Scary Incident with Camera install as components catch fire due to Faulty Power Supply

I have installed thousands of cameras over 35 years of working with them and never had such a dangerous incident happen as I did the other day .
After hooking up 1 camera to test the DVR Recorder to see if it was working properly all of a sudden I see smoke coming out of the Camera.
I intermediately shut off power to system and then opened up camera junction box to find that one of the Baluns a device which converts coax to Cat 5 wiring had started to melt and burn .

I suspected intermediately it was the 12 volt 18 amp  DC Power Supply a private label product made for  Everfocus   by LT Security was putting out the wrong voltage.
But it was not .

http://www.ltsecurityinc.com/en_us/product/521.html

It was then I checked camera video feed I was getting 1.4 volts something I should not be seeing. Normally it is Micro-volts you will not normally see a full volt .  It was after I put a Oscilloscope type meter on line where I saw the power supply was defective and sending out AC voltage with the DC voltage causing the baluns to heat up. I disconnected the power supply  and baluns put in all new and problem solved and I am in process of letting manufacturer know they have a problem so it can be resolved. as this very well could have lead to a fire had I walked away and not checked on system like I did .
now why this one particular supply did what it did and not the other ones in stock that's a good question which will need to be investigated and answered. if I do not get satisfactory answers from manufacturer I will be notifying CPSC over the matter .

10 years ago 2 Pittsburgh Firefighters lost there lives and 29 where injured due to negligence of Fire officials yet nothing was ever done about it.

I remember the day well travelling thru the downtown area and seeing the large plume of smoke coming off the Hill District area of Pittsburgh .
I turned on my scanner to hear a Church was on fire in Hill district.
I decided to ride up and take some pictures. I parked my truck and was walking up to scene when the steeple of the church collapsed onto the street hitting the officers running the command post below.
Little did I know at the time of the collapse 2 firefighters had lost there lives.

http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/fire/reports/face200417.html

As you can clearly see by the NIOSH report there was plenty of blame to go around and plenty of incompetence that day.

Yes the Fire Bureau now takes accountability in account and has made changes to prevent further tragedy and some people have retired or been replaced but as usual in the fire service no one was held accountable for the deaths. 

Something that does not happen in Private industry where people are brought up on  criminal and civil charges. 

Why the double standard especially when these where paid professionals not volunteers .

Even Police Officers are regularly criminally charged over their actions if inappropriate. 

Instead we just right up a report and hope some one reads it and follows it to prevent the next tragedy.

Maybe when a fire chief gets held on criminal negligence charges they will change their attitudes and tactics but until that day expect another tragedy and horrible accident and more firefighters dead because  the Fire Service remains its own worse enemy and many firefighters paid and volunteer agree with me. 

$54 Million Dollar a year operation at a distribution facility put at risk because electrical system was not properly designed and plenty of blame to spread around.

I have been working with an older Electrical Contractor who serves as the In House Electrician  to install Life Safety and Security systems in a brand new $14 million dollar distribution facility which services the Convenience Store Industry.
Nearly 200,000 Sq ft  with the most modern of electronics being used to get products in and out.

They hired a large Florida based Design Build Contractor  to design the facility  with its massive refrigerated dock and warehouse section a new large dry storage section and rebuild of offices and a new training center where store owners can see the latest in products for the convenience industry.

The Design Build Contractor  hired the local Electrical Union Contractor to install power and lighting so they should have the best available talent to get this job done. WRONG.

The new facility was open only 3 days when tragedy struck. There was a a Phase loss of power from
Power Company to the plant  which happened on a very hot day a common problem  with the power grid  when it gets stressed which when the phase came back on caused a massive surge in the plant. thru the 480/277 power distribution system which knocked refrigeration AC cooling off line and destroyed fire and security components despite surge protection myself and older electrician installed on our systems we installed.

The problems uncovered during what happened where something which never should have happened and where 100% avoidable.

There have been constant problems with electrical gremlins in the facility which causes electronics systems to not work properly or erratically. The design Build firm was a complete failure they never figured into its electrical designs for Harmonics a very well known problem which should have  been  considered and designed for.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmonics_(electrical_power)

The Union Electrical contractor should have insisted on it and never did anything to help stop it like up-sizing neutral wires and specifying harmonic grade transformers which help dampen harmonics . In fact the Union Electrical Contractor totally failed to properly design the grounding and bonding system to prevent problems which also contributed to the life safety and fire systems getting damaged. the facility has high speed garage size doors which open and close quickly using motors which use Variable Frequency Drive FVD technology another big source of harmonics as well.

http://ewh.ieee.org/r3/nashville/events/2005/Harmonics_MCPQG_IEEE_2005.pdf

 and the maker of the garage doors did not insist on making sure the motors etc where properly wired to reduce harmonics or even bother to tell the client of the fact VFD units generate them.

