Power outage apex help

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Still nothing at 20 min mark. So ups is what i would like to do. I read you need to plug apex into ups via ac adaptor or something but im really clueless. Can anyone tag a neptune person on here for me?
 
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slipknotgrrl83 said:
Hello! So i am finally looking to get a ups so my apex can alert me power is out and maybe run my powerheads (jabao pp8s) until i can get my generator running. Powerheads are 23 watts each full speed but i run at less than half. Any ideas for best ups? And how to i go about hooking everything up? I know i need one for my router and modem as well but im not sure how to go about it with the apex jr. What is this 12v ac adapter i keep reading about? Please help
Click to expand...

Here's how to enable Power Monitoring on your Apex. First, get the 12VDC Apex power supply and plug it into the power jack on the face of your Apex. Now plug this power brick into a wall output or power strip that isn't plugged into the UPS. Now in the Apex dashboard, go to Miscellaneous and enable Power Monitor at the lower right (be sure to upload to Apex. ) Now, when there is no power coming in through this port, your Apex will know that the house power is off (and can take appropriate action) even if you have the system on a UPS.

Then you can use the "If Power Apex Off 001 Then ON" command in your email/text alert code. It will be sent to you immediately if your Apex determines that the wall power is off (assuming that it has a way to get the message out to the internet, thus the need to keep modem/router powered as well.)

You also use the "If Power Apex Off 001 Then OFF" command in each outlet/output's code to turn it off if the wall power is off. You can do more complicated things with virtual outlets, such as timing when devices go off. For example, you could set your pumps to throttle down only if the power failure lasts more than 10 minutes.

MSB123 said:
The apex cannot run powerheads or any outlets off a backup battery.
Click to expand...

It can. You can run any or all Apex subsystems while on UPS power. You can configure each system to go off immediately on power loss or after a specified time without power, if you want.

slipknotgrrl83 said:
Its a red sea reefer 170 so 43 gallons total, i just need apex to run long enough to send me an alwet power ks out, thats the most important. Not sure if they are ac or dc, will check but the apex is the main goal of putting on ups just to get that alert as i have a generator
Click to expand...

In order to get an alert from the actual Apex system at your home, and not from Heartbeat which will come much later, maybe too late if you have small UPS and lots of power draw, you will need to have your cable modem and router or combo unit powered during the initial phase of the outage. Many people do this by putting it on the same UPS as the Apex, although they can be on different ones (as I also have it.)

slipknotgrrl83 said:
Anyone able to verify the time heartbeat takes to notify? If its under 15 min then thats good bur anything over that gets iffy for me if im out to get home, get generator going etc
Click to expand...

The first Heartbeat notification is supposed to be 35-40 minutes after communication loss (although I have at times found it closer to an hour.) Then 1 hour later, then 2 hours after that, and so on...

MSB123 said:
It depends on your WiFi.
If you have an unstable connection, it wont work. I’m pretty sure its 15 minutes.
Click to expand...

Heartbeat works whenever the central server loses communication with your device for a period of time, for whatever reason. Heartbeat can't tell you why the communication has been lost.

shred5 said:
You would also have to put your router and or/wifi access point an battery backup.
no way for his unit to send any alerts without internet.
Click to expand...

Yes. Heartbeat will send you an alert, considerably later, but your own Apex won't be able to reach out to you.

shred5 said:
I am guessing it pings the unit every so often. If it get no response it alert you. This does not mean your power is out though.
Click to expand...

Yes. I do not know how often they ping your system and haven't checked network traffic myself, but based on the first notification of 35-40 minutes, I would guess/hope that they ping every 5 or possibly 10 minutes, with a 30 minute defer after loss of contact.
 
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rkpetersen said:
Here's how to enable Power Monitoring on your Apex. First, get the 12VDC Apex power supply and plug it into the power jack on the face of your Apex. Now plug this power brick into a wall output or power strip that isn't plugged into the UPS. Now in the Apex dashboard, go to Miscellaneous and enable Power Monitor at the lower right (be sure to upload to Apex. ) Now, when there is no power coming in through this port, your Apex will know that the house power is off (and can take appropriate action) even if you have the system on a UPS.

