# Cellular-Enabled Power Outage Detector with Twilio SMS Notifications - stops working after several hours **URL:** \ **Category:** Uncategorized\ **Created:** [August 16, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940 "2022-08-16T16:11:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:11pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/1 "2022-08-16T16:11:28Z")
Hi, I have followed Rob’s blog post on how to build the power outage detector, and after having initial success, the project has stopped working. I have checked the Notecard and it is working. Nothing happens when I unplug the USB cable… the card will not wake up and transmit. I can connect to the playground and issue commands to the card, but other than that, nada. Anyone have any idea as to what could be happening? Thanks, Mike ![IMG-3048](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/uploads/blues/original/1X/55efa9e9fe300435f3537002831c178628d09236.jpeg) ---
**Author:** ![zfields](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/zfields/32/29_2.png) [@zfields](https://discuss.blues.com/u/zfields)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:16pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/2 "2022-08-16T16:16:56Z")
I think it would be easier to diagnose if you could share a picture of your build? Best, Zak ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:23pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/3 "2022-08-16T16:23:25Z")
I added a pic of the build. Thanks, Mike ---
**Author:** ![zfields](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/zfields/32/29_2.png) [@zfields](https://discuss.blues.com/u/zfields)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:28pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/4 "2022-08-16T16:28:08Z")
Thanks for the pic Mike, I’m not sure this is your current problem, but the tiny uFL cables hanging off of MAIN and GPS are a ticking time bomb for causing a short circuit. Can you also share your setup script, while we wait for Rob to weigh in? Thanks, Zak ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:34pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/5 "2022-08-16T16:34:30Z")
Yikes… I will take care of the wires now. ---
**Author:** ![zfields](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/zfields/32/29_2.png) [@zfields](https://discuss.blues.com/u/zfields)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:38pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/6 "2022-08-16T16:38:02Z")
Last question for the moment, what version of the Notecard firmware are you running? ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 16, 2022, 4:42pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/7 "2022-08-16T16:42:23Z")
I am using 3.4.1.15117. After I disconnected the LIPO and removed the LTE cable, and I connected the GPS cable, the Notecard came to life and started working again. As for the script, I just followed Rob’s instructions verbatim. Thanks, Mike ---
**Author:** ![RobLauer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/roblauer/32/1567_2.png) [@RobLauer](https://discuss.blues.com/u/RobLauer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 1:02pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/8 "2022-08-18T13:02:41Z")
Hi @mikec, Just wanted to let you know that we are looking into this still and trying to reproduce the issue locally. Will be in touch! Rob ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 2:01pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/9 "2022-08-18T14:01:29Z")
Hi Rob, I think it’s also possible a low voltage condition was occurring… I had left the board connected to my laptop ( while leaving the laptop running). I decided to plug the board into a 5 volt power supply to see if this made a difference. After I did this, I have not had any problems. Thanks, Mike ---
**Author:** ![RobLauer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/roblauer/32/1567_2.png) [@RobLauer](https://discuss.blues.com/u/RobLauer)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 3:08pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/10 "2022-08-18T15:08:54Z")
@mikec, It’s also possible that if the antenna coaxes were shorting for too long, your LiPo battery voltage may have gone below the physical damage level of 3.2V. Thus, the LiPo may not keep a charge or may not be able to deliver current pulses to the Notecard and should be replaced. Rob ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 18, 2022, 3:29pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/11 "2022-08-18T15:29:55Z")
Thanks for letting me know that. I’ll get a replacement. Thanks, Mike ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2022, 12:29pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/12 "2022-08-21T12:29:55Z")
I read in a separate post Blues is working on a LIC… this seems like a good fit for an autonomous power outage monitor. Mike ---
**Author:** ![RobLauer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/roblauer/32/1567_2.png) [@RobLauer](https://discuss.blues.com/u/RobLauer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 2:19pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/13 "2022-08-23T14:19:29Z")
@mikec - Just a quick FYI. I’ve switched to using a 20K ohm resistor in place of the wire in this project. It’s just a “safer” option. While the wire is safe in this config, with a slightly different set of commands you could potentially wreck your hardware! Rob ---
**Author:** ![mikec](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/977dab/32.png) [@mikec](https://discuss.blues.com/u/mikec)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 2:33pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/14 "2022-08-23T14:33:37Z")
Thanks for letting me know. By the way, would it be safe to directly wire my carrier to a wall outlet, or would I need a converter? Thanks, Mike ---
**Author:** ![RobLauer](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/discuss.blues.com/roblauer/32/1567_2.png) [@RobLauer](https://discuss.blues.com/u/RobLauer)\ **Post date:** [August 23, 2022, 3:11pm UTC](https://discuss.blues.com/t/cellular-enabled-power-outage-detector-with-twilio-sms-notifications-stops-working-after-several-hours/940/15 "2022-08-23T15:11:41Z")
You really don’t want to send 120 volts directly to the Notecarrier 🙂. I would stick with using Micro-USB and a quality wall adapter.