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What to Look for in a Home Security Camera

Randy — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 01:54:58 +0000

Home security cameras are seemingly growing in popularity each day. They are a great way to keep your family safe at night and keep an eye on things when you’re not at home. But all the choices available in the market can make things a little confusing for people without a lot of experience in the field. Here are a few tips on what to look for in a great outdoor security camera.

First, you should look at the adaptability of the camera. Unlike indoor cameras, which are subject to fairly similar lighting conditions at all times. Outdoor cameras are subject to light conditions that change from minute to minute outside as the sun and clouds move across the sky. If you want the best camera, find one that can change its aperture as the available light changes.

Speaking of adaptability, outdoor security cameras also have to work when there’s no sun, so make sure to find a camera that’s capable of night vision. Any camera worth its salt should come with infrared vision of at least twenty-five feet, made possible by several infrared LEDs stationed around the lens. The combination of night vision and adaptability should ensure that your camera will be able to provide you with high quality pictures and video at all times of the night and day.

Finally, if you want to use your camera to keep an eye on your house when you’re off on business or vacation, you should find one that allows you to connect to the internet. IP cameras, as they’re known, connect to a router and give you an IP address and password where you can access them remotely from anywhere in the world.

For more information on finding the best security cameras for you and your family, visit Outdoor Security Camera Reviews.

The Stack-On Home Security Solution

Admin — Sat, 02 Jan 2010 02:21:44 +0000

Stack-On, an American company out of the great state of Illinois has been manufacturing steel crafted organizational products for nearly 40 years. Among their many products, and likely their most recognizable are their gun cabinets and gun safes. The company has found an effective balance between, quality made, relatively inexpensive, and widely available products built for securing firearms and other valuables in the home.

Any responsible gun owner should own a means of preventing casual access to their firearms (even non responsible gun owners should apply this as a priority). The most common ways of achieving this are through means of either gun cabinet or a gun safe (sometimes both) – two similar, yet totally different things. Gun cabinets are typically designed to be an inexpensive way to keep gun out of the hands of children. Sly marketers and retail sales clerks may attempt to deceive one into thinking that they’re formidable forces against serious burglars, floods, and fires – don’t be fooled – gun cabinets are great for what they are, but you’ll never find one that can stand a chance against flames or a determined thief.

Stack On makes some fantastic steel gun cabinets, loaded to the gills with a lot of slick features at a competitive price. They produce many different models, including those of 6 to 24 gun capacities. Nearly all gun cabinets, Stack-On’s included are operated by key entry, which is standard. If you’re in the market for a cabinet, and you see a good deal on a Stack On, I’d strongly recommend it.

Gun safes are generally far more substantial than their cabinet cousins. They are built heavier, thicker, often with fire board and ceramic insulation, and sealed tightly against theft protection with solid steel bolts. A Stack-On gun safe is a product worth considering, if you’re in the $600-$1500 range. They manufacture cheaper models, however, they don’t offer fire protection, and in my humble opinion, if you aren’t going to invest in fire protection, step down to a gun cabinet. The ‘Total Defense’ and ‘Elite’ models are their finest products, and as mentioned before, heavy contenders in the mid price range safe market.

If you’re looking for a home security solution that won’t break your bank, a Stack-On may just be your ticket.

Home Security Equipment – Home Safes

Admin — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:05:51 +0000

Home security safes are an excellent idea whether or not you live in an area prone to crime. It is ideal for keeping sensitive personal or business documents secured as well as personal valuables such as jewelry, family heirlooms, and other small possessions. It is probably imperative for keeping your firearms secured—and away from accidentally harming your family—if you are a sportsman or a law enforcement officer.

In addition, those documents, valuables, possessions, and firearms get the added benefit of remaining, shall we say, safe in the event that unexpected fire damages or destroys most of the rest of your home.

Security experts often say that home security safes are imperative when buying and arraying home security system equipment. However, you then have to determine which among numerous offerings is the best safe for your home.

Unless you are very wealthy or run a high-powered, high-end, high-profit business from home, it is not very likely that you need a full-size vault-like safe installed. Even if you are a sportsman or a law enforcement officer, you need little more than a standard cabinet safe with two-layer or better steel construction and an easily changeable combination.

Commercial-grade home safes are probably the most reliable solution to your security needs involving your sensitive personal and/or business documents, your valuables, your family heirlooms, and other small possessions you fear losing in fire or burglary. Ideally, the door should be at least four and a half inches thick or better, the walls should be at least two and a half to three inches thick or better, and the fire endurance should be verifiable at temperatures up to 1750 degrees Fahrenheit. The problem is the expense. A commercial-grade home safe can cost you $900 or better for high quality construction and performance.

However, even a non-commercial grade home security safe should feature comparable protection against fire, including door seals that expand in heat, and three-to-four inch door thickness with two and a half inch or better wall thickness.

Wall safes are actually far less expensive—even a heavy-duty wall safe seems to average a $500-$600 price tag, and a standard duty model can cost you as little as $250-$300. They are easy to install and will survive fire damage to their walls, but make certain you install yours in a place where it is not seen easily by an intruder. In addition, remember always to change your combinations regularly.

Research into whether the safe you choose can be aligned to the remainder of your home security system equipment. Many safes come with their own alarms but if yours does not, you may want to see whether it can be tied to your home alarm or motion detection equipment before you buy and install it. Protecting your valuables includes protecting your home security system equipment—it may be your true most valuable possession.