A hardware ZABBIX Agent made with PIC18F67J60 microcontroller

[troffasky]

Here is my wish list for a small monitoring device:

- Speaks SNMP and Zabbix
- Powered by 802.3af
- Temperature and humidity sensors, and a clamp-on ammeter
- Cheap!
- Fully configurable remotely [without DIP switches, jumpers, etc]

The purpose of the clamp-on ammeter would be so that it could monitor power consumption for device, a circuit with several devices on or even an entire premises, and easily be moved around without rewiring [and the attendant costs and risks] and without downtime for the monitored circuit. I'm not an electrical engineer, however, so I don't know how much of this is possible!

[nelsonab]

- Temperature and humidity sensors, and a clamp-on ammeter

The purpose of the clamp-on ammeter would be so that it could monitor power consumption for device, a circuit with several devices on or even an entire premises, and easily be moved around without rewiring [and the attendant costs and risks] and without downtime for the monitored circuit. I'm not an electrical engineer, however, so I don't know how much of this is possible!

You may or may not know this already but this was something I learned recently. A clip on ammeter does not work unless you physically separate the inbound power wires. If you clip over the whole power cord the inbound and outbound power wires cancel each other out and you get 0 amps on your meter. Had I thought more completely about the physics involved I would have realized this, but practical experience backed it up. So the hopes of quickly moving around the data center to get power consumption isn't quite as simple as it would seem. It's easy, but you will either have to open up power panels or modify your power cords in a manner which will break warranties and make your insurance agent cringe. :-)

[troffasky]

A clip on ammeter does not work unless you physically separate the inbound power wires. If you clip over the whole power cord the inbound and outbound power wires cancel each other out and you get 0 amps on your meter.

You're right, I didn't know this. Makes sense when you think about it, I suppose!

[rejoc]

Check for power injectors

When will a Version with Power over Ethernet of the Hardware Zabbix Agent be available?

Google for "POE power injector" and you'll find many converters. I'm sure there is one that fits the need.

Not as clean as an integrated POE interface but immediately available

[Jason]

You may or may not know this already but this was something I learned recently. A clip on ammeter does not work unless you physically separate the inbound power wires. If you clip over the whole power cord the inbound and outbound power wires cancel each other out and you get 0 amps on your meter. Had I thought more completely about the physics involved I would have realized this, but practical experience backed it up. So the hopes of quickly moving around the data center to get power consumption isn't quite as simple as it would seem. It's easy, but you will either have to open up power panels or modify your power cords in a manner which will break warranties and make your insurance agent cringe. :-)

Couldn't you just put a little box with IEC connectors on in and out and then a CT inside it to capture the current on the live? As you only need an average/RMS you don't need high bandwidth so the CTs are quite cheap.

[yo2lio]

When will a Version with Power over Ethernet of the Hardware Zabbix Agent be available?

I designed new versions for Hardware Zabbix agents, with POE.
Will be compatible with IEEE 802.3af standard.

More info and pictures, soon...

[nelsonab]

Awesome news!

[Jason]

Is there any more info on the new HW agent?

[nelsonab]

Is there any more info on the new HW agent?

I think they are available now. I talked with Florin a month or two ago and I recall him saying they would be available soon at that time.

What specifically are you interested in knowing?

[bsilva]

Errata for Humidity sensor module.

I'm not sure if the two I got were just different, but the documentation for the sensor wiring shows GREEN being humidity and YELLOW being temperature.

The two units I have are reversed. (GREEN temp and YELLOW humidity).


Regards,
Brad

[gospodin.horoshiy]

Just got my HWZA.

Started to explore it and two questions have poped up eventually:

1) Both of my temp sensors values are 12793 when polled as tmp[*].
I know that it is temperature multiplied by 100, still 127 C is a bit extreme, also it's constant.

Item type: Zabbix agent
Key: tmp[0]
Type of information: Unsigned
Data type: Decimal

UPD: Ok, this one solved - I had disabled Parasite Power in sensor config, while it should be on

2) How do I poll humidity from a humidity sensor?

UPD: Found the formula as well
Humidity = Anx Voltage * 0.3
Thnx

[yo2lio]

Hello,

great !!!!

[alfsolli]

AC Current Monitoring Agent

Hi Florin (and everyone).

I just ordered a handfull of the Hardware Zabbix Agent V4, but got curious about the AC Current monitoring agent. So could you kindly answer a few questions, or point me to any online docs (which I couldn't readily find on your page) ?

1) Does the Hardware Zabbix Agent V4 draw power from PoE?
In any case, you mention it uses 9-20V, but nothing about amps.
I'm not an electrical engineer, but was thinking about using a standard AT(X) power supply, and centrally power all of them, possibly with a 9V battery as backup individually. Any comments?

2) Can you explain how to use the AC current monitoring device?
Do I need to cut wires on whatever I want to monitor with this?
Also, does it monitor Volts or Amps?
(Like I said, I'm no engineer, but I assumed amps, since you say "current".. correct me if I'm way off here)

Kind regards
Alf Solli

[gospodin.horoshiy]

Hello again,
what is the maximum length of the sensor wire? Aprox.
Thnx

[yo2lio]

1) Does the Hardware Zabbix Agent V4 draw power from PoE?
In any case, you mention it uses 9-20V, but nothing about amps.
I'm not an electrical engineer, but was thinking about using a standard AT(X) power supply, and centrally power all of them, possibly with a 9V battery as backup individually. Any comments?

The POE version is not available yet...
The standard agent, need 40mA at 12V DC power supply.

2) Can you explain how to use the AC current monitoring device?
Do I need to cut wires on whatever I want to monitor with this?
Also, does it monitor Volts or Amps?

Yes, you need to cut the wire, and put this through current sensor hole.
This agent measure only the average current / 1sec.