Introduction: When the Lights Go Out
Power outages don’t just leave you fumbling for candles. They can spoil hundreds of dollars’ worth of food, flood a basement when the sump pump stops, stress pets that rely on aeration or heating, or even burst pipes in winter when the furnace shuts off.
Most people only think about it when the lights flicker. By then, it’s too late. If you’re away from home—on vacation, at work, or managing a rental property—you need to know immediately when the power goes down so you can take action before damage sets in.
That’s where DeadJim comes in.
Instead of selling you a new piece of hardware or tying you to a pricey subscription, DeadJim lets you bring your own device (BYOD). Any internet-connected computer, server, NAS, or even a dusty laptop can become a power outage watchdog, running a free DeadJim agent that alerts you the moment things go dark.
This isn’t just about convenience—it’s about protecting your home, pets, and property with tools you already own.
Why Power Monitoring Matters More Than You Think
It’s easy to underestimate the ripple effects of a power outage, especially if you’re not home. Let’s break down the key risks:
- Food Safety: A fridge without power for four hours is already questionable. Freezers may keep food safe for longer, but extended outages mean spoilage and potential food-borne illness.
- Pet Safety: Aquariums depend on circulation and aeration. Reptiles and small mammals may require heat lamps. Even dogs and cats rely on HVAC to stay safe in extreme temperatures.
- Home Safety: No power to the sump pump? Say hello to a flooded basement. In winter, no furnace means frozen and burst pipes.
- Business Continuity: Remote workers, servers, or small businesses can lose revenue if equipment shuts down without warning.
If you only care about minor convenience, maybe knowing when the lights go out is just “nice to have.” But if your livelihood, property, or loved ones depend on it, early alerts are non-negotiable.
What to Look For in a Power Alert Solution
Before diving into specific approaches, keep three key questions in mind:
- How Critical Is It? If outages are a nuisance, a single alert method is fine. If the risk is catastrophic—say, pipes freezing or a commercial freezer thawing—you need redundancy.
- How Will the Alert Reach You? Wi-Fi solutions stop working when the router goes dark. Internet-ping solutions can trigger false alarms if your ISP hiccups. Cellular options work better, but add cost.
- What Exactly Are You Monitoring? Do you just need to know if the entire home lost power? Or do you want to monitor a specific outlet that runs your sump pump or freezer? The more precise, the more useful.
With those in mind, let’s look at the traditional options—and then show you how DeadJim changes the game.
Traditional Ways People Get Power Outage Alerts
Piggyback on Smart Devices
Some smart home gear—security cameras, thermostats, routers—will ping you when they go offline. For example, a Nest camera sends an alert if it disconnects from the cloud.
Pros: Convenient if you already own the device.
Cons: Prone to false positives. Was it a power outage? An internet hiccup? Wi-Fi drop? You won’t know. Worse, you may get an “offline” alert without a corresponding “back online” update.
Utility Company Notifications
Most modern utilities offer outage alerts if you have a smart meter. You can log in, sign up for SMS or email notifications, and know when your meter loses power.
Pros: Reliable at the meter level, usually free.
Cons: Can’t tell you what’s happening inside your home. If your breaker tripped or just one circuit went out, you won’t know.
Dedicated Cellular Monitors
Specialty devices like iSocket or MarCell plug into an outlet and use mobile networks to text or email you when the power fails.
Pros: Independent of Wi-Fi, highly reliable.
Cons: Costly upfront, often require subscriptions. Good for remote cabins or mission-critical monitoring, but overkill for everyday homeowners.
The DeadJim Difference: Bring Your Own Device
DeadJim flips the script. Instead of buying another box, you use devices you already own—anything that’s usually on and connected to the internet:
- A home server or NAS.
- An old laptop collecting dust.
- A Raspberry Pi running in the corner.
- Even your desktop, if you typically leave it on.
Install the free DeadJim agent, and that device becomes a watchdog. It checks in with DeadJim’s servers at regular intervals. If it stops responding, DeadJim assumes power or internet failure and sends you an alert.
When the device comes back online, you’ll get a follow-up notification: “Power restored.”
No new hardware. Just smart use of what you already own.
How DeadJim Agents Work in Practice
Here’s the lifecycle of a DeadJim alert:
- Normal Check-Ins Your device runs the agent in the background, pinging DeadJim servers.
- Outage Detection When the pings stop, DeadJim knows something’s wrong—power failure, network down, or both.
- Immediate Alerts DeadJim notifies you via email (and soon SMS, Slack, or other channels).
- Recovery Notification Once your device reconnects, DeadJim updates you: “Back online.”
