External Sensor Inputs
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Ive been modifying simplisafe sensors to allow for external contacts (laser tripwires, fire/smoke/water/glassbreak. Also i have an interface to the x10 automation protocol so that I can utilize wireline a/c carrier to do things like turn on all the interior/exterior lights in case of an alarm. I just cant wait for them to get the capabilities into the market so I designed/built them on my own. There's an issue with the CS identifying a fire/smoke condition - they read it as a burglar trip but in any case they will dispatch the local PD. if anyone needs that kind of capability i'd be happy to help. I have a wifi camera hack that uses the built in motion detection capability of an off the shelf wireless camera to trip a simplisafe sensor that I'm working the bugs out at the moment but it should work fine. I tried to call the President of the company twice to talk about what I have been doing hoping we could do some business but he wont return calls. I tried to become an affiliate/dealer but they wrote back that the affiliate program is suspended. go figure - weird business model. Not a bad system despite the current limitations but you cant beat the price point on the hardware - DSC can do it all and much more but at double the entry point - the flip side is that you can buy UL monitoring for 8 bucks a month so I suppose its an option if you do the math over the long term.
I don't think they have a bad
I don't think they have a bad business model. From what I have read here, you are taking a product that Chad has worked very hard to design, build and get into our hands inexpensively and then, in effect, you are saying (in a manner of speaking) that SimpliSafe isn't good enough by performing all manner of modifications to several different system components. This all really negates the effective simplicity of the system. (And, according to the FCC, this likely makes this modified system illegal to operate. The FCC governs a portion of this system because it contains a cellular radio transceiver.)
I have not briefed myself on the affiliate program but I can easily understand why there isn't one. From the point of manufacturing to the point of sale, each extra pair of hands a product has to pass through adds no value whatsoever, only the cost of it is driven up to pay all of these extra people.
You seem like a very talented and intelligent man. Have you thought about putting your skills to use in another way?
Antney
Nah, I pretty happy designing
Nah, I pretty happy designing ultra high security systems for extremely sensitive loations worldwide. Been pretty happy for almost 30 years now.
The FCC has regulatory authority over the cellular module which is an off the shelf/oem (generic) module. The sensors/keypads/remote output segments operate in an entirely different spectrum and have their own rules depending on frequencies and rf output strength. In any case, modifications on external components that result in no change to either emi or rf potential on the regulated components are perfectly ok with the gang over at the FCC. You'll note that all the mods I've talked about are, in fact, on SS's roadmap - they just can't get them out the door. Im not knocking the system, I own 3 myself, but my alternatives are to wait (and wait, and wait) for SS to get what I want out the door or spend 20 minutes modifying what they have to do what I want. In the end, my overall security position is better, I have a much higher level of redundancy and ive expanded the sensor and output capabilities considerably. Perhaps you are correct, I could sell add-on modules to the system that handle all the things I've talked about and have them to market, apparently, a lot fast than SS can. Thanks for the business idea! Check out the Washington Post's business section a few months back - I believe my expertise was fairly well documented in an electronic engineering and automation acticle that they published on the front page.
Mittelmann, I would be
Mittelmann,
I would be interested to hear want you did. I have a sump pump sensor that I'd like to monitor.
I am pretty good with the solder gun.
Jhabscheid@strategycity.com
Thanks
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Touché ;)
Touché ;)
I would be interested in
I would be interested in purchasing one of your "interfaces to the x10 automation protocol so that I can utilize wireline a/c carrier to do things like turn on all the interior/exterior lights in case of an alarm". I was thinking of modifying one of SimpliSafes external sirens by adding a relay contact I/O. I know Insteon has an external I/O module to connect to. Possibly using a ULN2003A integrated circuit (high current relay driver with open collector outputs and TTL logic level inputs). I like your idea. If you are interested, post back. I haven't looked inside the external siren but it is powered by 4 1.5 volt AA batteries. They typically use the ULN2003A to trigger a 12 volt relay which turns on the siren. Simply use the relay output to connect to an X10 or insteon I/O module.
I would like to be able to flash outdoor lights in case of a tripped alarm.
wildwst@gmail.com
Interested in adding smoke /
Interested in adding smoke / fire to system. Interested in using x 10 modules as you suggested. rlocklin@comcast.net
Hey.. Contact me at
Hey.. Contact me at follygator@sc.rr.com. I'm interested in your stuff.. Don't be a stranger..
Hi dmittelmann0, I love your
Hi dmittelmann0,
I love your posts and I was wondering if you could you teach me please how you would modify an existing sensor(s) so that I can connect 3 wires from a safe alarm to a "normally closed input", a "normally open input" and "output power"? I have a pdf that I could email of the wiring diagram.
Thanks in advance.