Generator Monitoring via OpenHAB? Is it Possible?

Setup, Configuration and Use Beginners
1

Hey Everyone,

As I have mentioned in previous posts I have a client that would like to use OpenHAB to automate and monitor several functions within their warehouse. One of the requests is to see if we can monitor their onsite generator power state with OpenHAB via dry contacts (SNMP relay, or MQTT relay). Is this even possible? I have no idea where I would even begin with that. I have seen generator monitoring done with Genmon before (via raspberry pi) or by contracting a generator maintenance company to use their monitoring tools.

Any thoughts/ideas?

Thank you!

3

Can you be a little more specific on this dry contact? would the dry contact be hardwired to a central location or does it have to send the signal wirelessly?

4

Ideally the dry contact would be connected an MQTT relay. Specifically this one: smartDEN IoT MQTT Ethernet 16 Relay Module - DIN RAIL BOX - Denkovi A E LTD

5

That is a relay box, how would they read a contact closure with that unit?

6

My apologies, I should be more specific.

The basic gist is Generator > Dry contact board > dry contacts into MQTT Relay > OpenHAB reads off of the MQTT Relay.

7

The MQTT relay is really irrelevant as to determining the power state of the generator.
Somehow you need to let Openhab know if the generator is running or not. How does the dry contact board communicate with Openhab?

In any case, plug a 12V or 5V power supply into an outlet powered by the generator, use the output of the power supply to trigger a low voltage relay, something like an ELK 924 will work with 12V but so will any other low voltage relay. Connect the NO-C contacts to a wire and connect the wire to the dry contact board. When the generator is running the power supply is energized and the C-NO is closed, when the generator stops the power supply is de-energized and the C-NO is open.