The electrical system was designed to meet the minimum safety requirements of the National Electrical Code and no further design considerations . Despite the fact of all the electronics being deployed in the facility a very bad mistake by both designer and electrical contractor they both failed our customers needs and should be ashamed of them selves for not making provisions to prevent problems.

To make matters worse not one surge suppressor was installed anywhere in the electrical system had they been installed the surge damage would have been nothing to minimal instead of over $10,000 in damage and business disruption it caused. The Surge suppressors myself and the older electrician installed where overwhelmed because there where no other suppressors in the electrical system.
Only one of the electronics contractors in the building bedsides us installed suppressors.
Too many times I see very expensive electronics being installed with no suppressors on them or battery back up system a very bad decision.
especially when it comes to surveillance camera systems  which use a recorder with a hard drive just like a computer.

To make matters worse as Myself and in house electrician started looking over the electrical system to determine where the surge came in and path it took we found that the electrical contractor had not bonded the  various buildings steel together and had various transformers bonded to the steel in  three different section's and without the unifying bonding between the structures this allowed for step voltage  to occur
which is what caused most of the damage  when there is a difference in potential between the ground paths  and voltage can actually spike up in strength. This is why it is critical to properly unify and electrical system and in this case the complex is feed from 2 different power services which makes it even more critical that everything on the grounding and the bonding of the system is properly unified.
The following link shows many ways structures must be bonded and grounded to prevent issues

http://books.google.com/books?id=a988UyrJttYC&pg=PA293&lpg=PA293&dq=unified+grounding+system&source=bl&ots=kRNDgm_EbK&sig=bY-QCwCiH_WthzaqU11MLYdgK54&hl=en&sa=X&ei=3J25U-HYDMSsyASZkYDQCQ&ved=0CGYQ6AEwDA#v=onepage&q&f=false

We also found where more than one ground or bond wire was installed improperly as well which creates a double path and can allow for equipment damage as a electrical fault will not properly clear in recommended time.  The union Electrical contractors should have known what they where doing was wrong and should have done proper bonding. I know many of the union schools are teaching it .
Since going thru and correcting the bonding and grounding issues we have greatly reduced the electrical gremlins but they are still there. the only way to do this would be to replace transformers at a very big expense.
But hopefully what we have done will help for now and the management is bring advised to install additional surge suppression to ward off future issues.

Fires and Explosions in Western Pa. no wonder there are so many when you see the amount of Ignorant stupid individuals I come across daily

Yes Western Pa. is very unique when it comes to statistics about fires explosions and accidents and the frequency of there occurrence.
But spend a day with me and you will understand why.
When you see total lack of common sense when people do things.
Take the picture below a butler county property owner out burning trash on a windy day. He thinks its OK and he could care less the embers from this fire land some where and cause a brush fire . In butler County there have been several major business structure loses plus homes  and vehicles being caught on fire  because of ignorant stupid individuals burning the  trash too close to  a building and on a windy day.

 Then take the picture directly across from this individual burning trash on a windy day
here you see 2 white 100 pound  Propane Cylinders  being left in the open and unsecured on a construction site

This is a major Fire code and OSHA violation to do this all cylinder empty or full must be secured from falling over something you see all the time and when I looked in hall way of this building under construction 12 smaller cylinders where sitting unsecured as well in this church under construction.Plus churches are some of the most dangerous places you can take your family as they notoriously are not properly maintained and are full of code violations in Pa.
yes it is no wonder the accidents that occur How many times I have seen people working with metal ladders too close to power lines or digging in the ground with out calling one call location service.
or blocking emergency exits etc. Yes it happens other places but with no where near as many incidents.
Driving in Western Pa.is also one of the most dangerous activity s you can do also with record numbers of drunk drivers and drivers who just do not care in a 45 minute ride from my home to I-79 on a daily basis you can expect to encounter 2-5 serious  incidents where you have to step on brakes or steer to avoid getting hit .All because people choose to not follow driving regulations in that same 4 minutes over 35 vehicle code violations could be written up as well. for speeding, driving too slow, failure to yield, failure to use turn signals. etc.
When Insurance Underwriters in this part of state consider writing policy's no wonder so many do not want to or charge much higher premiums.
But this is the way it has always been . stupid ignorant individuals who want the red bricker easy do nothing jobs and have no responsibility for any thing.
But that's what the mill jobs encouraged as many mill and manufacturing jobs where boring and took just this type of individual to fill them stand there and push this button never ask a question never think for your self .
Now these same company's trying to fill high tech jobs and can not find applicants wonder why. It's inbreed into the culture here to be lazy and ignorant.after decades of manufacturing and its a hard cycle to break.

