Why are you still using Coax Cable for Cameras ?

Super Circuits is an excellent site for all your video needs  when you want to DIY with professional video products with out all the cost of professional installation and they bring you the following article .

Video Baluns: From Coax to CAT 5

In many traditional analog CCTV video security system installations, coaxial cable (coax cable) is often used to carry video between the analog security camera and the video monitor or DVR. A video balun enables you to convert various video signals and replace running traditional coaxial (coax) cable with Category 5 (CAT 5) cable in CCTV installations.

Video Baluns

A video balun, also referred to as an unshielded twisted pair balun (or UTP balun), is a type of transformer that converts various types of ‘unbalanced’ audio and video signals into ‘balanced’ signals and sends the signals over long distances using a twisted pair network cable. In video security system installations, a video balun has the ability to connect a CCTV camera to a DVR or monitor and transmit the converted balanced video signal over CAT 5 cable.

CAT 5 Cables

CAT 5 is a twisted pair cable used that usually contains four pairs of copper wire. CAT 5 cable is used for carrying various types of video signals, and there are many benefits of running CAT 5 cables instead of coax cables.

Benefits of CAT 5 Cables over Coaxial Cables:                                                           

• CAT 5 cables allow for much longer cable runs than coaxial cable.
• CAT 5 cables save money on installation costs, especially with long distance runs, because CAT 5 cable costs a lot less than coaxial cable.
• CAT 5 cables allow for virtually interference-free video transmission.
• CAT 5 cables can also be used to transmit power to the camera or PTZ camera control functions.
• CAT 5 cables are easier to pull, making it easier to install than coaxial cables.

Active and Passive Video Baluns

There are two main types of video baluns: active and passive. Active and passive video baluns both help amplify video signals, but the transmission distance between each type of balun varies.  The ability to amplify a video signal is especially important for running video cables over a long distance, to ensure that video signal quality is not lost.

Passive Video Baluns

Passive video baluns only use one of the twisted pairs of wire in the CAT 5 cable. Passive baluns are non-powered, and can support cable transmission distances up to approximately 1,000 feet.

Active Video Baluns

Active video baluns include a power supply and can increase cable transmission distances well beyond the transmission distance offered by passive baluns.

You can connect a passive video balun to your security camera with an active balun that connects to the monitor or DVR—to gain an amplified video signal with a transmission distance of up to approximately 4,000 feet.

You can also connect an active balun to your security camera and an active balun to your monitor or DVR—to achieve an amplified video signal with a transmission distance of up to approximately 6,000 feet.

An Easy to Install, Cost Effective Solution

Video baluns are simple to install, easy to use and are ideal for video security system installations requiring long cable runs. Video baluns provide a cost effective solution for converting various types of video signals and running CAT 5 cable in CCTV video security system installations.

To learn more about video baluns, or to find one to suit your needs, please visit 

 http://www.supercircuits.com/. 


Also check out this great You Tube video on baluns in use 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XEKL3hy_KNk&feature=youtu

Unauthorised Modifications to Electrical devices a sure fire way to get your self in major trouble

Recently on a Face Book Group for Fire Technicians  a Technician who also does burglar alarms and automation posted a print showing how to delay the alarm in a garage to allow a person to arm the system them get in car and leave with out setting off the alarm .
The problem he was doing an illegal and unauthorized modification of an electrical device  by doing so he was also doing work with 120 volts AC which means he must have an electrical license or otherwise be qualified to do this type of work depending on state he lives in.

THE ABOVE IMAGE SHOULD NOT BE COPIED OR ATTEMPTED  IT IS A DISPLAY TO SHOW  AN ILLEGAL MODIFICATION TO AN ELECTRICAL ITEM

The problem is the garage door opener is a UL listed piece of equipment when it is submitted for approval this is how it is to be built and maintained any modification violates the UL label and puts the person doing the illegal modification in serious trouble and fully civil as well as criminally liable should there be a fire , injury or god forbid death as a result  of the modification and since the work was not permitted to be done  the technicians insurance carrier will not provide them coverage as well.  I know of a  handy Man who lost his home and job and ended up committing suicide  over just such an incidence back in late 60's some one brought him an Electric Hedge Shear  which the trigger switch was not working he bypassed the safety switch  and drilled a hole in the case and attached an on/off snap switch problem solved or so he thought the neighbor took it home and couple weeks later when his son was using it to trim the hedges he fell and instead of his finger holding the safety switch and losing his grip and the safety switch shutting off the shear the shear stayed on and the boy lost 2 fingers . The handyman was sued and lost everything defending himself in court he lost his job because he spent so much time defending himself and after a court judgement of $300,000.00 against him meaning he would loose everything he put a gun to his temple.
Another man in rural county by us ended up facing Negligent Homicide charges after being a handy helper and fixing a fence charger and a young girl died after getting shocked by it and not being able to let go because he wired it wrong .
Any time you modify something electrical and do not do so properly you put your self in jeopardy.  Its not worth it  . This is why a professional will often turn down work when he knows its not something he is permitted to do. I have turned down many electrical jobs  for this exact same reason myself.
I warned this individual he is not permitted to do this type of work and he is liable if there's a problem  and just does not get it. He will when something goes wrong and an attorney researching the case  sees this article and his postings on face book . But some times people do not learn till they end up being sued. Seen it happen all too many times with people who think they know what they are doing with electric and should not be touching it. till its too late and then its run duck and cover and there calling me crying because they have gotten them selves in trouble and  what do I do now and i tell them you where warned  and I hang up the phone. It is just a matter of time till Neal , Frank  Andy or Jimmy will be calling me  and I have repeatedly warned them they should not be doing electrical work but they will never learn till they get burned by it.

