Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/777717
was looking for an alarm system that would alert me if my compressors were down. There were some available at a high cost, and then I found out about the FreezeAlarm from a rink in Michigan. I spoke with the refrigeration technician who was going to install the alarm, and based on his recommendation we decided to try this alarm. After installation I was not sure if it was going to work but after some trial and error, it does! In fact I was called by the alarm alerting me to the fact that I had a high temperature alert. I checked my compressors and found them all disabled. I was off-site, however and could not get them online remotely so I had to go to the facility. After determining the cause, we were able to take care of the problem in a timely manner and never lost a minute of ice time. This happened during the day right after we had checked the compressors. If it had been at night after we closed, six hours could have passed if I did not have this alarm. The alarm we installed to monitor our refrigeration plant is the FreezeAlarm Intermediate (Model FA-I-CCA), which is a low-cost alternative to using a monitoring service. Upon recognizing a problem, the alarm will call up to three phone numbers, alerting you to things such as a drop or rise in temperature, power failure or if the backup battery requires replacing. The alarm will continue to call until one of the three programmed numbers acknowledges the alarm with the user-assigned security code. At any time you can call into the alarm and check the current temperature, power and battery status. The FreezeAlarm is easily used with answering machines and voice mail. The unit has a temperature range of 66˚ to 302˚ Fahrenheit, and the user determines the set point when the alarm will start calling. There is a one-to-120- minute setting for a power outage. Installation is simple and a refrigeration technician is not required. A telephone line is needed, a dedicated line if possible, or your phone system must have battery backup in case of a power failure. You can install the temperature probe in a well if you have one available, or remove insulation and strap it to the line that you want to monitor. There are several lengths of temperature probe cables available, up to one hundred feet in length. The unit comes with a three-foot temperature probe cable, and longer cables are available for additional fees. ★ Information submitted by Jerry Folk, Operations Director at the Carolina Ice Palace in North Charleston, SC 38 R INK MAGAZ INE may/June 2008 rink issues ■ Monitoring Refrigeration Keeping Your Cool I Low-Cost Refrigeration System Monitoring by JERRY FOLK Upon recognizing a problem, the alarm will call up to three phone numbers, alerting you to things such as a drop or rise in temperature or power failure. STAR PHOTO Installation of the FreezeAlarm does not require a technician.