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IoT Equipment Monitoring

Monitor all your restaurant equipment in real-time with IoT sensors, automated alerts, and AI-powered predictive maintenance.

Overview

The Equipment Monitoring system helps you:

  • Track temperatures in refrigerators, freezers, and food prep areas
  • Monitor HVAC systems and kitchen equipment health
  • Receive alerts before equipment fails
  • Maintain HACCP compliance with automated logging
  • Reduce energy costs with usage analytics
  • Extend equipment life with predictive maintenance

For alert configuration, predictive maintenance, and energy monitoring, see Alerts & Maintenance.

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ EQUIPMENT MONITORING DASHBOARD │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ TEMPERATURE STATUS All Normal ✓ │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ Walk-in Freezer -8°F ✓ Last reading: 2 min ago │
│ Walk-in Cooler 36°F ✓ Last reading: 2 min ago │
│ Prep Cooler 38°F ✓ Last reading: 2 min ago │
│ Dessert Cooler 34°F ✓ Last reading: 2 min ago │
│ Line Cooler 37°F ⚠ Trending up (+2°F/hr) │
│ │
│ EQUIPMENT HEALTH │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ Fryer #1 Normal ✓ Efficiency: 94% │
│ Fryer #2 Normal ✓ Efficiency: 91% │
│ Grill Normal ✓ Efficiency: 96% │
│ HVAC Unit 1 Normal ✓ Runtime: 6.2 hrs today │
│ Oven #1 Warning ⚠ Heating cycle +15% longer │
│ │
│ ALERTS TODAY: 2 │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ ⚠ 10:34 AM - Line Cooler temperature trending high │
│ ⚠ 8:15 AM - Oven #1 heating cycle anomaly detected │
│ │
│ ENERGY USAGE: $47.23 today (12% below average) │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Supported Equipment & Sensors

Temperature Sensors

Sensor TypeUse CaseRangeAccuracy
Refrigeration ProbeWalk-in coolers, reach-ins-40F to 120F+/-0.5F
Freezer ProbeWalk-in freezers, ice machines-40F to 32F+/-0.5F
Ambient SensorKitchen, prep areas, dining32F to 120F+/-1F
Food ProbeInternal food temps-40F to 450F+/-1F
Door SensorCooler/freezer door openN/AN/A

Equipment Monitors

Monitor TypeEquipmentMetrics Tracked
Power MonitorAll electric equipmentVoltage, amperage, kWh
Compressor MonitorRefrigeration unitsCycles, runtime, efficiency
HVAC MonitorAC units, heatingRuntime, temperature, filter status
Fryer MonitorDeep fryersOil temp, heating cycles
Oven/Grill MonitorOvens, grills, griddlesTemperature accuracy, preheat time

Supported Sensor Brands

BrandModelsConnection
TempAlertT200, T300, T400WiFi, Cellular
EmersonGO Real-Time, Testo 184WiFi, Bluetooth
Cooper-AtkinsWiFi SeriesWiFi
ThermoworksBlueDOT, SignalsBluetooth, WiFi
SensorPushHT1, HT.wWiFi, Bluetooth

Sensor Setup

Adding Temperature Sensors

  1. Go to Manager > Equipment > Sensors
  2. Click + Add Sensor
  3. Select sensor type and brand
  4. Follow pairing instructions:

For WiFi Sensors:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ ADD WIFI SENSOR │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 1. Power on the sensor │
│ 2. Wait for sensor to enter pairing mode (blinking LED) │
│ 3. Connect to sensor's WiFi network: "TempAlert-XXXX" │
│ 4. Return to app - sensor auto-detected │
│ 5. Select your restaurant WiFi network │
│ 6. Enter WiFi password │
│ 7. Sensor connects and begins reporting │
│ │
│ Status: Searching for sensors... │
│ │
│ [Cancel] [Retry Search] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Configuring Sensor Location

After adding, configure the sensor:

  1. Name: Descriptive name (e.g., "Walk-in Freezer #1")
  2. Location: Where sensor is installed
  3. Equipment Type: Freezer, cooler, ambient, etc.
  4. Alert Thresholds: Min/max safe temperatures
  5. Reading Interval: How often to report (1-60 min)

Placement Best Practices

EquipmentSensor PlacementNotes
Walk-in CoolerCenter, at product levelNot near door or cooling unit
Walk-in FreezerCenter, away from evaporatorAvoid ice buildup areas
Reach-inMiddle shelf, centerNot on door shelves
Prep TableNear food storage wellsMonitor during service
Hot HoldingNear productAbove food level

Temperature Monitoring

Real-Time Dashboard

View all temperatures at a glance:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TEMPERATURE MONITORING │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ REFRIGERATION │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ Walk-in │ │ Walk-in │ │ Prep │ │
│ │ Freezer │ │ Cooler │ │ Cooler │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ -8°F │ │ 36°F │ │ 38°F │ │
│ │ ✓ │ │ ✓ │ │ ✓ │ │
│ │ │ │ │ │ │ │
│ │ Range: │ │ Range: │ │ Range: │ │
│ │ -10 to 0°F │ │ 33 to 40°F │ │ 33 to 40°F │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │
│ │
│ TEMPERATURE HISTORY (Walk-in Cooler - Last 24 Hours) │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ 40°F ┤ │
│ 38°F ┤────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ 36°F ┤ │
│ 34°F ┤ │
│ 32°F ┤ │
│ └────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ 12AM 4AM 8AM 12PM 4PM 8PM 12AM │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Temperature Thresholds

