Help with simple alarm circuit

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VoodooJai
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:01 pm

Help with simple alarm circuit

Post by VoodooJai » Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:33 pm

Hi all
I am new to this sort of thing but I need a simple (i think) circuit for an alarm system.

I am after having a kind off wire circuit that activates an alarm if the wire is cut, this wire would have a long length of around 100 metres or more. I need to cover a very large area and be flexible, I have seen conductive thread and thought this may be a possibility.

Could anyone shed light on what I should be looking at or point me in the right direction.

Many thanks in advance and hope you can help me.

VoodooJai

Biffo
Posts: 72
Joined: Sun Mar 09, 2008 3:24 pm

Re: Help with simple alarm circuit

Post by Biffo » Mon Oct 24, 2011 9:33 pm

You could consider a fibre optics?

A fibre optic cable would be very hard to reconnect after a breakage,without a proper kit, that takes time and your intruder's enemy is time.
.. and you certainly could not bridge the break with wire & clips (as seen in movies) by an intruder.
The other advantage is that a 100metres is absolutely nothing in resistance terms in a fibre optic cable.

In its simplest form you would need a photo cell at one end and a light at the other. Obviously when the light went out due to a break in the cable it would change the resistance on the photocell
and you could use that to operate a relay with a 555 chip or something.
You would need a long life life,low consumption, reliable light like an LED for example.

A more complicated design would have a data stream travelling down the cable.Which could be anything (even Frank Sinatra) but when anything diffrent occured alarm bells would ring so to speak.

VoodooJai
Posts: 2
Joined: Sun Oct 23, 2011 8:01 pm

Re: Help with simple alarm circuit

Post by VoodooJai » Mon Oct 24, 2011 10:13 pm

Biffo wrote:You could consider a fibre optics?

A fibre optic cable would be very hard to reconnect after a breakage,without a proper kit, that takes time and your intruder's enemy is time.
.. ............
...............

A more complicated design would have a data stream travelling down the cable.Which could be anything (even Frank Sinatra) but when anything diffrent occured alarm bells would ring so to speak.
I did wonder if fibre optics was a possibility, but need the thread or fibre to be very flexible so it can be bent into a tight wave like pattern.

Where would I get a circuit diagram for the fibre optic option.

Many thanks again.

VoodooJai

Tony Mackenzie
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:00 pm

Re: Help with simple alarm circuit

Post by Tony Mackenzie » Thu Jul 24, 2014 8:06 pm

Just came across this post and wondered if you ever managed to resolve your query about using optical cables for this project? Fibre Optics would be an excellent choice from a security perspective with the only disadvantage being that it would probably cost a little more than a conventional copper circuit. There are many suppliers of outdoor CST (Ruggedised) pre-terminated fibre optic cables such as http://www.completeconnect.co.uk and there are even speciality manufacturers of optical based perimeter intruder systems now as well. I have a lot of knowledge on the optical connectivity side of things so if I can help then please let me know. :ugeek:

piratepaul
Posts: 432
Joined: Mon May 20, 2013 2:45 pm

Re: Help with simple alarm circuit

Post by piratepaul » Thu Aug 07, 2014 2:04 pm

Electrical glue or paint ... conducting paint ... ebay.

Tar&stuff.

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