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"The power is off!" Audible reminder/nagger/alarm.

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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 19:34 - 09 Oct 2019    Post subject: "The power is off!" Audible reminder/nagger/alarm. Reply with quote
Situation: A portable computer, support for a badly-disabled user in a nursing home, is plugged in to an extension lead secured to a hospital-type bed table. Staff keep unplugging the plug on the end of the extension lead and leaving it unplugged.

One way of making it less likely that the device would be off for hours on end might be a plug-in audible reminder/nagger/alarm, battery-powered of course.

Does such a thing exist? Any other possi

EDIT: Um. Changing search terms to "power cut alarm" or "Mains power failure alert" indicates several maybes. Apologies. Now I need to find one that's clearly audible but not going to disturb the whole place.bilities (unfortunately, trying to educate the uneducable seems futile).

Last edited by Riejufixing on 15:09 - 10 Oct 2019; edited 1 time in total
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 19:39 - 09 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Many UPS packs beep periodically when the power is cut.
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 20:09 - 09 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
Many UPS packs beep periodically when the power is cut.

Yes. I'm looking for a plug-in sort of alarm that can just be put in a spare socket on an extension lead, that beeps possibly like a fire door low battery alarm, something like that, not the 120dB SIREN type, which would lead to complaints.
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t121anf
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PostPosted: 21:09 - 09 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Riejufixing wrote:
stinkwheel wrote:
Many UPS packs beep periodically when the power is cut.

Yes. I'm looking for a plug-in sort of alarm that can just be put in a spare socket on an extension lead, that beeps possibly like a fire door low battery alarm, something like that, not the 120dB SIREN type, which would lead to complaints.


My ups is a normal level beep, it’s not deafening.
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 21:13 - 09 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
t121anf wrote:
My ups is a normal level beep, it’s not deafening.

Is it a plug-in type or incorporated into the UPS though? A 3-pin pugger-inner would be good.
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stinkwheel
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PostPosted: 09:31 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Why not use a proper UPS for what it's for? So plug the laptop into the UPS, plug the UPS into the extension. Then when they unplug the UPS from the extension, it'll a) beep periodically and b) continue to power the computer.
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t121anf
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PostPosted: 11:32 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Unfortunately a sticker doesn't always work, we have a fridge in our office and it has a sticker on but still sometimes gets unplugged.

You are right though that unless you know why something is beeping you won't know how to fix.
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dynax
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PostPosted: 11:52 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
what about a lockable box like this, although this one stops plugs being plugged in, but you could find one to accomodate both plug and socket,

https://uk.rs-online.com/web/p/products/8188057?cm_mmc=UK-PLA-DS3A-_-google-_-PLA_UK_EN_Safety_And_Security_And_ESD_Control_And_Clean_Room-_-Keys_And_Safes_And_Locks_And_Lockouts%7CLockouts-_-PRODUCT_GROUP&matchtype=&pla-392395215759&s_kwcid=AL!7457!3!243845708590!!!g!392395215759!&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5aSA8MKR5QIVTbDtCh28cwBdEAQYAiABEgIJ7_D_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds
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Easy-X
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PostPosted: 13:49 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
The problem with stickers is which language do you want on it. The cleaners aren't always English Rolling Eyes

Could you pay a sparky to fit a fused spur? Probably not Sad

Something like this:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/APC-BE400-UK-BACK-UPS-ES-400VA-230V/183521946065?epid=1569782590

Is just a super-obese extension block and beeps on power failure. If it's a laptop (I hope the battery works!) with this you could keep going for hours while the annoying, but not super loud beep is going on.
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owl
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PostPosted: 13:51 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Re: "The power is off!" Audible reminder/nagger/al Reply with quote
Riejufixing wrote:

Any other possibilities (unfortunately, trying to educate the uneducable seems futile).


And you think something making a beep will make any difference? That’s cute.

When you say “portable computer” is this something with it’s own limited battery like some kind of laptop? A Pi, or more like an old 80’s compaq? What is it running?

Could you run something like battery alarm - free software to make a sound from the device?
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 15:01 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Re: "The power is off!" Audible reminder/nagger/al Reply with quote
owl wrote:
Riejufixing wrote:

Any other possibilities (unfortunately, trying to educate the uneducable seems futile).

And you think something making a beep will make any difference? That’s cute.

Why take the piss like that? It's uncalled for. A beep is an audible nag, as in the above title.
owl wrote:
When you say “portable computer” is this something with it’s own limited battery like some kind of laptop? A Pi, or more like an old 80’s compaq? What is it running?

Could you run something like battery alarm - free software to make a sound from the device?

No. It's a tablet with no internal battery.

This tablet is disconnected several times a day, for legitimate reasons. The issue is that staff sometimes forget to reconnect it, leading to sometimes prolonged outages and loss of use.
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 15:03 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
stinkwheel wrote:
Why not use a proper UPS for what it's for?

