Home Security On my mind again

[scott_vt]

Afternoon Pennwalk,
Very interesting thread ! Some very good suggestions about preparedness ! Our family is down to just Kathleen and myself, in the event of fire we have the portable ladder under the bed in case we cant get to the first floor via the central staircase. I hate to admit it but at out Ct home we hardly ever had the front door locked, because our two boys would always lose their keys when they were living home so they in turn would not lock the door ! We unfortunately got to the point that we gave up locking it also ! Now they are gone and we need to regroup on this ! Our dog passed away two years ago and all we have now is one cat, so no alarm there ! All my firearms are in my safe in Vt so no protection there. Im not a pistol guy and kind of agree with another previous poster that states that carting a shotgun or rifle around in a dark house in the middle of the night is not a great scenario either ! I guess Kathleen and I need to think a bit more about some type of alarm ! Thanks for some very good suggestions !

BTW I particularly like the pre plan idea about meeting at a pre determined place outside !

 

[RoyJackson]

900 execution murders in Mexico since January. Have not heard a word in the main stream media about this.

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

Yeah, and our folks in DC want to open the borders...

I'd be curious about the light and radio too...

 

[Soundguy]

I've got a couple types of lights, and one radio.

The radio will run 10 minutes on less than a minute of winding. The flashlights can run 1 or 3 led's. in 3 led.. they run about 2 minutes before starting to dim.. wind time again.. is? 30 seconds? In 1 led mode.. i can get p to 5 m of usable light. if they have been setting.. i usually wind them 1 minute.. and they seem to stay nice and crisp for a good bit... deffinately usable.

Soundguy

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

 

[Soundguy]

For in home use.. you can get a tactical outfitted shotgun.. much easier to weild... Course my 'tac' SG is SBS and on a form 4.. so is even shorter and smaller to tote.. but feels nice inthe hand...

Roy.. i think i got my crank radio and lamp at walgreens drug store!! go figure... 5.99 each for the radio.. and ?15 fro the lamp.. or 5$ for a shakem style lamp.. or some thing like that.

Soundguy

Afternoon Pennwalk,
Very interesting thread ! Some very good suggestions about preparedness ! Our family is down to just Kathleen and myself, in the event of fire we have the portable ladder under the bed in case we cant get to the first floor via the central staircase. I hate to admit it but at out Ct home we hardly ever had the front door locked, because our two boys would always lose their keys when they were living home so they in turn would not lock the door ! We unfortunately got to the point that we gave up locking it also ! Now they are gone and we need to regroup on this ! Our dog passed away two years ago and all we have now is one cat, so no alarm there ! All my firearms are in my safe in Vt so no protection there. Im not a pistol guy and kind of agree with another previous poster that states that carting a shotgun or rifle around in a dark house in the middle of the night is not a great scenario either ! I guess Kathleen and I need to think a bit more about some type of alarm ! Thanks for some very good suggestions !

BTW I particularly like the pre plan idea about meeting at a pre determined place outside !

 

[weldingisfun]

Just read this article, http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/mexico/articles/20070517.aspx.

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

The Webpage for the light indicates 1 hour of light for 60 seconds of cranking. The radio Webpage gives no run time at all.

 

[meledward23]

I have nothing as elaborate, but I feel fairly comfortable that I can sustain a decent defense.

My home is basically a two story. Technically split level, but all bedroom windows are at least 12+ feet from the ground. I look the doors, but an intruder can easily gain entry into my home. He will have to contend with the medium 75 pound Lab/Shepard mix who does not like strangers.

But my real advantage is since the intruder is entering on the ground floor, and the dog mroe than likely will wake me I have plenty of time. Especially since at the top of the stairs I have installed an outside metal case security door. Security hinges, 3.5" Screws into doubled 2x4's that are ceiling and floor secured. Double Deadbolts also going into doubled 2x4's that secure at ceiling, floor, and a wall corner. Getting through this door will take some effort. Which should give me enough time to prepare myself.

I am going to be moving soon and when I shop for house, I will be looking for the ability to do a similar thing, secure the upstairs sleeping area seperately from the living area.

 

[MossRoad]

How long do these wind up lights and radios work before they have to be cranked again?

Later,
Dan

I don't know. The power always came back on before the radio stopped working. Longest I went was about 3 hours.

 

[MossRoad]

I've got a couple types of lights, and one radio.

The radio will run 10 minutes on less than a minute of winding. The flashlights can run 1 or 3 led's. in 3 led.. they run about 2 minutes before starting to dim.. wind time again.. is? 30 seconds? In 1 led mode.. i can get p to 5 m of usable light. if they have been setting.. i usually wind them 1 minute.. and they seem to stay nice and crisp for a good bit... deffinately usable.

Soundguy

I wound mine once for 5 minutes back at Christmas. I use it every night to tighten my kid's braces, chase the cat off the dresser in the middle of the night, etc... only a minute or two at the most, usually about 30 seconds. It lasted for three months on that crank. I should take that thing and crank the heck out of it, turn it on on all three LEDs and see how long it really lasts.

 

[Soundguy]

Having a solid dore and deadbolt and a kick proof jamb does make me sleep a bit better. You should have seen the look on my contractors face when i asked for all that. His remark was that it would cost more money.. and my reply was that my safety was worth every penny.

Any door can be breached. All I'm looking for is that critical few extra seconds to get me home defender ready. having that special door will slow the crook down a few seconds if not more.. AND probably cause them to make a bit more sound than normal.

Some good ides showing up in this thread.. it was very worthwhile.

Soundguy

I have nothing as elaborate, but I feel fairly comfortable that I can sustain a decent defense.

My home is basically a two story. Technically split level, but all bedroom windows are at least 12+ feet from the ground. I look the doors, but an intruder can easily gain entry into my home. He will have to contend with the medium 75 pound Lab/Shepard mix who does not like strangers.

But my real advantage is since the intruder is entering on the ground floor, and the dog mroe than likely will wake me I have plenty of time. Especially since at the top of the stairs I have installed an outside metal case security door. Security hinges, 3.5" Screws into doubled 2x4's that are ceiling and floor secured. Double Deadbolts also going into doubled 2x4's that secure at ceiling, floor, and a wall corner. Getting through this door will take some effort. Which should give me enough time to prepare myself.

I am going to be moving soon and when I shop for house, I will be looking for the ability to do a similar thing, secure the upstairs sleeping area seperately from the living area.

 

[pennwalk]

Well there haven't been any arrests yet. Neighborhood is still pretty nervous although it seemed that there were a few less houses with all their outside lights on. My wife turned our outside lights on last night and she had every one lit. My girls aren't saying too much but there was a little girl in our bed the last two nights. Those bunkbeds in their room are surprisingly comfortable. I locked myself in the garage this morning. When all the locks are locked it is possible to get out but not back in My wife had a good laugh to start the day cause I am always telling her not to go out without a key. Hope to show the girls how to use the pepper sprays I got for them today. I have been looking at Shotguns and found a gun shop I like. The Benellis feel pretty good in my hands although the Remingtons are heavier. I have the name of a guy that gives shotgun courses. I didn't realize you had to have a background check to buy a shotgun. Hope I can pass. When people try to down play the need for home security and defense all I can think about is that three of our neighbors were murdered in their home. The new reality.

Chris