Harbor Freight (!) Driveway Alarm

[Flintstone]

These beauties are on sale for $20 this week.

Infrared wireless senor head (looks like the ones used for security systems) and a receiver. They claim a range of 400'.

We're alone on a cul-de-sac. If someone comes down the street, they are either visiting, or shouldn't be there. I wanted an audible alert to anyone on the circle as well as coming up the drive.

They work great, and are less than a fifth the price of regular systems

Anyway, the end of our drive is about 300' from the house and 250' from the shop. I bought two that operate on the same channel (listed on outside of box), and put the sensor at the end of the driveway at a 45 degree angle to the driveway (splitting coverage between drive and circle), one receiver in the house, another in the shop.

I put the second sensor under the covered area out where I keep the tractor and ATV, so will get an alert if someone is out messing with my gear.

So, regardless of my location, I can hear if someone is coming up. And in the loud position, the receiver is LOUD. I can hear it even if I'm out back mucking something up.

Pretty decent setup for $20.

Ted

 

[wilbilt]

My 80+ year old neighbor bought one of those after his garage was broken into twice. It went off one night and let let his Doberman out. The dog went nuts and got a piece of someone. The garage door had been pried open.

I'd say it was money well spent!

 

[Jason B]

Pretty cool!

I have a very long driveway myself and would love to do this.

Is this it?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=93068

Did you order it online or can you get it locally in the store?

 

[jimvannoy]

I have a long drive that loops around the back of my house and out the other side with my shop way off to one side and barn off one corner. I could use a couple of those.

 

[Flintstone]

That's the one!

Remember, if you get multiple units with the same channel, you can 'share' the receivers...

I've got one sensor feeding a receiver in the garage as well as the house.

FYI - tall grass within 30' of the sensor will trigger the alarm, so it's not as discerning as the more expensive units.

 

[PoorOwner]

Another use I have done is put it inside the car so in case someone broke into the car, I will hear the alarm. No false to worry about except everytime I drove off or come back, the roommate have to hear it, LOL

 

[Vicegrip]

I used one to train a dog to stay off the couch. I made a tube that closed down the sensor line of sight so you could walk around the room but get near the couch and boom. Dog gone.

 

[tommyj3]

My garage is 350 ft away from the house. I installed one of these units as a cheap alarm system. The sensor is mounted in the center, 7 ft high on the wall opposite the overhead door, and I keep the receiver in the house. It gives good floor coverage and works very well. For 19.99 how can you go wrong.

 

[Jason B]

Ok, I just bought this thing. But, the instructions say not to let get wet, or be in direct weather??? I want to mout it an the end of my driveway by the mailbox. Will is still work and not break?

 

[bmwpower]

What about battery life?

How long is the beam?

 

[tommyj3]

Ok, I just bought this thing. But, the instructions say not to let get wet, or be in direct weather??? I want to mout it an the end of my driveway by the mailbox. Will is still work and not break?

Jason the Infared Sensor is weather resistant, but the receiver is not. It should work just fine by your mailbox.

 

[tommyj3]

What about battery life?

How long is the beam?

Range: 40 degree cone angle coverage to 30 feet.

Battery life: Have no idea yet.

 

[GunMoto]

These beauties are on sale for $20 this week.

Thanks for the heads-up Ted! I just picked up two units. The units work great for the price...

 

[thefairlaneman]

Thats all I needed to hear. Saw them at the store and almost got one...I will now.. I would love to catch me a night time sneak thieve just as he was coming out of my shop.............There would be a need for the cops to come out......and most likely the MEDICS

 

[oldgoat]

Thought about buying one to put in the garage as kind of a poor mans alarm system, but didn't because I thought they might be junk. Probably isn't on sale now though, but if they are I will go buy one. Good to hear that they actually work.

 

[PAToyota]

Still shows for sale online. For those that have them, how are they with below freezing temperatures outside? Battery life never seems to be that great in such conditions...

 

[GunMoto]

Thought about buying one to put in the garage as kind of a poor mans alarm system, but didn't because I thought they might be junk. Probably isn't on sale now though, but if they are I will go buy one. Good to hear that they actually work.

I'd think it would be junk if they didn't last long, but only time will tell...so it might be worth the sale price of $19.99 to try...

 

[tommyj3]

Got a flyer in the local newspaper today with coupons for Harbor Freight. There's a coupon for the driveway alert system, pricing it at $14.88 till 11/12/07.

 

[RonRock]

For cold weather use Lithium batteries, Alkaline will freeze sooner than Lithium.

 

[wilbilt]

FYI - tall grass within 30' of the sensor will trigger the alarm, so it's not as discerning as the more expensive units.

So it's also a mowing reminder?....Awesome!

 

[oldgoat]

They don't make lithium batteries in a C that I know up or a 9V. The sensor uses a 9 V or they say there is a optional power supply that you can plug in to it instead of using batteries. I bought one today and put in the garage as a poor man's alarm and while it works it does seem to have a narrow width to alarm. For the $20. though I think it is worth it though.

 

[GunMoto]

it does seem to have a narrow width to alarm.