Another Corporate Promise broken as Honeywell brings an end to the FBI Burglar Alarm Brand

F.B.I. Fire Burglary Instruments  was a small company which started in Haupage NY. and the first panel of theirs which I worked on in 70's  was the FBI 650 a combo Burglary and Fire Panel designed for a residence it was first designed to have a dry cell battery for back up and subsequently was converted to allow Jell Cell lead acid battery's to be used for back up. Similar in design and features to Ademco's 330  the FBI 650 panel was ahead of its time when it come to design .
It had a built in assembly which took an electron tube you purchased separately  to allow for Direct Connect
also known as leased line or polarity reversal connection .
This is back in the days before Digital Communicators  where you leased from the phone company a set of phone wires from your home or business to the local police station or some times to a telephone answering service which then called police for you like today's modern central stations.

The problem with the 650 panel like so many panels back then was it was during this time when alarm systems started going from Mechanical relays to a mix of relays and Solid State Electronics.
Which often resulted in false Alarms . Unfortunately this was a common problems with too many alarm systems and components as they where just not properly built to prevent false alarms and there was a very big learning curve to be overcome, In the 70's and 80's there was just a lot of junk on the market period.
But FBI stuck it out and got thru issues as did other manufacturers and when it come out with its very stable
XL series of panels in late 80's they where an instant hit.

Then when the computer wave of the 90's hit and up/downloading allowed remote programming and event  logging of panels came along these where great panels to install .
One panel in particular I liked to install was the XL-4 a 128 zone panel which was very stable and had many features but lacked one crucial feature a built in or addable wireless  receiver. Which lead to its ultimate demise.
One of the great features of the XL series panels was there simplicity of operation .
push 4 digit code turn it on push the 4 digit code again turn system off . Very nice system for seniors  which no one makes today they all require extra keys you must hit to arm and disarm. F.B.I.came out with all kind of neat modules too like  the talking siren module which warned  intruders they had activated an alarm system and to leave police had been called.
But then in the mid 90's Ademco's parent company Pittway Corporation
bought out the FBI brand and many of us where angry but Pittway stayed true to letter it sent to every dealer and kept the line going and actually improved it and brought out a panel the OMNI which had a built in wireless receiver.  That was till around 2000 when Pittway was wholly acquired by Honeywell Corporation who made no improvements and just allowed the panel line to die out which it has now allowed to happen as the last FBI panel made by Honeywell the XL2T  was discontinued this month.
Had Honeywell put a wireless receiver in the panel it probably would still be a best seller.
Yes there where only a hand full of dealers like me with senior customers who put a couple of these panels in for there simplicity for seniors to operate but it was not enough to sustain the line .
How ever some of the good features that FBI panels had in them have been incorporated into Honeywell's line of panels so the FBI panels will live on just not as we know them.

As far as alarm systems for seniors they have been screwed again seems no one wants to sell to the senior market other than to sell them medic alert system. Instead of home alarms which help them feel secure and prevent false alarm activation's.  What a dam shame. Of course this is not the first line of panels Pittway and Honeywell have bought up and Killed it also includes .
C&K Systems and Apex controls
 and many other corporations like GE also helped kill many good product lines as well. But tha'ts just the way corporations behave they put out what they think the consumer wants and needs and never talks to them to find out what they really want.

Intrusion Security in the 21st Century

By Allan B. Colombo

Electronic intrusion detection has experienced significant changes over the past few decades. Some of them include advances in technology while others involve how traditional alarm companies do business. This is especially true where projects demand network connections and advanced forms of integration.

In this story, we’ll take a look at important technological trends, we’ll examine why it’s sometimes necessary for traditional alarm companies to partner with systems integrators, and we’ll look at several ways in which the very face of intrusion protection could change in the somewhat distant future. To help us do this we’ll call on the expertise of a long-time security expert, Richard Cantor, CEO, with Amerigard Alarm & Security Corp., New York, NY.

Trends in Technology
On the technical side, one of the most notable changes seen in intrusion protection is how security systems integrate with consumer-oriented mobile devices, such as smart phones.

“Today everything is market driven in the end and our industry and the technology which is now offered is all blending together. We are indeed in the iPhone/Internet age. The bottom line is consumers are savvy about products, services and pricing,” says Cantor.