You’ll always know not just when the power went out—but when it’s safe again.
Why BYOD Beats Traditional Options
Let’s line it up:
| Option | Downsides | DeadJim Advantage |
|---|---|---|
| Smart devices offline | False positives, no consistent “back online” | Accurate offline/online cycle |
| Utility company alerts | Only at meter, not inside the house | Works at the outlet/circuit level |
| Cellular monitors | Expensive, proprietary subscriptions | Free, runs on your own gear |
| DeadJim BYOD | None if you’ve got an always-on device | Flexible, low-cost, customisable alerts |
Real-World Scenarios Where DeadJim Shines
- Travelling Professional: Your home server runs a simple DeadJim Agent. When power fails, you get notified immediately—even while abroad.
- Aquarium Owner: Raspberry Pi/PicoW on the same circuit as your tank keeps you posted, so you can act before fish are at risk.
- Landlord: Spare device in a rental unit alerts you when power goes out between tenants—preventing frozen pipes or flooded basements.
- Remote Worker: Your always-on PC tells you when it’s offline, so you know if it’s a local outage or a bigger internet issue before panicking about work.
- Holiday Cabin: Never worry about your freezer contents defrosting, refreezing, and silently waiting to ruin your next vacation with food poisoning!
Beyond Alerts: What’s Next for DeadJim
Power outage alerts are just the beginning. DeadJim’s service roadmap includes:
- Multi-channel Notifications: Email to start, then SMS and other popular mobile apps.
- Custom Rules: Alert escalation, time frames, channel priority, backup channels and more.
- Agent Packs: FREE Prebuilt agents for Linux, macOS, Windows, Raspberry Pi, even ESP32 boards.
- Open Source Transparency: Code available for inspection—no hidden tricks.
This isn’t a black box you rent—it’s a trustworthy, BYOD platform for power outage awareness and beyond.
Wrapping It Up
Traditional solutions can be costly, depend on third parties, or don’t cover the scenarios that matter most.
DeadJim takes a smarter approach:
- Leverage your own devices.
- Get free, reliable alerts to start.
- Stay in control with no extra hardware.
In a world where outages happen more often—storms, grid strain, infrastructure failures—DeadJim ensures you’re never caught by surprise.
All it takes is one device you already own, running a free agent. That’s it.
Bring your own device. Bring peace of mind. Bring DeadJim.
PS: The Story Behind DeadJim
The idea for “DeadJim” came from a simple question: why pay for pricey, proprietary power monitors when most of us already have internet-connected devices running 24/7? A laptop, a Raspberry Pi or PicoW, a server in the basement—all perfectly capable of keeping watch and sounding the alarm if the power goes down. That’s when the ‘DeadJim’ bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model clicked.
As for the name, that’s a nod to my inner sci-fi nerd. Fans of Star Trek will remember Dr. McCoy’s dry delivery whenever a crew member’s life signs flatlined: “He’s dead, Jim.” In our case, when your device stops checking in, DeadJim calls it. The twist? Unlike in the show, your devices usually come back to life— and DeadJim tells you the moment they do.
Visit ItsDeadJim.com and get started for FREE.
Q&A Summary:
Q: What is DeadJim and how does it work?
A: DeadJim is a service that allows you to monitor power outages using your own devices. It works by running a free DeadJim agent on any internet-connected device you own. This device acts as a watchdog, checking in with DeadJim’s servers regularly. If it stops responding, DeadJim assumes there's a power or internet failure and sends you an alert. Once the device is back online, you get a follow-up notification.
Q: What are the disadvantages of traditional power outage alert solutions?
A: Traditional alert solutions can have various downsides. Smart devices can give false positives and do not always notify when power is restored. Utility company alerts only provide information at the meter level and do not inform about issues inside the house. Cellular monitors can be expensive and often require subscriptions.
Q: What are the advantages of DeadJim over traditional power outage alert solutions?
A: DeadJim offers several advantages over traditional solutions. It provides accurate offline and online cycle information, works at the outlet or circuit level inside the house, and is free. It uses your own devices, avoiding the need for expensive new hardware or subscriptions.
Q: What are some real-world scenarios where DeadJim can be useful?
A: DeadJim can be useful in various scenarios such as for traveling professionals, aquarium owners, landlords, remote workers, and holiday cabin owners. It provides immediate notifications about power outages, allowing users to take action before any damage occurs.
Q: What future enhancements are planned for DeadJim?
A: DeadJim plans to include multi-channel notifications, custom rules for alert escalation, time frames and channel priority, free prebuilt agents for various platforms, and open-source transparency with code available for inspection.
