whole house generator question

[bcoke]

I am in VT at the end of the power line [well next to the end one property past me] therefore would be the last to have power restored in case of an outage. For this reason I had whole house generators installed [cover two homes and shop on property, mainly for heat, water etc] what I need is a way to tell if we are on line power or generator power in the main house . can go outside and hear them running and or check their panels on the generator which show line/or generator but I would like this available thru wifi? or some such screen in the house ? any ideas for a moniting system maybe by phone? Thanks for any and all replies. Bobbycoke

 

[casmurbax]

What kind of generator did you install? Generac has an app for that on their newer generators.

http://www.generac.com/all-products...p=1506-en_us/reviews/product/2/mobilelink.htm

 

[Bretny]

Cant see if your neighbors lights are on? Just before bed i usualy check then let the gen run all night if needed.

 

[bcoke]

my generators are kohler will check to see if they have app ? can't see neighbors house from mine ....thanks bcoke

 

[wyliesdiesels]

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B003KREORA/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PCustoms]

OP you have power today? I was in Danby last night and it was raining hard, down this way the wind whipped up bad around 10pm.

There are poles and lines down all over, and a few trees on the line outback. Same situation, there's 11 of us on the end of a spur, this one looks like it might take a while.

To think I just looked at the interlock kit on the bench last weekend and said "I need to install that"....

 

[fitter30]

Just wire a buzzer or bell to the meter side of your panel with a switch to turn it off.

 

[wyliesdiesels]

Just wire a buzzer or bell to the meter side of your panel with a switch to turn it off.

And just how would you connect that to the service entrance wires?

 

[Stuart in MN]

Many if not most automatic transfer switches have a set or two of auxiliary contacts that open and close when the transfer switch opens and closes. They could be used to operate a pilot light inside the house.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

Worked on at least one home standby setup that had installed a light bulb outside of their generator shed that would come on when the generator was running. Easy to peek out the window and see if it was on.

 

[dcg9381]

Many of these systems are wifi notification enabled.
That being said - I've looked into this, for a full auto-transfer, you may need more generator than you think you do.

 

[ihateminimumwage]

@casmurbax
Have you used the generac apps? We’re in CA, where generators are a hot topic right now. Power is out as I type. We’ll be ordering a generac most likely, and wondering how well the apps work.

Generac's Mobile Link works primarily off of your home Wifi, or can be switched to work off nearby cellular service. Worked on some machines in remote areas, where neither service was great on a good day, and was basically non-existent when the power went out.

The only real use for the app is if you're never home and it will tell you if it didn't exercise, then you can get someone out to service it. If you're home often, it's not that useful.

Kohler's Oncue Plus is mostly the same, but gives you a bit more control and communication remotely, but again, if you're home often it's not much use.
http://www.kohlerpower.com/home/common/pdf/g18247.pdf

We've just dealt with a lot of snow birds in the region worried about the house freezing while they're on a beach somewhere.

 

[Ralphxj]

Check out "Control By Web" they have a ton of web connected devices to control and monitor basically anything. They have a web app, can send email or texts to give status updates. If you have a way to setup an outlet that is only hot on line or generator (or one of each) it would be simple to monitor those 2 outlets and know if you were on line or generator. Another option would be to simply monitor if you have voltage coming from the generator or not if you don't have a way to monitor line on it's own.