Fiona

Soundy, you have a lot of experience with the Pelco Esprit. In the Pelco Esprit PDF, it refers to a 'TXB Series Translator Board' which 'allows controllers from other companies to communicate with the Esprit system.' Do you know what a TXB Series Translator Board actually is? If any 3rd party Pelco D P controller works on the Espirit or Pelco IV, what would be the purpose of a Translator Board?

Terrence, I don't want to be punctilious, but Hikvision lists two maximum operating temperatures on different Hikvision PDFs. Some say 65 degrees Celcius, others say 60 degrees Celcius. That is why I am putting the problem of HEAT affecting decoder boards on the Forum. I hope to hear about the issues and opinions of PTZ domes in hot climates.

I have a Dahua DVR with NC and NO Alarm inputs. The PIRs/alarms trigger Presets on the PTZ Camera. So far so good. The problem is this: Dahua seem to specify 12 volt inputs for the Alarm on the back of the DVR. (As opposed to simple dry contacts. NO - NC and Ground.) But most of the PIRs that operate at 12 volts seem to produce a 28 volt Output for the Alarm. Am I misunderstanding how the Alarm input works? Does the Dahua Alarm take higher voltage inputs than they seem to specify? Is there anyone there who can explain in plain English the method of connecting a wired PIR to the DVR? Are there any Motion Detectors that are commonly used on DVR/Alarm/Preset scenarios? I am thinking of the GE Sentrol 6187CTX which is an outdoor unit. The Forum mentions the Crow Daredevil which appears to be superceded. I would greatly appreciate any boffins who can answer this.

Sick seem to sell access control Photoelectric sensors but who sells an ordinary IP 65 Photoelectric Switch to activate Halide lights at night? Can anyone recommend a robust Brand and Model please?

You have raised so many good points that I just hadn't considered. (And I thought I had it all figured out.) The reason I am concerned about the public area is that it is a "hot zone" where drug addicts actually inject heroin in public. Little children toddle past on scooters and bikes with trainer wheels oblivious to the scene. In fact I think most of the neighbourhood is oblivious to the events. I am only just realising that a PTZ with a decent zoom lens can see things that most people will never see. Last week I captured a perpetrator attacking a neighbour then attempt to grab an iPhone. Gangs of young wanna-be teenagers roam the public areas at night thinking they are unwatched and vandalise property. All of this was a surprise to me and I guess it only serves to make me more apprehensive. However, even one prominent PTZ Speed Dome can change public behaviour. I have noticed a wariness from criminal types as they slowly become aware of "the camera". Clean living folk and older citizens are appearing more now in the park and I have encouraged other home owners to make efforts at reclaiming this new suburb. The land authority has created an ambience to this new suburb and a caveat restricts front fencing. I didn't want to put bars on windows but that may now be inevitable. The use of thorny hedges is a darned good idea. Thanks for that. But again, you have clearly thought out so much of the problem that I didn't see. In my niave approach, I had thought that a Speed Dome with narrow beam PIRs would have animated the PTZ 24-7 so that criminals would have been dissuaded. And as you would know, an external corner mount PTZ has a vast field-of-view. The PIRs would to some extent automate the camera and the surveillance which would be a good first step. I am pretty sure that I am going to just run wiring to robust PIRs to monitor the "hot zones." Then I'll probably run beam alarms along the rear fencing. Thanks again for the clarity of your ideas.

Wow! What a thoughful, well-considered reply. You have cleary pointed out the parameters to the problem. I couldn't agree more about your comment regarding underfunding a CCTV installation. I have started a domestic installation with the best intentions. A Hitachi VK-S654 inside a Speed Dome. I researched the DVR problem and came up with Dahua which alone captures 52% of the Chinese market. http://www.dahuasecurity.com The installation is in crime-ridden Melbourne Australia. (I see you are in Melbourne Florida. What are the chances?) I live in a new suburb inundated with Heroin addicts and wanna-be home invaders. I have almost a nightly security issue. I am trying to set up the First Speed Dome to jump to Presets over a 270 degree periphery of my house. I realise I will have to get at least a second equivalent dome. And you raised some very good points about making any Motion Detector perform additional functions which I didn't consider. There are some trees that may interfere with a PIR in the wind. I thought of using narrow "curtain" type PIRs to focus the instrument at perhaps a street corner frequented by louts or at a park in front of the house. As the camera would only have an image of under 60 degrees it stands to reason that 180 degree Motion Detectors would trigger over a wide area and the PTZ would jump to a Preset and therefore stand a 2 in 3 chance of catching no Event. You seem to be saying that in Security we need to keep our options open. So that we don't have to go back to rip out everything only to reinvest and do it all over. I couldn't agree more. And I guess that is why I am putting some effort into the PIR/Beam/Dual Tech Motion Detector issue. What if I put in the wrong PIRs only to discover all the points you raised then had to pull them out. So then, External PIRs covering Hot Spots in a typical suburban scenario. Some trees, birds, cats etc. Do the Pet Immune PIRs resist the detection of branches swaying in the wind? (I have tried to trim back all such branches as a preulde to installing Motion Detectors.) I have some comment to make myself about brand-name PIRs that appear generic and are marketed under different names and dramatically different prices. But for the moment I remain only a keen novice listening to the words of wisdom from the CCTV Forum Experts. Once again, thanks so much for such a detailed reply. Thankyou.

Okay Tom, I've forgotten all about it. Thanks for that. I will follow your advice as soon as I can lay my hands on the correct PIR/Dual Tech Motion Sensor. Elsewhere in the Forum, Members mention the Crow Daredevil outdoor motion detector which now seems to be out of production. Are there any Industry Standard PIR/Dual Techs that are routinely used by CCTV Aficionados?

Tom, thanks for replying. Does that mean the PIR or external device only creates a closed circuit (or open circuit) when connected to the NO or NC inputs on the DVR? I understand that this makes sense but what is the 12 volts that Dahua refers to relating to? It sounds like Dahua want a 12 volt input from the PIR. I understand that the PIR is externally powered by, say, 12 volts. And do you know what the 28 volts that is often mentioned on Motion Detector specifications mean? I appreciate you sharing your technical expertise with a raw yet keenly enthusiastic CCTV novice. Wait a minute - hold your horses. I have just had an epiphany! Does the PIR contain a Relay that typically handles up to 28 volts? So that the Relay alone could create the Normally Open or Normally Closed circuit with the contacts at the back of the DVR. If so, why does Dahua specify 12 volts?