[Hai-users] Re: "Easy Question" HAI-users Digest, Vol 43, Issue 1

[Ken McLeod]

> Today's Topics:
>
>   1. Easy Question (Doug Ringler)
>   2. Re: Easy Question (Joseph K. Vossen)
>   3. Re: Easy Question (Bruce Schroeder)
>   4. Re: Easy Question (Doug Ringler)
>   5. RE: Easy Question (Roger Sampson)
>   6. Re: Easy Question (Doug Newton)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:03:23 -0500
> From: "Doug Ringler" <douglas.ringler at verizon.net>
> Subject: [Hai-users] Easy Question
> To: <hai-users at tssi.com>
> Message-ID: <BDFD93EEEA404ADB80FA253818C5FB21 at DJR2>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>
> Hopefully an easy question and its been a little quiet anyway,
>
> I usually wire up a zone on the OmniPro II for AC power by sensor relays 
> for power from a generator or the AC from the street.  And thus, the Omni 
> will report open or close from that zone to the central station.   But in 
> one installation, I just left the AC Power Sensor within the Omni to 
> detect an AC Power Failure (no generator), thinking that it would report 
> (call out) upon an AC Power Failure.  But no call to the central station 
> upon loss of AC.  Is this a setting somewhere for calls upon AC Power 
> Failure that I am missing?  I can't get the Omni to report an AC Power 
> Failure in this installation.
>
> Thanks!
>
> Doug Ringler
> -------------- next part --------------


You are correct in that the Omni will not report a code to the central 
station for AC power failure, although it does detect it.  This is no doubt 
for good reason, because if it were automatic or easy, central stations 
would be flooded with these signals.

Here is how I do it:

1.  Set up a voice message with the installation name and address followed 
by AC POWER - IS - OFF  (name the message "electricity off" or similar)
2.  Name a flag "powerofftime"
3.  Code in PC Access
        WHEN AC POWER OFF: powerofftime ON FOR xx MINUTES
        WHEN powerofftime OFF &IF AC POWER OFF: PHONE nnn-nnnn AND SAY 
electricity off

This will have the Omni dial out with voice message if the power goes off 
and stays off for xx minutes, so you avoid unnecessary notifications for 
minor outages and switching glitches.
You of course can repeat the second line to dial out to up to the eight 
available numbers.

Now, if you want or need central station moitoring, modify the second code 
line to be
        WHEN powerofftime OFF &IF AC POWER OFF: UNIT x ON FOR xx SECONDS
     where the unit is one of your hardwire outputs.  Use this output to 
drive a small 12VDC relay which closes contacts on an input zone.
     You would then define the zone appropriately and map it to your central 
station as an "equipment failure" or similar.

Ken McLeod
Integrated Home Technologies