One of the guys said maybe we should start a thread on security systems. Now I know you guys are whippin out your guns(which is OK) but you gotta catch em first right? I need to do somethin with my own shop. What type security systems do you guys have and how easy to install and whats the cost?

 

I've got a 30' x 36' detached garage/shop and used THIS non-monitored do-it-yourself kit.

A lot of bang for less than $200 bucks, and it was very easy to install.

 

The THIS doesn't work for me?

 

OOOPS! Sorry...Fixed.

 

funny you should ask about this...

I was rummaging through some junk the neighbor threw away from his annual winter garage cleaning, and found an old wooden baseball bat. I picked it out and put it inside near the door incase I ever need it when I answer the door. It's even funnier because I live up the street from the Exxon station where the attendent beat up the 4x robber with a bat a couple weeks back. If a problem would arise somewhere else, I almost always bring S&W along =)

back to the real world... I found these little noise maker's that you can put on doors and windows at Wal-Mart for like 5 bucks for a pack of 8. I hid two of them on my door, and 2 on the garage door. If anyone manages to get the doors open, the "alarm" is going to go nuts. I also made sure when I put the two windows in my garage (the basement of a barn) that the window frames were made out of steel and cemented in... then all of the hardware I used has square heads. It's all facing the inside as well. I figured that if they wanted to get in and steal my stuff that I was gonna make them work for it.

Good Luck,
Jim

PS- if they want your stuff bad enough thier going to get it, just remember that. No security system is thief proof.

 

I live in the boondocks in an area where not many n'er do wells come because they know if they roam around out here they might get shot.

Combine that with two large dogs that raise all kind of cane any time a stranger comes around and a good arsenal of shotguns, rifles and a particularly good collection of .45's and I haven't had any trouble at all. I've been here 19 years and 1 month no incidents whatsoever.

Even though I don't own a single weopon made by the company, my motto is: "Teach 'em a lesson with Smith and Wesson."

Have a great day,
Doc

 

My shop/garage is tied into the house security system (monitored). Motion sensor and door/window sensor. Also have motion sensor lights outside on all four coners of the shop and a very big/protective dog.

 

A dog can work pretty good. My property is fenced all around but there is a telephone pole on the property line. One day a poor lineman made the mistake of coming down the pole on the wrong side into my place. My Shepard Buster spotted him and charged him at full speed from about 300 feet away. The poor guy saw him comin and tried to scramble back up the pole and got about 6 feet up but the dog had so much momentum that he was still able to vault up high enough to bite him on the ***. No real damage done thank goodness-the guy was wearing his heavy Carhart coveralls which helped alot. Later the guy said " I mighta got away but those tools were weighing me down."

 

Consider what you have to lose when you budget for security. No offense to my fellow dog lovers but I'm not trusting my $50,000 shop contents to my two-bit dog. Electronics with their own battery backup are reasonably priced. It's possible to take pictures of the crooks and employ enough light and sound to make them leave empty handed.
I'm armed and dangerous. My dog is well equipped dentally. What I don't know is how well my lawyer will perform if I shoot or my dog bites the wrong guy. It costs more to retain an attorney than to build a good security system. Matter of fact, it's only a little cheaper to feed the dog for a year.

 

Very good point. If that lineman had pulled out a hot dog my shepard would have sat right down like " This guy's alright "

 

I live in the country also, but my garage is well equipped(both with equipment and security). All three stall doors, the two windows and man door are on a pretty easily made system my brother in-law installed when the place was my father and mother inlaws'. If it's ever broken into, the place will light up as if they're at a professional baseball night game. The siren will make them think that there's been a nuclear accident at the local power plant.

 

I'm looking for a smoke alarm door alarm that will go wireless to my house so I can here the alarm if there is smoke or one of the kids leaves the door open in winter..


Dick

 

99f350sd,
Check-out the link in my first post above. The homesecuritystore.com will have what you need. Just click their "Wireless Products" Link for the info.

 

I can tell you what NOT to get. The Radio Shack 49-1000 system or any of its X-10 relatives. Plus, if you use a PIR, do not place it close to the ceiling as when it warms up inside the garage you can get false alarms.

If you have a wooden garage door with panels one of the best things you can do is run metal strapping across each section bolted on with a carriage bolt on each side of the panel. That way they can not easily kick in the panel and crawl through the door. Most thieves are not going to break a window and crawl through it four feet off the ground. Put tint on the windows so they can not see in. I soaped mine up on the inside, let it dry, and then spray painted the glass.

 

A dog behind a fence is no security against a criminal intent on getting past him.