That was an interesting suggestion. I thought it might work; however, thinking about it, there is a valid requirement for the thing to be off during some periods in the day, for privacy. It's just the "forgetting to plug it back in" that's the problem.
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 15:05 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
dynax wrote:
what about a lockable box like this, although this one stops plugs being plugged in, but you could find one to accomodate both plug and socket,

It needs to be unplugged from time to time. Making sure it gets plugged back in is the issue.
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 15:08 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Easy-X wrote:
a super-obese extension block and beeps on power failure.

I came across a similar thing looking at UPSs. It would work if just plugged into a spare socket on the extension lead, but not used to power the tablet at all, which does need to be offline sometimes. However, it's an expensive plug-in power failure alerter!
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owl
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PostPosted: 15:45 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Re: "The power is off!" Audible reminder/nagger/al Reply with quote
Riejufixing wrote:

Why take the piss like that? It's uncalled for. A beep is an audible nag, as in the above title.


Because I’m a knob

Riejufixing wrote:
This tablet is disconnected several times a day, for legitimate reasons. The issue is that staff sometimes forget to reconnect it, leading to sometimes prolonged outages and loss of use.


Is it being unplugged for this “privacy” or for other reasons?

Can you just use a digital timer instead? Or are they removing the plug to plug something else in.

What you are looking for is so ridiculously specific it just seems like there’s a more logical solution to the “problem” otherwise it would be more readily available.
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dynax
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PostPosted: 15:51 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
If it's just for privacy reasons would a remote controlled socket work with a simple on/off function
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 16:03 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Re: "The power is off!" Audible reminder/nagger/al Reply with quote
owl wrote:
Riejufixing wrote:

Why take the piss like that? It's uncalled for. A beep is an audible nag, as in the above title.

Because I’m a knob

Riejufixing wrote:
This tablet is disconnected several times a day, for legitimate reasons. The issue is that staff sometimes forget to reconnect it, leading to sometimes prolonged outages and loss of use.

Is it being unplugged for this “privacy” or for other reasons?

Can you just use a digital timer instead? Or are they removing the plug to plug something else in.

What you are looking for is so ridiculously specific it just seems like there’s a more logical solution to the “problem” otherwise it would be more readily available.

Ah, OK, that's fine. Yes, it's generally for privacy, also sometimes because the table the tablet's clamped to is being moved within the room.

Yes, everything concerning looking after elderly and disabled people is extremely difficult and in many cases solutions are specific to a small sector of the such people or even individuals.

It would be much easier if the carers could just remember to plug the thing back in, but the minimum wage is unattractive to those who can get better jobs, so standards are extremely variable and staff are pressed to be quick to reduce cost further. In one case I had to explain to a person that if an extension lead was plugged into itself then other things also plugged in could not work; there's a pic somewhere on the forum.
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 16:05 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
dynax wrote:
If it's just for privacy reasons would a remote controlled socket work with a simple on/off function

Problem: The user won't remember that's a possibility, and might use the remote to try and operate the TV, or as a 'phone.

Problem: The staff will not remember to use the thing either.

It's really difficult. The UPS plugged in but not used as a UPS, just as a power loss alarm, is the closest so far, but it's an expensive solution.
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dynax
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PostPosted: 16:43 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
We sacked our care company as the carers they were sending were getting worse, they're making great progress in robotics in things like sex dolls and sport related variants, it would be great if they started using some of that tech where would be of actual benefit to someone, even if it's just making a brew,feeding or having some AI talking and keeping someone company for a couple of hours Cool
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MarJay
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PostPosted: 17:40 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
dynax wrote:
We sacked our care company as the carers they were sending were getting worse, they're making great progress in robotics in things like sex dolls and sport related variants, it would be great if they started using some of that tech where would be of actual benefit to someone, even if it's just making a brew,feeding or having some AI talking and keeping someone company for a couple of hours Cool


I read a book over the summer about life after the human race. One of the last surviving androids is a carer bot called Brittle...
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owl
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PostPosted: 18:26 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
Riejufixing wrote:
dynax wrote:
If it's just for privacy reasons would a remote controlled socket work with a simple on/off function

Problem: The user won't remember that's a possibility, and might use the remote to try and operate the TV, or as a 'phone.

Problem: The staff will not remember to use the thing either.

It's really difficult. The UPS plugged in but not used as a UPS, just as a power loss alarm, is the closest so far, but it's an expensive solution.


Anyone can turn it on and off. I have a few TPlink plugs around the house, you can set them on schedules/timers away mode, link it into the app to turn it on and off from within the network or remotely. You can link it to Alexa/Google and could probably even program something with IFTTT to trigger a command if the device is not responding ie. unplugged.

Think they were about a tenner, but you can get cheaper ones
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Riejufixing
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PostPosted: 19:31 - 10 Oct 2019    Post subject: Reply with quote
dynax wrote:
if they started using some of that tech where would be of actual benefit ... or having some AI talking and keeping someone company for a couple of hours Cool

That's the purpose of this device. I was thinking of making/marketing a similar thing years ago, but didn't get on the go with it, and this is available now so there it is. You can use it to send SMSs, display photos, reminders, calendars, the clock, news headlines, have incoming video calls and so forth, without user interaction being necessary. It's a good thing, although the hardware itself could be better in some ways (notably: speakers).
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