Remote monitoring system

A method of monitoring a system having a vacuum pump, the method comprising:

• measuring a vacuum level of a conduit in the system having the vacuum pump;
• simultaneously measuring an ambient temperature;
• comparing the vacuum level to a first predetermined vacuum threshold;
• comparing the measured ambient temperature to a turn-off temperature threshold;
• transmitting a first cellular SMS text message communication based on at least one of the measured vacuum level being less than the first predetermined vacuum threshold and the measured ambient temperature being less than the turn-off temperature threshold;
• comparing the measured vacuum level to a second predetermined vacuum threshold;
• transmitting a second cellular SMS text message communication based on the vacuum level being less than the second predetermined vacuum threshold;
• and
• turning off the vacuum pump based on the at least one of vacuum level being less than the second predetermined vacuum threshold and the measured ambient temperature being less than the turn-off temperature threshold,
• wherein cellular SMS text message communications received at a communications circuit of the system are plain text messages that include at least:
• ?status, ?tank, ?temp, and ?vac, wherein each command having a leading ? is a query from a user that prompts a cellular SMS text message communication to be transmitted from the communications circuit.

A remote monitoring system for a maple sap collection system, the maple sap collection system having a conduit coupled to a plurality of maple trees and a vacuum pump coupled between the conduit and a collection tank, the remote monitoring system comprising:

• a vacuum/pressure sensor coupled to the conduit;
• a temperature sensor positioned to measure an ambient temperature;
• a float sensor disposed within the collection tank;
• and
• a controller operably coupled to the vacuum/pressure sensor and the temperature sensor, the controller having a communications circuit that is operable to transmit cellular SMS text message communications and to receive cellular SMS text message communications, the controller having one or more processors that are responsive to nontransitory executable computer instructions, the one or more processors being configured to change an operation of the vacuum pump in response to operating signals received from the communications circuit, the temperature sensor, the vacuum/pressure sensor, and the float sensor,
• wherein the one or more processors are configured to convert the received cellular SMS text message communications into operating signals upon the receipt of cellular SMS text message communications at the communications circuit, and
• wherein the controller is configured to be simultaneously responsive to the operating signals received from each of the communications circuit, the temperature sensor, the vacuum/pressure sensor, and the float sensor,
• wherein the cellular SMS text message communications received at the communications circuit are plain text messages that include at least:
• ?status, ?tank, ?temp, and ?vac, wherein each command having a leading ? is a query from a user that prompts a cellular SMS text message communication to be transmitted from the communications circuit.