If you open up the sensor/transmitter (3 screws), you'll find a that there's a plastic curtain that limits the field of view of the lens. I'm not certain, but you may be able to unbolt the curtain (inside the housing) to maximize the field of view.

 

[BearFan]

Just wanted to bring this one up for renewal.Thanks Flinstone!

I saw this thread and bought one .I installed it at end of driveway next to my column lights.Well last night we had a car pull into cul de sac(which is 2 blocks long) and shut off lights.I watched and low and behold 3 kids come walking down street back to my house (first house on street) and start kicking my lights out.

I burst out garage door and they run back towards car.I turned around and got keys and drove down towards car and honked all the way waking up neighbors.Well they ran into woods and we called cops and they finally came out after cops came.

End result was money for light and face to face apology and parents of 16 yr old were there also.They said I scared the s**t out of them!LOL.

My HF alarm has helped me a few times this one being the best.I can monitor coming and going in a cul de sac that has only 4 homes so far.Very handy tip.BTW.Been going strong on first set of alkalines since purchase and it has froze here alot.

 

[Uncle Buck]

Can the unit easily be turned off and on?

 

[BearFan]

Yes.Switch is on receiver inside house.Also has a low and high volume switch

 

[sctattooer]

I got over a year on mine without changing the batteries. I have the sensors watching the driveway, one on the front porch, and one in the back yard. They work very well. The alarm unit has an annoying sound, but I sleep better knowing they're there. I have a video survellience system and a full alarm system, but who sits there watching a video monitor? I do, when these things alert me.

 

[wayoff]

Well, it's 12:30 and I'm up. Why am I up when I went to bed at 9:00 you may ask? Because my damn alarm went off again. Most nights it's after 2:00 AM. It's probably deer walking down my driveway. The first night it really freaked me out. Now it just wakes me up and I can't get back to sleep. I've had mine for about 4 weeks. Nothing for about two weeks and then bam, now it goes of every other night.

 

[RonRock]

Stupid thing, it's working.

 

[Leith]

I know this is an old thread but thought as a new member to the forum I'd share the fact that HF has these on sale for $12 Thanks for all the reviews folks

 

[Jason B]

Yep. I still have mine and it's awesome. The 9v battery on the sensor is what dies the fastest. I'd say about 4 months. The receiver lasts over a year! I wish I could find a stronger 9v for the sensor. I've spent more on 9v batteries than the system is worth, lol. 9v are expensive if you haven't priced them

Ohh, and if it's going off randomly it's probably an animal, cat, bird, or a deer. Hopefully not a bear!

 

[Jason B]

Yep. I still have mine and it's awesome. The 9v battery on the sensor is what dies the fastest. I'd say about 4 months. The receiver lasts over a year! I wish I could find a stronger 9v for the sensor. I've spent more on 9v batteries than the system is worth, lol. 9v are expensive if you haven't priced them

Ohh, and if it's going off randomly it's probably an animal, cat, bird, or a deer. Hopefully not a bear!

 

[wayoff]

I know this is an old thread but thought as a new member to the forum I'd share the fact that HF has these on sale for $12 Thanks for all the reviews folks

I saw it Friday for $14.99, but I didn't see it for $12. What a great thing for that money. I may buy more just to have them.

 

[mrbelvedere]

had one for about a year, battery that came with it(in the transmitter)died in two months. is fine outside, in wind, rain, cold, and the replacement energizer is still going strong.

I did have to position it to avoid waving plants, which caused phantom alarms.

I use a wall-wart charger to power the reciever, so no idea as to battery life on that part of the unit.

on special for the next 3 days for $12.99, at least in the california stores.

 

[56nash]

wow, look at that a spammer. I am fine with the thread being revived though, I think I am going to look into one of these to put inside the garage to let me know if there has been anyone in there. Like the 19 yr old sneaking in that way to come home in the early AM hours

 

[rgeudy]

There was a coupon in the sunday paper for 11.99, think ill pick one up and give it a shot....

 

[JCQuick]

We had to get one at work after a couple of bums waliking the street made it frough the 40ft gate and to the shop area. walked out with about $500.00 worth of air tools. we caught them. got the stuff back turned em over to the cops.
Anyway i think we paid like $40.00 for it can't remeber the name anve seen it in northern tool before

But yes they are great to have

 

[TOOL MASTER]

bear traps.......

 

[malibu101]

I too like the revived thread since we placed one of these exact units at work about 2 months ago. A secratery sits at the end of a long hall in an often empty building and was afraid that someone (stranger) could walk (sneak) down the hall and do whatever. Put the sensor on the wall about 40' down from her office and it works perfect but of course it's short range indoor too. The loud setting on the reciever is loud.
I put this on my HF winner list.

 

[timtim2008]

i had one for a few years, just 1 false alamrt every day, lol

 

[TA^Guy]

I saw it Friday for $14.99, but I didn't see it for $12. What a great thing for that money. I may buy more just to have them.

They are almost always $14.99 but once in a while I get coupons in the newspaper for $12.99. I have one that I used for random things, like making sure my teenage daughter doesn't go to hang out with her friends in the middle of the night. lol