A multiple input DC voltage reader that has SNMP is what is really needed. You can codify one or two temp sensors with two DC inputs reading if the system is suppose to be on or not at the HVAC control.
Then set higher than normal limits on the temp sensors. Hard to tell if the system is just running but not cooling or not, Its not good to put it in the vent, as that will have great temp variations. I put mine right above my servers and set a high threshold, say 75, should be cool enough for devices, but still getting there, to warn people. When it goes off, you can assume the AC either needs to be looked at and/or is not running at all. Dennis Burgess Mikrotik : Trainer, Network Associate, Routing Engineer, Wireless Engineer, Traffic Control Engineer, Inter-Networking Engineer, Security Engineer, Enterprise Wireless Engineer Hurricane Electric: IPv6 Sage Level Cambium: ePMP Author of "Learn RouterOS- Second Edition” Link Technologies, Inc -- Mikrotik & WISP Support Services Office: 314-735-0270 Website: http://www.linktechs.net<http://www.linktechs.net/> Create Wireless Coverage’s with www.towercoverage.com <https://mail.linktechs.net/owa/redir.aspx?C=AWq0kPmLomFxbshE65wWiGsm9JYjRq7NfAx66HZMGnN2I3lAPi_UCA..&URL=mailto%3admburgess%40linktechs.net> ________________________________ From: AF <[email protected]> on behalf of Adam Moffett <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 2:34 PM To: 'AnimalFarm Microwave Users Group' Subject: [AFMUG] Air Conditioner Monitoring Does anyone here monitor air conditioners? If so, how do you do it? Up until now, I would find out about an A/C failure by getting temperature alarms from equipment. When I look at the chart of temperature over time it usually looks the A/C fail happened hours (sometimes many hours) before the temperature got critical. It'd be nice to respond sooner. * My first and cheapest idea was to run another temperature sensor from the rectifier and attach it to the output vent of the air conditioner. I'd trigger an alarm when that exceeds some threshold, say 80F or 85F. * I also looked at fancy controllers with Ethernet and SNMP that'll alert you when the filter is clogged, or detect refrigerant leaks, or whatever. But these all seem to be vendor specific. * Bard makes a couple of Ethernet enabled lead-lag controllers that are generic enough that I could connect them to any A/C unit with terminals for an external thermostat, but these are very limited as to what alarms you'll get. High and low temp alarms, and probably an alarm if the A/C unit is off completely.....which is not a common failure mode in my experience. Basically if you're not adding lead-lag functionality a generic solution doesn't get much any new info. Are there options I'm overlooking? I know mostly nothing about Modbus over TCP for example....would that do anything for me? I actually am pushing for redundant lead-lag systems at new sites, and I can get the controller that goes with those systems. For existing installations I'm thinking the extra temperature sensor is the most sensible thing. Is there a better way that I'm overlooking?
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