Then you can use the "If Power Apex Off 001 Then ON" command in your email/text alert code. It will be sent to you immediately if your Apex determines that the wall power is off (assuming that it has a way to get the message out to the internet, thus the need to keep modem/router powered as well.)

You also use the "If Power Apex Off 001 Then OFF" command in each outlet/output's code to turn it off if the wall power is off. You can do more complicated things with virtual outlets, such as timing when devices go off. For example, you could set your pumps to throttle down only if the power failure lasts more than 10 minutes.



Of course it can. You can run any or all Apex subsystems while on UPS power. You can configure each system to go off immediately on power loss or after a specified time without power, if you want.



In order to get an alert from the actual Apex system at your home, and not from Heartbeat which will come much later, maybe too late if you have small UPS and lots of power draw, you will need to have your cable modem and router or combo unit powered during the initial phase of the outage. Many people do this by putting it on the same UPS as the Apex, although they can be on different ones (as I also have it.)



The first Heartbeat notification is supposed to be 35-40 minutes after communication loss (although I have at times found it closer to an hour.) Then 1 hour later, then 2 hours after that, and so on...



Heartbeat works whenever the central server loses communication with your device for a period of time, for whatever reason. Heartbeat can't tell you why the communication has been lost.



Correct. Heartbeat will send you an alert, considerably later, but your own Apex won't be able to reach out to you.




Yes. I do not know how often they ping your system and haven't checked network traffic myself, but based on the first notification of 35-40 minutes, I would guess/hope that they ping every 5 or possibly 10 minutes, with a 30 minute defer after loss of contact.
Click to expand...
This will work with apex jr correct? And theoretically i could just put modem and router on a ups and set the power monitor on the apex to alert me? Or does apex need ups also? I have a generator but i really need to know there is a problem sooner ( took 55 min for heartbeat to alert me.) I may get a ups just to run the powerheads as they are not on the apex ( no free outlets)
 
Ah my mistake! I don't think any of that will work with the Jr (but could be wrong, I've never owned one.)

I feel silly now; I should have noticed that. My mind only works with the 2016. Sorry.
 
rkpetersen said:
Ah my mistake! I don't think any of that will work with the Jr (but could be wrong, I've never owned one.)

I feel silly now; I should have noticed that. My mind only works with the 2016. Sorry.
Click to expand...
Hmmm i will have to check when i get home, see if it has a spot to plug in ac adaptor. If not i will just get a ups for powerheads so i atleast have flow for thst time till i get alerted
 
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slipknotgrrl83 said:
Hmmm i will have to check when i get home, see if it has a spot to plug in ac adaptor. If not i will just get a ups for powerheads so i atleast have flow for thst time till i get alerted
Click to expand...
I’m pretty sure it wont work with the Jr.
 
rkpetersen said:
Yes. I do not know how often they ping your system and haven't checked network traffic myself, but based on the first notification of 35-40 minutes, I would guess/hope that they ping every 5 or possibly 10 minutes, with a 30 minute defer after loss of contact.
Click to expand...

Correcting myself. I was curious if I had this right. Turns out no specific pinging is done at all. Heartbeat just monitors the normal data stream between your Apex unit and Fusion, and alerts you if that stream stops.
 
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slipknotgrrl83 said:
Darn ok so my only option is a ups for my powerheads until i csn afford the newer apex. Will research the size i need. Thank you all
Click to expand...

I'm very happy with the CyberPower line of UPSes; own several now. APC was once the best brand but other companies have caught up and now offer more juice and more features at better prices.

With your 2 pumps drawing around 50 W total, a 1500VA UPS would give you around 2 hours runtime, more or less. Maybe quite a bit more, if you run your pumps at less than 100%.
 
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rkpetersen said:
I'm very happy with the CyberPower line of UPSes; own several now. APC was once the best brand but other companies have caught up.
Click to expand...
Im looking at the cyberpower1500avrlcd. My powerheads are only run on about 15 watts each so this one should give me a good amount of time till im alerted and get generator going :)
 
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