I have a UPS for the computer so that if the power goes out, I can keep things going long enough to finish what I’m doing and shut things down. Most of us have those sorts of things. It occurred to me that I should probably get one for the security cameras as well. (Tangentially, if the power does go out, I switch from the energy-hog desktop to the the laptop…the laptop already has several hours of charge on it and can always be recharged off the generator. In a real pinch, I could use the phone for internetting and recharge it off a small panel or just about any battery.)
So, a trip to CostCo and I’m back with an uninterruptible power supply for the cameras. Realistically, it only has to keep the system going long enough for me to pull out the generator and get it running, but it’s nice to know it’ll run for a while on its own if the power goes out.
If want to be really paranoid, it’s nice to think that when the power gets cut and the hordes (or the SWAT team) are trying for the Big Sneak I’ll have a little bit of an advantage. Can’t get those sentry guns too soon. Although I suppose if youre crafty enough you can build your own.
There’s also a minor selfish motivation involved. (Well, a different motive anyway since self-preservation can be pretty selfish.) The intersection near my house has the somewhat regular car accident occur. I’ve one camera trained on the intersection so I can sell footage to the participants to substantiate their claims.
Z, what is the particular UPS you selected?
That sentry gun is pretty cool, moreso if you had pepper-balls available instead of paintballs.
Moreso if you mount a Saiga-12.
Just grabbed whatever the largest capacity one they had at CostCo was. Was a hundred bucks.
Also, burglars will try to cut power at an exterior mounted circuit breaker if available. Padlock up or screw plate it secure. Phone wires are usally easy to get at as well. Ensure cameras are mounted high enough or inaccessible to reach up and cut or snatch by an aspiring junior vardsity 7 foot baketball player doing b&e jobs in the off season. Infra red night vision types as well. Also use bright assed on all the time dusk to dawn security (not decorative) lights. It is a strong phsychological deterrent.