Project

I'm looking for feasibility and/or support in starting a project. I'm new to the community and am looking forward to learning more about everything. That said, here is my project:

I need to create an arduino device that measures if something (110v) is on or off, and the time that is on or off to the second, sent to a website via WiFi. Must be accurate, easily configurable and hard wired into a 110v power source. Battery power is an option but I have no clue about expense. Also hopefully last a long time.

My idea to measure if it is to either tie in to the wire that powers the motor or use a voltage detector that wraps around the wire.

Trying to keep this as low cost as possible.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or strategies, products, etc...

Working with 110v is not for absolute beginners.

Also I don't know what you mean by saying "on" or "off"
What is on or off?

It runs intermittently, so maybe better to say powered or not powered? I was wondering if there is a way to splice/hard wire in a phone charger to power the Arduino or buy a product that is an inline 5v converter.

yesislanders:
I'm looking for feasibility and/or support in starting a project. I'm new to the community and am looking forward to learning more about everything. That said, here is my project:

I need to create an arduino device that measures if something (110v) is on or off, and the time that is on or off to the second, sent to a website via WiFi. Must be accurate, easily configurable and hard wired into a 110v power source. Battery power is an option but I have no clue about expense. Also hopefully last a long time.

My idea to measure if it is to either tie in to the wire that powers the motor or use a voltage detector that wraps around the wire.

Trying to keep this as low cost as possible.

Thanks in advance for any ideas or strategies, products, etc...

Based on your requirements, you will need a real time clock module and have code to set the time once whenever necessary. You also require a battery that will last a long time. You decide what that actually means.

Then you want to send something to a web site via wifi. If so, then you need to ensure that web site is available and the wifi connection is usable at all times.

If you need accurate to the second, you will probably need to keep the device connected to a PC and communicate the current time to a PC program that knows the current time and will alarm fi the Arduino clock is in error.

Just a small cheap project!

Paul

A WeMos D1 mini can connect to a local NTP server to get accurate internet time.
And the crystal clock on it is very accurate between those NTP updates (so is millis() or micros()).
It can connect to a website to store timestamped events,
or log those events on it's internal 4MB flash memory (SPIFFS).
A phone charger can be used to power the WeMos.
Or, if battery backup is needed, use a powerbank (mine runs 36hours on a 5Ah PB).
The phone charger can charge the PB while powering the WeMos.
The 110volt sensing part can/should be done with an opto coupler.
Steep learning curve though. Start here.
Leo..

Is it possible to hard wire a phone charger to a 110v wire in a Junction box? Also to connect a way to detect the voltage passing through the wore to the motor tn the Webmos D1.

Don't do that. You do not want to have an electrical connection from the 5 volt system and the 110 volt system.

For your safety, start with a simpler project and learn what you are doing. 110 volt projects cannot safely be done cheaply, especially by a beginner!

Ok, then what is the longest life for a suitable battery for this device? Something that can fit together and hopefully not break the bank?

Google non-contact voltage detector.

Yes, I did yesterday and think it is a viable option.

Still not sure what you are trying to measure.

Is it the presence of 110V? If so, how do you provide power to the arduino when it's NOT present?
Or do you want to detect whether a significant amount of current is drawn?

Yes, measuring the duration of the presence of 110. I have a source of constant 110 in a junction box about 3-5 feet from the area I want to measure.

Well then, connect another USB power supply to the 110V you want to measure and check for presence of 5V on its output.

There is a power switch in the junction box that I could swap. I was looking for switch / USB combos bit could only see one at home Depot for about $33 with tax. Any clue if there is a reliable, cheaper option out there?