Security system for house?

[Al 1953]

Can anyone recommend a DIY security system for my house - something that's easily available, easy to install and is effective but not costing the earth.

Alternatively, a good book or online guide about designing a good system? I am in a high-risk area now, and I'm literally *expecting* a burgar or arson or vandalism attack on my house before long. The back of the house is particularly secluded. There are neighbouring houses, but the back garden is secluded, as is the driveway leading to it. I think I'm going to want about 3 or more cameras in operation, and a couple of external PIR's to trigger an alarm perhaps.

I don;t just want to protect my property, I also want to incriminate the perpertrators with good camera recordings.

I guss it's safe to assume that having movie cameras running 24/7 is going to use masses of storage, so is it posibble to have the cameras triggered by PIR's? What is the best method/media for recording what the cameras see? Can such a system be run on solar-charged batteries alone, so that one is protected even in a power cut?

Many thanks.

Alan

[js.b1]

All alarm systems have a backup battery. Typically a Sealed Lead Acid unit, most can handle 7Ah - the bigger units can handle 12Ah or larger, do not oversize because the charge circuit can sometimes be thermally designed for a certain size.

Alarm panel. Avoid Texecom Excel. They are ok, but the transformers are nasty buzzing creatures that resonate badly.

Lighting. PIR lighting is ok as a deterrent, but continuous low level lighting is very useful on a Dusk-to-Dawn controller. Verify compatibility of controller with your bulb type (eg, some require an incandescent). The "separate cap type" seen on commercial buildings are reliable.

Doors & Locks. Dog bolts on the door (hinge side), and decent double locks 25% & 75% of the way up the door. Door should be hardwood of substantial thickness (avoids kicking in). Any pipework that may be climbed should be anti-climb coated.

Security cameras. Colour required for police, hoods however aren't a good photograph.

Car keys. Locked in a safe inside the house rather than accessible via the letterbox. Very visible security clam over the whole steering wheel (Sold-Secure springs to mind).

Basically you want to drive people away to easier pickings. The professional will simply turn up with a JCB if you have a Chubb safe of gold/notes inside.

[dom]

Seriously - get a dog.

I used to live in an isolated property, in very problematic, extremely rural area - and had multiple break-ins (fortunately always vehicles/ outbuildings - never the main house).

But when I had my 2 jack russels - zip.

Your burglars won't care about bells, whistles and cameras.

They do care about an angry ball of fur and teeth that's taken an instant dislike to them.

But if you must have some technology, the only useful system on a rural property is a monitored system that will call the police - which AFAIK precludes diy systems.

Perhaps you're only ever a couple of minutes away, and an autodialler that texts your mobile is good enough - but my experience was only the dogs kept them out in the first place.

[SantaUK]

A fairly easy install system could be the Honeywell 800L (formerly C&K) - its an 8 zone panel, and very easy to install. Alarm supplies do a trade pack, 4 detectors, 2 contacts, keypad, battery, bell and decoy bellbox for £100+VAT

If however, your up for learning, you could go down the route of a Galaxy system - and if you want to rip the walls apart, I would be looking at putting shock sensors / contacts on each window and door. Better to stop them coming in, as opposed to when they are actually in.

Galaxy can easily text you when the alarm is going off, and tells you each zone etc that is tripped. Best popping over to Ebay for galaxy gear, quite reasonable on there for new and 2nd hand.

For arson, get the Cooper 12 volt combined smoke and heat detector, you choose which setting you want on these, and program them to a zone on your panel.

Cameras - go here,

- very good service off them in the past.

As for protection in a power cut - visit ebay and get a UPS for under £100 - fresh batteries in it every two years, and it will run a DVR, monitor and a few cameras for a decent length of time. However, you could just feed the DVR with this, and use a 12 volt PSU with Battery back up for the cameras - they'll run happily for hours from that!

[Rob]

Really! Can this be done with the 3-48C?

[Owain]

It is probably more useful nowadays to have digital recording triggered by motion detection either in the recording software or in the cameras themselves. I would go for IP CCTV as this is easy to integrate with offsite storage and viewing over mobile phone web browser etc.

there is also a quiet but good forum. Terabyte disk arrays are pretty cheap so storage is not an issue.

Go for megapixel-plus resolution if you can afford it, or High Definition at least.

Owain

[The Medway Handyman]

Never knew such things existed - fascinating, worth a google.

Thanks

[Al 1953]

Very helpful replies there - thank you!

Al

[ARWadsworth]

The police are happy to use my B&W camera recordings as evidence.

Adam

[SantaUK]

Yup, C = Comms - its a great tool :-)

Yours connected to a phone line? Even better if its connected to a Ethernet adapter and accessable through the net, I'd set it up for you. If on the phone line, I'll email you instructions

[Rob]

I am on Redcare. is that a problem ?

[SantaUK]

Theres a few ways that this can be done. At the moment, I would suspect that your redcare is connected to the telephone line, and that the alarm signals are sent to your redcare line via outputs (such as intruder, fire, pa etc), either from the main panel, or if more are needed, from another RIO. If this is the case, then you can connect the normal phone line to your main panel, inside and on the motherboard, the connections are there.

Then it simply a case of setting up the SMS messaging service, telling the panel what to transmit via SMS, ie open / closes, intruder, fire etc and away you go.

If your on Redcare, is this a contracted alarm panel?

[Rob]

Not a contract system. Via BT line from the main panel which has a Redcare board interface. Its maintained and monitored according to ACPO rules. I'd probably get an Engineer to do it since the last thing I want is any falsies.

[SantaUK]

If it is maintained, then you can contact your alarm company and tell them you want the engineer to setup the SMS on it. It will work via the phone line and isn't too dificult to setup.

If you want the manuals to look at, let me know and I'll email them to you.

[Rob]

Would appreciate sight of the manuals: robinatcop-security.com Thanks

[Theo's Trio]

What about a dog?

[dennis]

A quick spray with plus gas used to be the easy way to deal with a dog, I don't know if they still sell plus gas but there are other alternatives.

[Theo's Trio]

What about a dog with a gas mask?

[geoff]

Might stop it trying to lick its balls