Re: New Fridge - setting up monitoring

[ransley <Mark_Ransley@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Aug 4, 12:45=A0pm, trad...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
> On Aug 4, 12:35=A0pm, ransley <Mark_Rans...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Aug 4, 6:52=A0am, "Robert Green" <robert_green1...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> > > Just got a new fridge, and I thought I would try monitoring operating
> > > parameters with my home automation system. =A0I 've got sensors for k=
Whs used,
> > > ambient room temperature, freezer and refrigerator temps and the temp=
erature
> > > of a sensor on the back of the unit. =A0I was hoping this should give=
 me
> > > enough of a baseline to be able to detect "out of whack" conditions b=
efore
> > > they show up in a puddle on the floor or a failure to cool.
>
> > > I discovered in my old fridge that as freon leaked, the kilowatt hour=
s used
> > > shot way up before I noticed the problem in the fridge temp (that bec=
ame
> > > obvious on a very hot day when we had the A/C off and the kitchen tem=
p was
> > > about 20 degrees over normal. =A0Unfortunately, on the old box, I did=
n't have
> > > good baseline figures from the early on when it worked well. =A0That'=
s why I
> > > am trying to determine what information I need to be able to have my =
home
> > > automation system (HomeVision, CPU-XA, ActiveHome and more) record an=
d
> > > process to alert me that there's an issue with the unit.
>
> > > I suspect that the electricity consumed daily will rise as the dust o=
n the
> > > coils builds up. =A0That should be detectable by looking at the avera=
ge daily
> > > power used figure. =A0I am recording ambient, backplate and internal =
temps as
> > > well in case the power usage increase is due to other factors, like t=
his
> > > stinking endless heat wave. =A0I also want a baseline on energy consu=
med and
> > > back plate temperature in case I decide to put a filter on the air in=
take to
> > > minimize coil cleaning. =A0I found out the hard way that an added fil=
ter can
> > > decrease air flow on some devices to the point of overheating the mot=
or. =A0If
> > > the filter blocks too much airflow I would expect power consumption a=
nd the
> > > back plate temperature to rise conspicuously.
>
> > > Reading this over, I realized I need two more monitors. =A0A battery-=
backed
> > > dialer that can call my cellphone to tell me to buy dry ice because t=
he
> > > power or compressor failed and a door alert to let me know if the dog
> > > manages to open the door again! =A0She's been unable to do it with th=
e new box
> > > because the magnetic seal is incredibly strong - much stronger than t=
he old
> > > one. =A0Took nearly ten pounds of pull as measured by a fish scale. =
=A0But she
> > > might figure out how to do it in time. =A0She's been watching very cl=
osely.
> > > In fact, I nearly spit out my coffee because she was eating when the =
new
> > > unit started up when it first arrived and she went off on it as if th=
e
> > > fridge had made a move on her food. =A0She's still not quite comforta=
ble with
> > > it.
>
> > > Any suggestions on something I might have overlooked are cheerfully w=
elcome.
> > > Bad attempts at comedy or remarks on my sanity, with much less cheer.=
 =A0(-:
>
> > > --
> > > Bobby G.
>
> > Did you ever use a kill-a- watt meter, they are accurate, easy to use
> > and record Kwh usage over several days. They are great for doing you
> > own energy audit of most all apliances and devices.- Hide quoted text -
>
> > - Show quoted text -
>
> Yes. =A0 And I've always been able to spot a fridge failure without a
> dozen sensors monitoring my fridge. =A0 After all, it's a fridge not a
> Boeing 777.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

His frige may outlive him, I could understand monitoring boiler flue
temp or furnace temp at the coil or computer core temp, but right its
no aircraft.