Just wanted to share a solution I rigged up to monitor an older finicky standby generator to make sure it was doing its weekly exercise.
I put a repeater zigbee outlet (old lowes iris) in the corner of the garage near the outdoor generator to extend my range.
I removed the battery from a samsung multfunction sensor and purchased a cheap step down DC converter online. 12V DC to 3V DC. I soldered that into the sensor battery contacts and wired it into the 12V circuit on the generator (can use accessory 12V cigarette lighter style outlet or wire directly). I stuck the sensor to the inside of the generator casing put of the weather.
I set up automation with alerts to text and alexa announcement when vibration starts and stops. (I can also check temperature inside the generator case whenever I want to).
Now every week I know when/if the generator starts and stops and how long it runs. Plus, I never have to worry about winter killing the sensor battery, As it’s running from the 12V car battery that the generator circuitry keeps fully charged.
@CobaltSky — Hi, Craig. I just ran across your post from April 2021 about monitoring the exercise cycle of a standby generator. We installed a Briggs & Stratton natural-gas fired generator a year ago and I’ve been wanting to determine if the exercise cycle is operating. Briggs sells an “InfoHub” that provides more information, but it is $300 and requires a $15/month subscription. Your idea of monitoring vibration is brilliant! Thanks for the great idea.
Glad someone found use in this idea. Its still working well today. Battery on the sensor is always at 100%. I’ve tweaked it only slightly to look for vibration on or off for 30s, since hail or even a really strong wind gust could set it off.
I also have a weekly reminder announcement from Alexa to “wait for the generator to start” in the minute it is supposed to exercise each week, then announcements/texts for then it starts and when it stops. Its good to know its working or exercising even when we are away.