A good example of this is the ability for the homeowner to control their residential alarm system from a remote location using a laptop or cell phone from anywhere in the world. The same connection allows them to view one or more cameras, as well as affect temperature, lighting, and other subsystems in the home.

Business owners and managers also have come to rely on these same technological features. This has effectively extended their reach into the workplace itself, which allows them to keep a closer eye on shoplifting and internal theft. This involves a relatively high level of integration.

“From a product offering standpoint things are blending together more and more. Security systems now offer home automation and home automation systems offer security, and both can take advantage of new wireless protocols such as Z-wave,” says Cantor.

Cantor also says that “…our industry is moving toward cloud type services with Honeywell's Total Connect services, 2Gig's new product line, and Elk's--which has been around for some time now. So right now it’s the wild, wild west out there.”

For example, Home Automation Inc. of New Orleans is poised to integrate wireless, digital locksets and lighting controls with HAI’s Omni-Pro controller using Zigbee technology. This same methodology can be used to link these same locksets with the homeowner remotely over the Internet. More and more we’re also seeing the use of wireless networks using WiFi.

The problem for some traditional alarm companies, however, is that security technicians often lack the necessary skill sets to deal with digital technology in the network realm. When this is the case, it’s not uncommon for them to contract with systems integrators to assist them with the Internet Protocol (IP) side of the job.

IP Video Surveillance
IP network technology now abounds in any number of disciplines within the security venue, including access control, life safety, and CCTV (Closed Circuit Television).

“The CCTV market is in the vortex of developing changes in technology from IP and megapixel cameras to network recorders and analytics with no firm direction yet,” says Cantor.

For example, more and more alarm dealers are being asked by their clients—both residential and commercial—to provide outside access to camera systems. Consumers simply want to take advantage of all the benefits that today’s digital IP technology provides. The same technology can be used by central station operations to look in on facilities immediately after receiving an alarm signal. Police also can be let into a building remotely by the owner over the Internet as well as central station personnel.

“You could add the prospect of remote video monitoring, though that is likely to remain a small niche market,” says Cantor.

There are those who are sure to disagree with Cantor’s assessment in as much as many communities have mandated the use of video verification or some other means to curb the unnecessary dispatch of police officers and fire fighters. Remote video has long offered this capability and will continue to do so in the years to come.

Click here for more information

Central Station Operations
Specifically, IP technology enables central station operators to integrate central station computers with cameras on site. This allows them to look in on specific locations within a facility where alarm signals originate.

By verifying whether anyone is actually there allows the operator to make a determination whether to dispatch the authorities. And, where video is recorded, operators can look back at recorded clips, especially those taken in the vicinity of motion detectors and other intrusion devices that caused the alarm.

The same effect can be achieved by integrating alarm systems with the video motion detection built into some modern IP cameras, Digital Video Recorders (DVRs), and other network devices. Mobotix IP Megapixel cameras, for example, not only have the ability to send images by email, but they can generate voice prompts that can be played to the assailant via an audible device.

Many times integration is as easy as linking a DVR with a modem or router while other times it requires additional effort. Traditional alarm technicians who lack the skill sets necessary to complete this portion of the job are turning to systems integrators for assistance. For this reason it’s important for traditional alarm firms to develop partnerships with such. Systems integrators are the best choice because they deal with network technology on a daily basis. The Future of Intrusion Protection Although experts will vary on what they see ahead for intrusion protection, radical changes are sure to lie ahead that will change the face of our industry. Two technological changes that I believe will do this is artificial intelligence (AI) and facial recognition, coupled with changes in communication technology.

“The CCTV market is in the vortex of developing changes in technology from IP and MegaPixel cameras to network recorders and analytics with no firm direction yet. Then in general all sorts of technologies are merging together,” says Cantor. “Alarm systems now incorporate access control and home automation and as soon as we have accurate facial recognition systems, access control will be revolutionized. Then you will see real integration of alarm, access control, and CCTV.”

Later in the 21st Century it’s quite possible that intrusion security will take the form of a fully integrated access/security system using facial recognition combined with AI technology. Gone will be traditional door switches, motion sensors, and access control cards, tokens, and fobs. At that point the AI controlled system will know who belongs and who does not. Through a host of cameras, the AI will also be able to determine when a break-in has taken place. Equipped with the right action plan, the appropriate response will ensue.

