Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd like
suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20' wide
driveway.

I'll consider anything just under lethal (don't want to clean up a mess).

Thanks

Dirk

Coyote wrote:

> Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd like
> suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20'
> wide driveway.
> 
> I'll consider anything just under lethal (don't want to clean up a mess).

Would you consider lethal if the mess was cleaned up?  ;-/

There are three common ways to protect the driveway.  The simplest to use is
a wireless, outdoor motion detector.  Optex makes a kit called a "Wireless
1000".  There are other brands to consider but this one has been reliable so
far and it's not all that expensive.  Here's a link (my website) to
additional information:

http://www.bass-home.com/gotoproduct.cfm?item=70111

Many years ago infrared (IR) beams were popular for protecting outdoor
spaces.  These come with various ranges from a few feet to a few hundred
feet.  There are two parts, an emitter and a receiver.  Break the invisible
IR beam between the two and a relay is thrown.  The rest is up to you.  Both
pieces need some sort of power and they would be mounted on opposing sides
of the driveway so this type of system is generally the most PITA to
install, especially after the driveway has been poured.

I've used Pulnix outdoor IR beams in some fairly tough environments and they
have held up well.  As with anything else, there are lots of competing
brands and models to choose from.  Here's a link to one model to give you an
idea what they're like.

http://www.bass-home.com/gotoproduct.cfm?item=23266

If you only want to detect vehicular movement rather than people walking,
you should have a look at yet another technology.  There are magnetic
sensors (coils, actually) that can be installed a few inches below grade
near the driveway.  These are connected to a processor which is mounted in
the garage or basement.  When a large, ferrous metal object moves past the
coil it creates a magnetic disturbance which the processor recognizes as a
car moving along the driveway.  I've used a few of these on large estates
where the homeowner wanted a signal when someone entered the driveway.  Many
people also use them to turn on landscape and porch lighting as a car enters
after dark.  This is good for creating the appearance that someone is home
and the "visitor" has been noticed.  It's also reassuring to come up to a
lighted house so you can see if there's anyone hanging around.

Here's a link to information on one of several brands of vehicle sensors
which we carry:

http://www.bass-home.com/CompleteSystemPages.cfm?theSystem=308

There's an overview page where I cover the general subject a bit more.
Here's the link.

http://www.bass-home.com/CompleteSystems/DriveWayAlarmsOverview.cfm

Regards,
Robert

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics, Inc
2291 Pine View Circle
Sarasota � Florida � 34231
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
941-925-9747 Fax
941-232-0791 Wireless
Nextel Private ID - 161*21755*1
http://www.bass-home.com
=============================>

Coyote wrote:
>
> Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd like
> suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20'
> wide driveway.

Damn!  I was going to suggest "the pit and sharp stake bit"...  Advantages:
No mess to clean up (just fill in the hole afterwards), no power required,
low maintenance, nothing to replace, no warranty hassles...


"Coyote" <dsr@MYSHORTSaracnet.com> wrote in message
news:bi5j5n02mpc@enews4.newsguy.com...
> Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd like
> suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20'
wide
> driveway.
>
> I'll consider anything just under lethal (don't want to clean up a mess).
>
> Thanks
>
> Dirk
>
>

BC wrote:

> Coyote wrote:
> 
>> Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd like
>> suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20'
>> wide driveway.
>> 
>> I'll consider anything just under lethal (don't want to clean up a mess).
> 
> Would you consider lethal if the mess was cleaned up?  ;-/
> 
Humour aside,
Would you be 100% sure they only come via the driveway and vitually 0% 
chance that they'd cross over a fence, because that question implies you're 
looking for a laser-beam type of tripwire across a gated section.

Motiondetector tripped floodlights may be worthwhile, but you may get false 
positives due to animals, plus some don't work well in 100% darkness since 
they still need a slight amount of body heat or ambient light to work 
depending on the type of sensor (example cheap ones you could put on a 
thick coat with hood plus insulating pants and walk right by them as long 
as you have no bodyparts exposed in their direction).

The obvious target is the van, so I'd put an alarm on the van. There are 
some alarms that will transmit a radio signal a couple hundred feet, so you 
may want to look at something like that because sometimes you won't hear an 
alarm outside unless it's really loud, plus you seem interested in catching 
them in the act, so a silent alarm, bring out the camera, pop-on the house 
floodlights, smile-at-the-camera, "flash" may be more your aim  :-)

There are also specialty alarms that send out a GPS location or cell phone 
signal, and police have tracked stolen RVs, campers and boats this way 
within half hour, in one case, the RV was recovered before the owner 
realized it was stolen.

Just food for thought.

Hmmmmm....  I had not thought of the "pit".

What about the alligator pit.  That disposes of the mess AND evidence.

Dirk


"Frank Olson" <(remove the "dot") horus@shawdot.ca> wrote in message
news:%oB1b.2574$la.42990@news1.calgary.shaw.ca...
> Damn!  I was going to suggest "the pit and sharp stake bit"...
Advantages:
> No mess to clean up (just fill in the hole afterwards), no power required,
> low maintenance, nothing to replace, no warranty hassles...
>
>
> "Coyote" <dsr@MYSHORTSaracnet.com> wrote in message
> news:bi5j5n02mpc@enews4.newsguy.com...
> > Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd
like
> > suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20'
> wide
> > driveway.
> >
> > I'll consider anything just under lethal (don't want to clean up a
mess).
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Dirk
> >
> >
>
>

VERY large capacitors should also remove any mess, but it
may cause an odor.
Motion sensors will suck (depending on where you are).
You could go for a beam (break the beam and some signal
goes off).

steve ciarcia did an article YEARS ago (80's) on a zigzagging
IR beam down the driveway.  Suggested a CCD camera (most are now)
to "see" the IR.  Laser source to reflector to reflector (rinse, repeat)
until you get to sensor.

A friend just showed up with a green laser pointer - quite visible
if you want that movie effect of visible light.

you'll get false positives....
Things move in driveways.  Often.  cats and dogs and paper and deer
and cars turning around.

As an ex New Yorker, my roomie used a chain and padlock on his vehicle
to lock the hood down.  Securing the car and house may be easier.

Coyote wrote:
> Hmmmmm....  I had not thought of the "pit".
> 
> What about the alligator pit.  That disposes of the mess AND evidence.
> 
> Dirk
> 
> 
> "Frank Olson" <(remove the "dot") horus@shawdot.ca> wrote in message
> news:%oB1b.2574$la.42990@news1.calgary.shaw.ca...
> 
>>Damn!  I was going to suggest "the pit and sharp stake bit"...
> 
> Advantages:
> 
>>No mess to clean up (just fill in the hole afterwards), no power required,
>>low maintenance, nothing to replace, no warranty hassles...
>>
>>
>>"Coyote" <dsr@MYSHORTSaracnet.com> wrote in message
>>news:bi5j5n02mpc@enews4.newsguy.com...
>>
>>>Well someone felt the need for my van starter the other day, and I'd
> 
> like
> 
>>>suggestions on what sort of trap can notify me of movement across a 20'
>>
>>wide
>>
>>>driveway.
>>>
>>>I'll consider anything just under lethal (don't want to clean up a
> 
> mess).
> 
>>>Thanks
>>>
>>>Dirk
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
> 
>