‎Refrigerator / Freezer Monitor | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
asonofsam's profile

Saturday, December 18th, 2021 6:20 PM

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Refrigerator / Freezer Monitor

Hi all, I have a Gen3 system installed at my second home.  On a recent visit I was greeted by a awful smell and mess due to a failed refrig/freezer compressor.  In addition to the smell and mess I lost all the contents of the freezer, which although was not a serious loss, could have been avoided if I had been alerted to the failure quickly enough.  Wondering if SimpliSafe may have a solution to this, such as perhaps a sensor that would work opposite of the Low Temp Alarm?  Or if anyone may have a thought?   Thank you 

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Freezer Alarm

Official Response

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

3 years ago

Right, the Temperature Sensor can trigger for both an upper threshold (max 127F) and lower threshold (min 0F).

The key challenge in using this sensor for a refrigerator (and indeed, this would be the case for any SimpliSafe sensor) is that the radio communication would have extreme trouble trying to pass through metal, let alone any other insulation layer in there. So it is not likely to work reliably.

2.2K Messages

3 years ago

The SS3 temperature sensor has both a high temperature alert and a low temperature alert.  I tried to use it as a freezer alarm and it was a problem, as my freezer occasionally dips below the lowest allowed set point, 0.  It does however, work very well when the upper setting is exceeded.  So although it does not seem practical to use as a freezer alarm (unless yours has a very stable temperature setting), it should work fine as a fridge alarm.  I didn't do anything to use it as a freezer alarm, but it was quite close to the base so any signal blocked by the freezer wall was not a factor.  You might need to add an external antenna if the location is far away from the base. 

8 Messages

3 years ago

What is the upper setting?

8 Messages

3 years ago

What is the upper temperature setting? 

147 Messages

3 years ago

Looks like it'll go as high as 127°F.

8 Messages

3 years ago

Thank you all for the replies.  Maybe the Product Development team could come up with something that would be suitable.  Would even be a safeguard for families that buy bulk from stores like Costco, etc. and have hundreds of dollars in a garage or basement freezer.  A small programmable thermocouple, connected to a transmitter, would do the job.   Product Development?  Thanks again. 

2.2K Messages

@asonofsam They've got 75% of what they need.  The SS3 temperature sensor would do the job if 1) it either could have the option of alarming ONLY for an upper limit exceeded or lower limit exceeded instead of always alarming for either (freezer can vary below zero on occasion, which results in a false alarm) and 2) having the option of an external antenna (extra cost would be acceptable).  My SS3 temperature sensor actually works in the freezer except for the occasional below 0 alarm, but it is only about 10' away from the base and I'm sure the wall of the freezer cuts the signal some so a freezer further away might not be reliable. 

2 Messages

2 years ago

In addition to changing the minimum temperature setting to account for deep freezers, put the actual thermometer   inside the freezer by encasing it in a flat metal strip that attaches to the fridge via adhesive tape. Let the tape connect from the inside to the outside of the fridge, with the fridge seal sealing over it. Sensitive electronics can transmit easier from outside the ice box and the battery will hold a charge longer outside the cold.

2 Messages

2 years ago

A sensor to monitor the inside of refrigerators and freezers would be fantastic!

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