the greenhouse. We recently purchased a generator, but it has to be started (not an auto switch over). 

First, we will put an audible alarm  in the house so that if there is a neighborhood power outage in the middle of the night we will be awakened.  Next, he is looking into notification systems that use either email or text messaging.  We can get a wireless signal out there through a signal amplifier, but there isn't a phone line available.  Does anyone have any experience with these, or another solution entirely? Thanks for your help!

Sylvia

[Rob Torcellini]

you could try something like this, but they aren't cheap.... http://www.amazon.com/Automatic-Voice-Dialer-Failure-Notification/d...

Another option that could be cheaper if you want to do a little tinkering would be to get a cheap UPS system that comes with the USB interface and connect it to your PC. Some of the software can send out email notifications. Just make sure your computer AND internet router are on the UPS so they keep running long enough to send the message! ;-)

[Terry Clark]

back up for the fish is easily done with an O2 tank, a O2 regulator, an O2 flow meter like the hospital uses, and a normally open solinoid valve (the electricity holds it closed and it opens when the electric fails. I'll send a diagram later when i get more time!