my $60 garage alarm system
my $60 garage alarm system
I wanted to have a basic alarm/theft deterrent for the garage and called around to several local alarm places. My garage is detached and has electricity but no heat or phone lines. Every place wanted me to do the same thing - buy a cellular tower to install in the garage. This was not something I wanted to do. I was (somewhat) willing to pay the monthly fee for the alarm service but I did not want to add another cell phone bill to the mix.
Next step was to scour the net looking for a stand alone system but after weeks of searching I could not find what I wanted. I really just needed something that could be left in the cold, had a motion sensor and an alarm/siren and did not operate on batteries. No one makes a basic system like that that I could find so I decided to build my own.
Went to home depot and bought the following items:
outdoor motion sensor with 2 light sockets - $14.95
2 bulbs for sensor - $8
16v transformer - $10
knockout electrical box - $1
Then I stopped over at radio shack and bought a 108db 12v piezo siren for $9.
I wired everything up and mounted it on a piece of scrap mdf. I had an old shopvac that has a blown motor so I cut the cord off and wired it into the system for power. I spliced the transformer into the lines for the light sockets so that the alarm only sounds when the lights go on (motion is detected).
This gave me the basic system that I wanted but the problem was arming and disarming the system. I did not want it to go off every time I opened the door. The solution was found at Target for $10. I bought a westinghouse remote control electircal thingy. It has one piece that plugs into an outlet and then has 2 outlets built into it. It comes with a wireless remote and it's intended purpose is to allow you to turn christmas lights on and off without having to unplug them. Works like a charm for my needs.
Now I have a motion sensor alarm that is loud as hell (12v siren getting 16v), 2 flood lights, it can be turned on and off from the car, no batteries to worry about dying in the cold and only goes off if someone enters the garage from either door. Total cost was around $60 after tax for everything.
Next step was to scour the net looking for a stand alone system but after weeks of searching I could not find what I wanted. I really just needed something that could be left in the cold, had a motion sensor and an alarm/siren and did not operate on batteries. No one makes a basic system like that that I could find so I decided to build my own.
Went to home depot and bought the following items:
outdoor motion sensor with 2 light sockets - $14.95
2 bulbs for sensor - $8
16v transformer - $10
knockout electrical box - $1
Then I stopped over at radio shack and bought a 108db 12v piezo siren for $9.
I wired everything up and mounted it on a piece of scrap mdf. I had an old shopvac that has a blown motor so I cut the cord off and wired it into the system for power. I spliced the transformer into the lines for the light sockets so that the alarm only sounds when the lights go on (motion is detected).
This gave me the basic system that I wanted but the problem was arming and disarming the system. I did not want it to go off every time I opened the door. The solution was found at Target for $10. I bought a westinghouse remote control electircal thingy. It has one piece that plugs into an outlet and then has 2 outlets built into it. It comes with a wireless remote and it's intended purpose is to allow you to turn christmas lights on and off without having to unplug them. Works like a charm for my needs.
Now I have a motion sensor alarm that is loud as hell (12v siren getting 16v), 2 flood lights, it can be turned on and off from the car, no batteries to worry about dying in the cold and only goes off if someone enters the garage from either door. Total cost was around $60 after tax for everything.
uhhh ok. buy everything. screw the transformer into the side of the knockout box. connect the pos/neg leads into the pos/neg leads for the light sockets. connect the plug/power cord to the pos/neg leads for the motion sensor. connect pos/neg of the siren to the transformer. mount the box to a piece of wood. screw the motion sensor onto the box. plug the remote thing into the wall and the sensor cord into that. attach to wall.
done.
done.
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- 2009 Gold Contributor
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good stuff, who was the poor sap that had to test it?
Justin
[02 R/T sold][00 Highline sold][04 r/t scrapped][95 NYG Sport coupe][01 r/t DD]
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2931823
[02 R/T sold][00 Highline sold][04 r/t scrapped][95 NYG Sport coupe][01 r/t DD]
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2931823
well there is no phone line to worry about and all the electrical was ran underground but thanks for the thought. the next step will be the wireless camera setup connected to the computer inside. someone tipped me off to a nice setup that is motion activated and not only records to a computer but also sends a text message to my phone if triggered. luckily my router is strong enough that i have full access in the garage which has been very helpful for the times i needed to look up something online while covered in grease/oil/whatever.
and that was the exact reason for my question. Cool shitnineball wrote:it is inside the garage door. if anyone enters the garage it will go off. if it was outside i would get too many false alarms.
-J.J. | Official I sold my Neon Member #008
86.5 Nissan Hardbody LB- will be for sale soon...
1989 Yota PU- "Tammy" -Rest In Pieces...
2000 Plym Neon- "Stacy" -Sold 3/25/09 =(
86.5 Nissan Hardbody LB- will be for sale soon...
1989 Yota PU- "Tammy" -Rest In Pieces...
2000 Plym Neon- "Stacy" -Sold 3/25/09 =(
Ntyvirus1 wrote:im debadged so i just drive a gray thing.
damn. i'm gonna hafta do something like this, i dont have the most secure garage in the world, and something like this would be PERFECT.
Modify Your Car - Modify Your Body - Modify Your Life
TheRandom1 wrote:My true opinion here is that the only time rubber should be stretched is when it's going over a penis.
- Swordfish2Cowboy
- 2009 Silver Contributor
- Posts: 2693
- Joined: Sat Aug 25, 2007 7:06 am
- Location: Sandusky, Ohio
To tell the wife or not to tell the wife, that is the question?Swordfish2Cowboy wrote:Honestly, I was thinking more along the lines of a pressure plate wired to a 12 gauge.
I keed I keed
and no i'm not testing that one!
Justin
[02 R/T sold][00 Highline sold][04 r/t scrapped][95 NYG Sport coupe][01 r/t DD]
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2931823
[02 R/T sold][00 Highline sold][04 r/t scrapped][95 NYG Sport coupe][01 r/t DD]
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2931823