Post date: Nov 17, 2014 4:10:54 AM
At this point I’m thinking of at least wiring for cameras that view the street and the path (north and southeast) from the mechanical room roof. When I am old and infirm it will be entertaining to see the one person per day that walks by the house. And I can keep an eye out on the community barn, across the street.
It seems that homeowner insurance is lower if there is a security system installed, so I’ll wire for motion sensors in at least the main room and garage (the two entry points). I’m checking to see if the insurance discount is worth the installation costs.
Of course a video camera on the roof might be fun, regardless of the insurance.
See eBay article or eBay Home Security Portal
Lorex 8 Channel Stratus HD NVR ($1100) 4 Outdoor Rated 1080p Cameras, 8 Channel HD NVR with FULL 1080p HD real-time viewing & recording, Night Vision up to 150ft/100ft, Expandable up to 8 PoE HD Network Cameras, Wide angle 4mm lens for superior detail (75° diagonal FOV), Automatic Infrared Filter ensures true & accurate color in all lighting conditions, Weatherproof (IP66) rated aluminum housing for indoor/ outdoor installations, sheltered location recommended,
Swann SWDVK-425554-US D1 Security Recording Kit with Internet and Smartphone Viewing ($400), 704 x 480 and 30 frames per second in NTSC standard (grainy)
Building Monitor
Because some people doubt whether my passive solar system will work, I plan to install and monitor temperature sensors far under the floor slab, in the ductwork under the slab - the house and in the garage (which is a separate zone), and in the dirt outside the foundations, as well as indoor temperature and outdoor air temperature.
While we are measuring, monitor the temperature just under the roof membrane and in the mechanical room.
The temperature sensors are 1-Wire DS18B20 integrated circuits, embedded in waterproof stainless steel probes. An Arduino computer will periodically query each of the sensors and record the temperature, location, and time on a Secure Digital (SD) memory card.