At Home In The Woods

[dstig1]

Security system wise, you'll want a sensor on each outside door. I looked into using hall effect sensors to figure out if the deadbolt was thrown, it was doable but a nightmare given access issues to the trim around the door.

Pete

I had been wondering something along these lines myself. Even just a simple bullet door frame magnetic switch might do the trick with a magnet embedded in the end of the deadbolt. Pretty much just like a door switch, but on the deadbolt specifically. Maybe the deadbolt shaft could be magnetized even. ??

 

[Obed]

I had been wondering something along these lines myself. Even just a simple bullet door frame magnetic switch might do the trick with a magnet embedded in the end of the deadbolt. Pretty much just like a door switch, but on the deadbolt specifically. Maybe the deadbolt shaft could be magnetized even. ??

Dave and Pete,
I did an internet search on this topic. One person installed plunger type door sensors in the door frame hole that receives the deadbolt. That way the home automation system could let you know whether or not all the doors are locked.

I wish I had thought about this before the drywall was installed; it is still doable, just harder now. I suspect that this feature will be high on my wishlist for the home automation system. Having the home automation system check to see if all the doors are locked when the security system is armed will be a very nice feature.

Obed

 

[Coyote machine]

Your security system should notify you of faults; doors or windows that are not closed prior to letting you arm it. Once the door or window that shows as a fault is shut the system can then be armed. Even if a door was closed and unlocked once the security system is armed if someone opens that door, or breaks in one that is locked, the system will be triggered.
One can go beyond overboard with security systems and home automation systems. Once in use most alarms aren't even turned on unless one goes away for the day or longer.

 

[Obed]

My wife will be ordering door knob and lock hardware for the house tomorrow. We are planning to put deadbolts with keyholes on both sides on every exterior grade door that has a window beside the deadbolt. The exterior grade doors that do not have windows beside them will only have a keyhole on one side of the deadbolt. We are installing an exterior grade door at the top of the basement stairwell; this door will have a deadbolt. We aren't installing a deadbolt in the exterior grade door between the kitchen and the garage at this time. We might add that later if we decide there's a real need.

We will be ordering one extra exterior door knob, one extra interior locking door knob, and one extra non-locking interior door knob.

We plan to shop for a keyless deadbolt for the door to the back porch after we move into the house. For now, we will install a regular deadbolt in this door. When we replace the deadbolt with keyless deadbolt, we will keep that deadbolt for a spare.

 

[eepete]

Obed, I think you're right that it's something to tackle down the road. I suspect that even if you had though of this, finding "a spare day" to play with fabricating all this up, and then more time to do all the doors would have been difficult. More "fog of construction" moments...

I plan to see if I really miss it or not, then I'll make the call. I suspect most people would not go for the expense. On a related topic, I do have wires by the bottoms of my garage door and have the "roller on a lever" switches that I need to fit onto those doors so I can tell if the are up or down. Of course, that's similar to having sensors on all the outside door so you know if they are open or not. I just have to find the time to fabricate the brackets for that.

Coyote machine, you're right about getting notified if you try to arm with a door open. And I think you're correct with your concern about going overboard with automation systems. However, there is a group of people in automation land similar to the "No such thing as too much horse power" crowd here, for whom a great deal of the fun _is_ going overboard :laughing:. I'm in that crowd .

Pete

 

[Coyote machine]

Yeah Pete,
I'm thinking you're leading the pack of those for whom wiring everything that moves or might move is actually FUN!:thumbsup:

 

[Obed]

Yeah Pete,
I'm thinking you're leading the pack of those for whom wiring everything that moves or might move is actually FUN!:thumbsup:

I'm probably not as far out there as Pete. I don't know if I'll ever install motion sensing night lights for the cats. But yes, I can see wiring up some of these gadgets as fun when the construction "fog" is gone.

Obed

 

[Diamondpilot]

Dogs are not a gaurantee either. The thief just led ours to the basement and closed the door and proceeded to ransack the house. Dogs (most pets) like people.

We had a rash of robberies around here 3 years ago. One neighbor 1/2 mile away came home to a dead dog, shot in the drive way. Another came home to a sick dog that they later found a Whopper wrapper. The theory is they just pulled up and threw out a Whopper with poison in it till the dog was out. This was 1.5 miles away. 3 miles away a man was killed when he pulled up in his drive and his home was being robbed. The beat him to death with a ax that they had used to chop though the door. Never solved. I now carry either my .380 or 9mm all the time.

Times are tough and things are getting worse. Protect yourself.

Chris

 

[Coyote machine]

Like you, Obed, I have seven entry doors not including the two interior doors leading from the garage into the basement and one at the top of the cellar stairs. Since recent break ins in our area the command order is all doors are locked ALL the time- NO exceptions. My 16 year old daughter took some time to adjust- but I don't want her in the house with the doors unlocked if someone is going to try and enter unwanted. I want her or my wife to have time to exit the house or some other 'plan time' for which might be bought by the doors being locked instead of unlocked.
I want to go through the doors in the house personally to check and know that I did it personally- that way only I am responsible for my families safety- and when I eventually go to bed I can sleep for a few hours. But that's just me being obsessive?!:laughing:

 

[dstig1]

My wife will be ordering door knob and lock hardware for the house tomorrow. We are planning to put deadbolts with keyholes on both sides on every exterior grade door that has a window beside the deadbolt. The exterior grade doors that do not have windows beside them will only have a keyhole on one side of the deadbolt.

You may not be able to install double keyed deadbolts by code in your area. I'm not sure how closely your inspectors check these things, but if they are picky, you should ask first to avoid another potential problem during an inspection. They are often not allowed due to escape during fires being the problem. They may not care if you have a window there or not. Just FYI...