Monitoring the mains electricity supply, ventilation status and temperature are crucial in large scale pig and poultry facilities.
A leading New Zealand electrical wholesaler approached us for help with an animal welfare monitoring project.
The QTech SMS Lite is the ideal option for sending alarms via text message if the power, ventilation or temperature monitoring sensors are activated.
The incoming mains voltage can be monitored with a phase failure relay with an auxiliary alarm contact. This normally open alarm contact is wired into an SMS Lite input.
The temperature sensor is typically an electronic meter with an alarm contact which is mounted in the electrical cabinet. However, even a mechanical thermostat that closes dry contracts at the configured temperature level, could also be used.
By using a small UPS, such as the PowerShield PSDCMin12/18, the SMS Lite will remain operational for several hours during a power outage. This allows the fault situation to be monitored while corrective actions are taken to ensure animal welfare is maintained.
The SMS Lite has a supply voltage monitoring feature which automatically sends a text message when it is low. The voltage can also be checked at any time with a simple “STATUS” text message to the SMS Lite.
Effective monitoring of power, ventilation and temperature helps prevent tragic damage to the livestock, the associated financial losses and the potential fines that would be incurred.
The animal welfare act defines the minimum requirements, but does not specify in detail how to design and facilitate an automated monitoring system.
A similar animal welfare monitoring requirement also exists in Australia, please click here for further details.
Please get in touch now to discuss this or any other SMS based monitoring applications.