Are technology Companys Like Honeywell pushing out new tech toys too fast It apears so.

I love installing and programming all the new technology coming out for security and home /business automation  .
However I do not like it when I am made to look like an ASS  to my customer when the new Whizzbang product I hook up FAILS right out of the box.
Unfortunately I have seen it too many times lately with Honeywell's new security products especially its new 5100 wireless series Security Panel .
  Even when I  tested one of these units before it was released  it went down seems you either get a good one and works for ever or its bad right out of the box . I have seen same thing with the Tuxedo touch screen controller as well I have one job site where we have had to replace the Tuxedo 3 times  now .
While most customers understand its a new product and some times there are bugs you would think a better job would be done to correct these problems .But no they just push the products out the door ready to go or not. Too many company's looking at the almighty dollar rather than customer satisfaction. Well for now I will not be installing any more Tuxedos or 5100 till the get the problem fixed. But this is only one problem the other is the lack of properly trained installers and technicians is the other .
They put all these toys out and there are very few people who know how to properly install them causing even more work for people like me to go fix them and burdening  tech support hotlines with inane and stupid questions  tieing  up the lines so when techs like me call trying to help track down problems in the field when we see patterns evolving not being answered. Sorry I have better things to do than sit on line for 45 minutes waiting for an answer.
But apparently this is the way these company's want to play it push shit out the door and deal with it down the road. You the consumer loose every time. besides the hundreds  of hours uncompensated  I have to spend  finding problems in the field I should not have to be doing in the first place.

Too make matters worse Honeywell has failed to answer when its Total Connect Advanced or 2.1 will be available for hardwired panels  and it is costing me sales as well and then pushed a 2G cell product out knowing dam well AT&T was planning on shutting things down in 2016 now I had to go to all my Total Connect customers and tell them I have to change out there communicators they just spent $300-400 a piece on isnt that grand.
 Honeywell wants to be my partner of choice it is not going to be for much longer if they do not get off there ass and get things corrected, I will be looking for a new partner of choice .  I dumped DSC , for the same kind of horse shit 20 years ago and will Dump Honeywell as well.

Fire Resistsnt Construction stopped a Fire from causing major damage and revealed a Product issue with Energy Saving Motion Switches.

Well it looks like Ground Hog Day once again as the push for energy saving devices are once again proving just how dangerous they are when not properly used. Just like in the late 70' During President Carters Energy Saving Attempts.

I was called to a clients property on Neville Island when they walked into the office section of the plant smelt something electrical burning and realized the Fan & Light combo unit in the mens room was on fire. They quickly turned off power to unit and the arcing and fire stopped and flame went out.
They immediately called me to plant to find out what happened and to replace the light combo unit
 I get on site and find a completely melted and combusted fan section something which should never happen  as the Shaded Pole Motors used in these units have one or both types of impedance or thermal protection . Yet here it was a fan totally consumed.

Lens and fan cover melted

I carefully took down the fan from the ceiling tile and made sure not to cause any issues with spoliation as I wanted some answers. Had it not been for the fire resistant  commercial ceiling tile and dry wall run over the wood  roof studs  This very well could have ended in tragedy especially had it been in a residential bath room. But all of the fire resistive construction and fact nothing combustible was below on the floor when embers fell  there was no further damage. An ideal situation when investigating a fire to have the whole issue isolated the way it was. I installed a new fan light combo and found the motion switch it was  attached thru was not working so I replaced it with a standard wall switch to get it working .

 But this is where it starts to get interesting I took the fan unit to an Electrical Engineer I know who does Fire Investigation and discover there are 3 possible scenarios which could have happened. Seems some of these cheaper Energy Saving  Motion Switches are being misapplicated  and are not designed to be used with combo units  and can cause problems you must make sure when purchasing an energy saving switch it is properly rated for florescent lights and fan motors some are most are not many of the motion switches also are not designed to handle florescent lights with electronic ballast only older magnetic ballast types 
Then there's the issue of  these motion switches which have a device in them known as a Triac  .

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TRIAC 

When one of these Triac's malfunction they can send DC current into the motor causing it to catch fire.  But what was disturbing most of all apparently it is known to this manufacturer that some of these fan light units are catching fire for no reason and they are currently under investigation for possible recall. 

 So this was an accident waiting to happen. So being able to pull out the unit with out it having spoliation issues so it may be examined was definitely a bonus hopefully we will have some answers.

With all the new energy saving devices coming out for the retrofit market one must choose wisely and do there research they are buying the correct energy saving device.  Because not all construction is fire resistant and the result will be deadly if you choose incorrectly.

internals consumed by flames

New product designed to stop Unattended Kitchen fires

One of the fire calls I use to get when I was a Volunteer fireman was unattended  kitchen stove fires .
People would put a pot on the stove and get busy and forgot they did so and next thing you know the house is filling with smoke .
Well some one has taken the initiative to bring to market later this summer a product designed to shut down the stove when  it hears a smoke detector sound.
which eliminates the heat  and reduces or puts the fire out all together.  More information on this soon to be available product can be found at

http://www.fireavert.com/

You simply plug this unit into wall and stove into it .