Configure safe temperature ranges:

Equipment TypeSafe RangeWarningCritical
Freezer-10F to 0F0F to 10FAbove 10F
Cooler33F to 40F40F to 45FAbove 45F
Hot Holding135F to 165F125F to 135FBelow 125F
Cold Holding33F to 41F41F to 45FAbove 45F

Door Open Tracking

Monitor cooler and freezer door activity:

MetricPurpose
Door Open CountTrack access frequency
Open DurationTime door left open
Prolonged OpensAlert if open > threshold
Peak TimesIdentify high-traffic periods

Equipment Health Monitoring

Compressor Monitoring

Track refrigeration compressor health:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ COMPRESSOR HEALTH - Walk-in Cooler │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ STATUS: Normal ✓ │
│ │
│ TODAY'S METRICS │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ Runtime: 8.2 hours (68% duty cycle) │
│ Cycles: 24 (normal) │
│ Avg Cycle Length: 20.5 minutes │
│ Power Draw: 1.8 kW average │
│ Efficiency Score: 94% │
│ │
│ TRENDS (vs. 30-day average) │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ Runtime: +5% (within normal) │
│ Cycle Frequency: Normal │
│ Power Draw: -2% (good) │
│ │
│ MAINTENANCE │
│ ───────────────────────────────── │
│ Last Service: 45 days ago │
│ Next Recommended: 45 days (coil cleaning) │
│ Compressor Age: 2.3 years │
│ │
│ AI INSIGHT: "Compressor running 5% longer due to recent │
│ warm weather. Performance is normal. Consider cleaning │
│ condenser coils at next scheduled maintenance." │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

HVAC Monitoring

Track heating and cooling systems:

MetricDescriptionAlert Threshold
Runtime HoursDaily operation time> 16 hrs continuous
Cycle CountStart/stop frequency< 3 or > 10 per hour
Temperature DeltaSupply vs return air< 15F or > 25F
Filter StatusPressure differentialCalculated replacement
Energy UsagekWh consumption> 20% above baseline

Kitchen Equipment

Monitor cooking equipment health:

Fryers:

  • Oil temperature accuracy
  • Heating element efficiency
  • Recovery time after cooking
  • Oil degradation indicators

Ovens/Grills:

  • Temperature accuracy
  • Preheat time trends
  • Hot/cold spots detection
  • Door seal integrity (heat loss)

Ice Machines:

  • Production rate
  • Cycle efficiency
  • Bin fill level
  • Water usage

HACCP Compliance

Automated Temperature Logging

All temperature readings are automatically logged for HACCP compliance:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ HACCP TEMPERATURE LOG - January 23, 2026 │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Equipment 6AM 8AM 10AM 12PM 2PM 4PM 6PM │
│ ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── │
│ Walk-in Freezer -8°F -7°F -8°F -8°F -7°F -8°F -8°F │
│ Walk-in Cooler 36°F 36°F 37°F 38°F 37°F 36°F 36°F │
│ Prep Cooler 38°F 38°F 39°F 40°F 38°F 38°F 38°F │
│ Hot Holding Station 142°F 145°F 148°F 150°F 148°F 145°F N/A │
│ │
│ ✓ All readings within safe ranges │
│ ✓ No corrective actions required │
│ │
│ Logged by: Automated IoT System │
│ Verified by: ___________________ (Manager signature) │
│ │
│ [Print Log] [Export PDF] [Email to Health Dept] │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Corrective Action Logging

When temperatures go out of range:

  1. System automatically logs the deviation
  2. Prompts for corrective action
  3. Records action taken
  4. Tracks time to resolution
  5. Generates compliance report

Compliance Reports

Generate reports for health inspections:

ReportContentFormat
Daily Temperature LogAll readings, deviations, actionsPDF, Excel
Monthly SummaryCompliance rate, issues, trendsPDF
Deviation ReportAll out-of-range eventsPDF, Excel
Equipment CalibrationSensor calibration recordsPDF

Voice Commands

Use Hey Maximus for equipment monitoring:

CommandAction
"Hey Maximus, what's the freezer temperature?"Current freezer reading
"Check all cooler temps"Summary of all refrigeration
"Any equipment alerts?"List current alerts
"Show energy usage today"Today's power consumption
"When is the HVAC filter due?"Next maintenance date
"Log cooler temperature check"Manual temp verification

Troubleshooting

Sensor Issues

IssuePossible CauseSolution
No readingsWiFi disconnectedCheck sensor WiFi connection
Inaccurate tempsSensor needs calibrationRun calibration or replace
Intermittent dataWeak signalMove sensor or add repeater
Battery lowNormal wearReplace battery

Alert Issues

IssueSolution
Too many alertsAdjust thresholds, enable smart alerting
Missing alertsCheck notification settings and contact info
False alarmsReview alert rules, enable AI filtering
Delayed alertsCheck network connectivity

Getting Help