Taking this concept one step further, by mobilizing the AI controlled system to include roving mobile units, equipped with cameras, voice interfaces, and other attributes and features, it will be possible to confront those who enter a protected space. Verification of identity will take place using facial recognition, voice, hand geometry, genetic markers, and/or other biometric attributes. When an unauthorized individual is discovered, it will be possible to notify the appropriate authorities for immediate response as a perpetrator(s) is maintained in one of many locations that may act as a man trap.

No matter how you look at the future, intrusion protection will never be the same as in years past. As we move further into the 21st Century, the use of network technology is sure to increase while older methods of detection, identity verification, and signaling fall by the wayside. In their place will be a brave new world.

About the Author
Allan B. Colombo is a 28-year trade journalist in the life-safety and physical security markets. His work has appeared in numerous publications throughout North America, including Security Distributing & Marketing, Security Sales & Integration, The Electrical Distributor (TED), Electrical Contractor, Security & Life Safety Magazine, Security Dealer & Integrator, Locksmith Ledger, and others. To contact Al Colombo, call 330-956-9003, email him at abc@alcolombo.us or visit the Safety & Security Facebook Page at https://www.facebook.com/TpromoCom.

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Unusual leak on Dry Sprinkler System proved hard to find

Ever since a Dry Sprinkler  Fire Protection System was installed at Alcoma Plaza in Penn hills it has been a problem for the owners .
The problem  is a very poor installation by a less than reputable well known North Hills  Contractor  of   the compressor system which was rough handled  when first installed and without proper electrical safety controls.
 The first problem was that the compressor had a 3 phase motor and was installed with out a motor starter contactor to protect the electric motor which had to be replaced after the power single phased during a  thunder storm.
The second problem was the system always seemed to loose air and compressor had to run several times a day instead of once a day.  and the third problem was the Drip Drum which collects condensate from the dry pipes was installed in an unheated room  which if it was not kept properly drained during winter would fill with water and freeze up and break flooding the building.

New system being  installed

After this happened several times  the owner asked me to look into why the system kept having problems I showed him the above problems and we put a plan of action in place.

First I installed a new 3 phase motor with proper fuses and motor starter contactor.
Next I arranged to come in monthly and drain the drip drums.
This helped tremendously but at least once  a year we would still get the system dumping the air and flooding the pipes but luckily not the stores  like it did in the past every summer . But we could never find what was causing it  other than compressor shutting off during a bad storm and needing reset yet that much air leaving system should not be happening.
The final straw was last week it dumped again but this time when I got there and let fire dept in there was a very bad smell in building I noticed it right away bad air from system but where was it leaking from.
I explained to the fire chief who was complaining the whole time they had to respond that there had to be a massive loss of air and that's what we where smelling was that old foul air from the dry pipes which got me thinking we had a bad over pressure relief valve on system  . He looked at me like I was some kind of  asshole making a statement like that but I have been working on air systems for many years so It was egg on the chiefs face when after I did a complete leak test on system with sprinkler company  that we found a hair line crack in the compressor air tank .
Which made the chief look like the ass.There was a massive air loss going on.
 They wonder why I will have nothing to do with fire depts in Penn Hills any more  well every time 223# starts there shit and keeps running their mouths and making snide remarks and alienating people in this town its no wonder they can not find volunteers and depts have a hard time raising funds.

After very carefully looking the tank over the sprinkler tech found the hair line crack right at where the mounting  foot was welded to the tank. He found it  after increasing  the tanks air pressure and checking it for leaks when he could not find them anywhere else on system and what he found  was happening was the tank would stay sealed but as it got hotter outside and in the building the tank would expand and let off its air it was holding   and it was almost 90 degrees  that day  the night the tank let loose  of its air which we could smell all over building,  but by time we got there and started checking  the tank has cooled down  looses its expansion and it looked OK and would pump up. So problem solved  with some good old detective work and a new tank now installed that will hopefully be the end of the problems with the system for a long time and result in less condensate in pipes and a lower electric bill as compressor will not have to run as much.

Getting on Parkway East in Swissvale is a challenge for even skilled drivers with its crazy ramp system

If  you are coming out Braddock Ave. in Swissvale and want to get on to the Parkway East as its called but its really  I-376 west bound you get on a ramp that takes you a full 360 degree to get up on to it the problem in the circle your making you have to yield as another street W. Swissvale Ave. comes into the ramp and your not expecting it as your blind coming around the bend  and cars come down W. Swissvale speeding thru the interchange and are hard to see and unexpected.

others as well as myself have had close encounters with this bad set up which Penn Dot is aware of but with limited space there is not much that can be done to realign  it but you could put a stop sign on the straight thru street. W. Swissvale Ave. or otherwise slow down the drivers approaching the interchange.