A condition monitoring sensor system having a power supply; a condition monitoring sensor; a processor; a permanently powered power-on timer; and a watchdog timer. The permanently powered power-on timer is set for a first predetermined duration and is configured to wake the processor by connecting the processor to the power supply if the power-on timer elapses. Upon waking up, the processor is configured to reset the power-on timer to the first predetermined duration and is configured to control at least the condition monitoring sensor. The condition monitoring sensor may take condition monitoring data. Upon waking up, the processor is configured to set the watchdog timer for a second predetermined duration. The watchdog timer is powered via the power supply, which forces the processor and the watchdog timer to enter a sleep mode by disconnecting the processor and the watchdog timer from the power supply if the watchdog timer elapses.