Budget security

[White Horseradish]

I was looking around in my house the other day and it occurred to me that it would be fairly easy for someone to climb in through the first floor widows while I'm sleeping upstairs.

A dog is out of the question right now for various reasons. Motion detectors aren't a good idea because I have kids that occasionally need a drink in the middle of the night. I am thinking that a simple alarm on the windows is the way to go.

This also needs to be inexpensive. I can install just about anything, so doing the work is not a problem. I need some pointers as to what's out there for equipment. I know I can get door switches at Radio Shack.

Most of my windows (at least the ones big enough to climb through) are the horizontally sliding kind. I could put door switches on them too, but then I couldn't leave them open a crack for ventilation. Also, that probably wouldn't help if somone just broke the glass without moving the frame.

Any ideas and suggestions would be welcome.

[chris in va]

One of the main drawbacks to having that type of window is simply being able to lift it out of the tracks.

One of the better/cheap things I know of is drilling a hole into the frame of both windows and inserting an eye bolt to keep the casual intruder from simply jamming a crowbar underneath and snapping the 'lock'. It's fire friendly too since there's no key or screw to remove when escaping...just pull it out.

I guess in your case just dropping a dowel in the track to keep the BG from sliding the window sideways, like on a door. You mainly just don't want something that physically locks things up so you can't get out in a hurry.

[brerrabbit]

There are actually quite a few solutions, mostly it depends on how much you are willing to spend on a system. Most household systems will run you a few thousand dollars installed. Doing the work yourself will save you a lot of that expense. Electrical/electronic background does come in handy though.

Most alarm systems work off of zones that you can selectively activate/deactivate. Look for a cheap central alarm system that works on a class B installation with remote control, annunciater circuit, and as many zones as you think you will need. Class B means 2 wire zones with a supervisory end of line resistor. You can put a lot of sensors on each zone, but to deactivate one sensor, you have to disable the whole zone.

The cool thing about this type of setup is that it leaves you open to buy a lot of different types of off the shelf sensors that run off of dry contacts. Magnetic switches and glass guard sensors for the windows, magnetic switches for the doors. Motion detectors for outside the house ,etc.

The biggest thing is how much are you willing to spend, and the ability to do the work yourself and make it look good.

[strambo]

A dowel w/ a piece of string to pull it out with attached combined with the bolt idea would be a good cheap physical barrier. For an alarm, they make simple alarms that sound off when one piece is moved away from the other for about $10, battery operated. I'm sure some "Google-FU" will turn up lots of options.

[bogie]

Inside window box full of cacti. Decorative wine bottles on window sill.

[White Horseradish]

brerrabbit, that's what I was thinking of. Installation is a piece of cake. I'm a network admin, I can pull wire.

So, what kind of a sensor would be good for the sliding window?

Bottles and cacti would be fun, and I love that bit in the Death Wish series with the teeth stuck in the board, but with kids of 3 and 6 wandering about that's not an option.

My windows have flip-down stops that prevent them from being slid open from the outsde. I'm more concerned with someone breaking the glass and me not hearing it.

[Tokugawa]

Layer your security- make the approach harder with motion lights, etc. Make the intitial entry hard with window locks, rosebushes, alarm etc.
And buy solid core bedroom doors, with a deadbolt and jamb reinforcers. It should be as hard to get thru the bedroom door as thru the entry door. It is a bad feeling to wake up with multiple invaders around your bed. Trust me on this.

[White Horseradish]

Got the lights. No place to plant rosebushes, though. And the lights didn't stop some drunk from pissing under my window a couple of months ago...

Solid doors are in the plan, but not in the budget right now. My overtime got cut off at work, so we're a bit crimped.

[clt46910]

White Horseradish...If you can pull the wire you could use Magnetic proximity detectors on your sliding windows. Use some type of tab that you could reposition on the sliding windows. That way you could leave your windows a little open to allow airflow and if they are moved the alarm would sound. Get some that operate on a 12 volt system so you could install a battery backup. You would be better off with the shock type break glass senors with small children running around then the acoustic type.

You have the skills. Just may have to look up some stuff you are unfamilar with. With you doing the labor and a little searching for best deals the cost may be a lot less then you think.

[White Horseradish]

Thanks, guys. It's coming together a little better now.

So, any recommendations for the control boxes?

[EddieCoyle]

So, any recommendations for the control boxes?

Can you program a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller)? They're available cheap on Ebay. If you can, get one made by Allen Bradley - there's tons of info on programming AB devices for free on the web (you might even find some shareware programming software).

As far as the senors go, you could also try inductive proximity sensors. These actuate in the presesnce of a metallic object rather than a magnet (you can use a washer as a target).

You should think about what you're going to use to alert you to intrusion (alarm, etc). You also might want to think about turning on the lights in the room that's being broken in to; that way the BG will be lit up as you come in from the darkened hallway.

In spite of the drunk peeing in your bushes, motion lights are one of the best ways to discourage would-be intruders.

[brerrabbit]

I'm used to using systems rated for commercial use, ie Vulcan panels by monaco ,but I have seen several installations using panels that were quite a bit cheaper.

Something like the first alarm on the link would work pretty good. This one does not come with a remote but can have keypads installed.

http://camerasite.com/alarms/panels.htm

I have to agree with EddieCoyle on the motion lights. They are cheap, easy to install, and provide a lot of security value for their cost

[EddieCoyle]

You can also put an NRA sticker on every window.

[Bob F.]

Or a shiloutte target with several neatly placed rounds at COM. Nobody has to know it was shot from 3 feet! Actually, don't "post" the targets, just leave them where they're visible. 12ga slugs make nice holes in cardboard targets, too. Hard not to notice. Sorry: getting off topic.

Stay safe.
Bob

[Lee Lapin]

Glass break sensor with alarm:
http://www.personalarms.com/home_alarms/window_alarm.htm

Magnetically operated sensor with alarm
http://www.firsthomesecurity.com/homeprotection/slideawayalarm.html
(add an extra magnet to the partially open window position you want)

Same sort of thing from Circuit City
http://www.circuitcity.com/ccd/productDetail.do?BV_EngineID=ccdiaddgdfgelgkcfngcfkmdffhdffo.0&c=1&oid=80352&BV_SessionID=%40%40%40%401158186510.1130298420%40%40%40%40&com.broadvision.session.new=Yes&WT.mc_n=48247&WT.mc_t=U&cm_ven=ORGANIC%20SEARCH&cm_cat=IPROSPECT&cm_pla=PAID%20INCLUSION->DATAFEED%20CAT%20-%20OFFICE%20&%20H&cm_ite=19753%20PAID%20INCLUSION%20-%20DATAFEED%20CATEGORY:%20OFFICE%20&%20HOME&cm_keycode=48247