Block 3 is dry at 6 am and nobody knows when the pump stopped
An irrigation pump power failure alarm is for the morning you find a dry block and can't say when the pump quit. A pump that stopped at 11:40 pm and one that never started look the same at 6 am.
CANEGROWERS reported, around 2019, that Childers irrigators found paddocks unwatered morning after morning because power dropped out overnight. Storm season runs October to December, right in the irrigation season (Queensland Government, 2018).
A lost phase is the sneaky one. The lights stay on while the motor hums on two phases and cooks, Macromatic, a controls maker, reports.
- Network outage or storm damage
- Tripped breaker or blown fuse
- VSD or controller fault
- Generator that didn't start
Today versus with a pump power failure alarm
| Topic | Today | With monitoring |
|---|---|---|
| Finding out | A dry block at first light | A text within minutes of the supply dropping |
| One phase lost | Controls stay live, motor cooks quietly | The phase relay reports it to your phone |
| Ergon's outage text | Covers the network, not your breaker or VSD | Watches your own supply and pump current |
What we fit at the pump shed
-
Mains loss sensor
Sits on the incomer so it sees the utility, not a downstream breaker.
Own battery
-
Pump feeder clamp
Shows whether the motor is pulling current inside your run windows.
Alert after 2 min low
-
Phase relay input
Reads a phase monitoring relay's dry contact, plus a generator run signal.
One relay per supply
-
Gateway on the roof
Collects every sensor by radio and runs from a charged battery.
Heartbeat checked every 50 min
-
Starlink or 4G
Gets the text out of the shed, whichever suits the coverage.
Example 4G runtime about 5 days
How an irrigation pump power failure alarm works at the shed
- 1
Sensors watch the supply
A battery-backed sensor sits on the incomer. A clamp on the pump feeder and a phase relay see the rest.
- 2
Radio to the gateway
Readings go by LoRaWAN (long range wide area network) radio to a gateway on the shed roof.
- 3
Starlink or 4G sends the text
The gateway sends an SMS and email to the people you nominate, by Starlink or 4G.
- 4
Silent shed is an alert too
If the gateway stops checking in, a site silent alert goes out after 50 minutes.
The same night, with and without a text
Without monitoring
- 11:40 pmPower drops. The pump stops mid-set.
- 2:00 amBlock 3's turn comes. Nothing runs.
- 6:00 amYou find Block 3 dry. Who knows why.
With monitoring
- 11:40 pmPower drops. The mains sensor sends on battery.
- 11:43 pmThe text lands on your phone.
- 12:30 amExample: pump's back on. About 50 minutes lost.
What lands on your phone when the pump drops out
Pump feeder current, example night
Dashboard view
- Mains at incomer
- Lost
- Pump feeder
- 0 A
- Gateway battery
- OK
On an orchard or farm pump shed
We check the supply first: single or three phase, any generator. Then we test Starlink sky view or 4G at the shed and note your blocks and run windows.
Want to know why the pump tripped? See the irrigation pump trip alert. For a pump that's running but not pushing water, see orchard irrigation pump failure.
If pressure and flow matter too, add irrigation pump pressure monitoring. For the power bill, see irrigation pump electricity cost.
What it costs
We fix the price after a short scoping call or a site visit. It depends on the number of sensors, the distance to the gateway and how the alert gets out. Ongoing support is available as a plan after handover.
Get a quote for a pump power alarmThe fixed price covers
- Sensors at the incomer, pump feeder and any phase relay input
- Gateway, battery and Starlink or 4G backhaul
- Installation and electrical work under QLD Electrical Contractor Licence 1513082
- Alert set-up, run windows, recipients and a simulated outage test
- An ongoing support plan with a weekly test message
What this alarm won't do
- It alerts people. It doesn't start the pump, and LoRaWAN readings arrive every few minutes, not live.
- Feeder current shows the motor drawing power, not water reaching the blocks. A burst mainline or closed valve won't show.
- Your phase failure relays and motor protection stay in place. Generator and changeover work stays with a licensed electrician.
- The text only reaches phones with coverage, so we set up at least two people. We promise no response time.