What can I use

[secureiam]

I am not a sparky.

However I suspect an electrical issue maybe occurring in a supply to an out building where part of an alarm system is housed.

It’s only the part in this out building that’s affected.

It could be the switch mode power supply doesn’t like the feed comming in and it’s being upset for around 40 seconds in the early hours of the morning.

So far one event 1:45 am a few days later 3:35 am both lasting around 40 seconds.

Anything I can use to monitor Viktsge current and frequency using clamps that can record the data for a week or so that is under £100?

 

[flameport]

Anything I can use to monitor Viktsge current and frequency using clamps that can record the data for a week or so that is under £100?

No. Even to hire such a thing for a week would be far more than £100.

 

[endecotp]

Anything I can use to monitor Viktsge current and frequency using clamps that can record the data for a week or so that is under £100?

Yes, assuming you have a laptop. Buy a cheap USB analogue to digital converter. (AKA “USB Oscilloscope”.) Less than £50 on eBay and probably even less on AliExpress. Connect one channel to a current transformer (with a shunt resistor I guess??), and the other to measure the voltage a suitable normal (voltage) transformer.

Then I guess the challenge is whether the supplied software will record for very long periods.

 

[secureiam]

hmm thanks.

 

[secureiam]

No. Even to hire such a thing for a week would be far more than £100.

okay money no object whats the cheapest way of doing this buying or hiring.

seen somethings on line that arent mega expensive but not sure how good they will be and how good I need them to be, to be fair

 

[secureiam]

Yes, assuming you have a laptop. Buy a cheap USB analogue to digital converter. (AKA “USB Oscilloscope”.) Less than £50 on eBay and probably even less on AliExpress. Connect one channel to a current transformer (with a shunt resistor I guess??), and the other to measure the voltage a suitable normal (voltage) transformer.

Then I guess the challenge is whether the supplied software will record for very long periods.

okay this gives me some ideas I can look into

 

[pete01]

20 quid?

 

[CountryFan]

Obviously being a security engineer? You’ve checked for frayed connections and a poor battery? What’s the supply voltage? Maybe vermin?

 

[secureiam]

I am aware there has been issue to this building in the past, which have been sorted allegedly, I have dug deeper remotely and now have a chain of events leading up to this problems which is almost certainly the start of the chain reaction, just hasn't recovered like the rest of the system, so wondering if there is still an issue with power to this building. It starts with a Tesla power wall replacement in the main house. I want to go prepared for the what if based on what I do already know about the history of the property. For example they were having trips for the outbuilding and not the rest of the house, this was highlighted by the alarm system reporting.(customer new to this abode and system was inherited).

I am wondering what killed the powerwall.

Theoretically the system protects the battery from a complete destructive breakdown and the log didn't register a battery fault or low and they are pretty reliable on that reporting. I am happy with what started the chain of events, just the recovery that's of concern at the minute. but a 40 second issue at early hours of the morning days apart isn't so easy to get to the bottom of, similar time too. so likely to be a system doing something, hence wanting to monitor the mains.

Battery was tested when it was installed but it has been subjected to a fair bit of stress with the power issue that I am aware of, so it might not be as good as it should be.

 

[secureiam]

didnt see frequency on this device, I know spikes and frequency changes can cause PSU's some issues.

 

[securespark]

When I fitted ADE panels yonks ago, I sometimes had to fit ACT filters to cure interference issues of one kind of another.

I had one installation where a fluorescent light was causing issues when turned off. Another with a metal panel needed an earth choke.

 

[secureiam]

Yeah have them as standard they do a nice little kit with several filters and earth choke.

When installing the checks are done and installed.
It was a take over and the original PSU wasn’t monitored originally. When it was replaced with a mointored PSU within a week it picked up issues with electrics to that building. And registered several trips and notified the customer who didn’t want to pay for the monitored PSU, but explained that’s how it should be done and he’s glad we did put it in. Those issues have been addressed. The house was built by someone in the trade but it was shocking the condition.

There is a shift in behaviour starting from the power wall replacement. So happy I know how it started. I don’t know why there are still issues with that building and not the rest of the system which was all subjected to power out wrt the power wall replacement. I can check the condition of the filters in play and replace them if necessary.

It’s a large property, this one building appears to be the issue, I have my suspicions as to the causes.

Want to find out why it’s stressed. Sorry why I think it’s stressed for 40 seconds but not every day.
If I can prove what’s happening now and again it can be fixed properly rather than just fudge by getting the security gear.

If the frequency was out it would cause timing issues, but the main panel will be keeping time and updating the the keypads.

If there is a power fluctuation it might be enough to cause it stress but may not trigger certain things in the logs as it hasn’t reached that threshold.

I think that’s where it’s at.

Certainly enough to go look at but with intermittent problems it’s harder to nail them down without long term monitoring.

 

[333rocky333]

Just asking, where does the 40 second figure derivee from

 

[secureiam]

The logs the fault shows up and restores duration 40 seconds.

A battery test is 10 seconds long but doesn’t show in the log, but occurs every 24 hours, the times are close enough to consider it’s something happening after x hours roughly 24+.

The fault could be caused by power dipping below 10.5V dc.

The battery pulling the system down is a possible but if the battery is kaput, it would be dragging down all the time.

 

[ebee]

ADE, I remember when they first became known to Alarm Installers and I was a little sceptic I must admit.
The reason for that is (rightly or wrongly) I viewed them as more of a yesterdays technolgy sort of idea with more use of transitors in their circuits - simple but tried and tested.
Don`t get me wrong though because even those new models by other manufacturers I considered to be of good pedigree I always waited until Mod F or Issue 6 became the standard rather than the first one or two issues which might have needed some tweeks.
So I tended to keep away from the Logic 4 and Accenta and Concept etc - I must admit though that I had worked on a few installed by others when making additions and alterations or testing etc and I did not find any problems - perhaps I was being over-cautious and perhaps I was wrong after all.

I think that once you introduce CMOS logic gates and some microprocessors then a surge arrestor or three might be a good preference in practice.

Mind you I did once have an A & G (Carters) BS 80-1 (if anybody remembers those) in a club for a couple of years and apparently the club was hit by a nearby lightning strike (the steward was in the lounge ant witnessed all the window foil glowing for a while - no shock detectors back then! ), the system went haywire for about 30 mins but once it settled it gave a few more years good service - even A & G were amazed when I told them. Those control panels were housed in a metal case that would be considered enormous these days.

Slightly more advanced from a bell held off by a relay fed by microswitches on doors and windows but not much more , ok you might have magnetic door contacts and even one of those new fangled Racal 772 PIR thingys but they were a bit pricey.