Did a y2k test of the four motion detecs on the OUTSIDE of the house last night ( Fri). I used my 140 watt power inverter hooked up to one deep cycle battery. The 75 watt bulbs were replaced with 35watt PAR 20 outdoor spotlights. The system was turned on at 3:30 pm EST. It is now Sat. morning 5:50 am EST. There has been very little drain on the battery, even though it came on several time during the night, setting my inside buzzers off (damn deer). The light was brite enough to see about 50 yards. If the power goes out, I know no one will sneak up one me. 50 yards gives me plenty of time, and light, to sight and fire!

-- SCOTTY (BLehman202@aol.com), April 24, 1999

Answers

Scotty,

You might want to leave the light bulbs OUT of your motion detector and just leave the inside buzzers on. The last thing you want when the power goes out is to advertise that you have power.

-TECH32-

-- TECH32 (TECH32@NOMAIL.COM), April 24, 1999.

Good Morning,

If I was a bad guy coming to do bad things I would shoot/slingshot the lights out first thing. Sorry....Just wanted to make certain you considered that - you may already have.

Actually I AM a bit envious, I have still been focusing on water, food, heat, etc. Had to decide that I would have to go really low tech on the lights and such (read...candles/lamps). Have fun!

-- Kristi (securx@Succeed.Net), April 24, 1999.

If you're really taking this seriously, skip the outdoor lighting, and think about using surplus night vision equipment, along with motion detectors. Plus you need to consider how awkward it would be to find that you've blown away a neighbor coming over at 2 AM to ask for help in an emergency.

Read as much as you can find about the war in Vietnam. Bunkers under siege require external fire support. Dienbienphu a case in point.

-- Tom Carey (tomcarey@mindspring.com), April 24, 1999.

Thanks for the advice. Lights are only 2" in diameter. If you can hit them with a handgun or a shotgun at 50 yards, I'm dead meat anyway. Have plans to unscrew the bulbs if need be. Thanks again.

-- SCOTTY (BLehman202@aol.com), April 24, 1999.

the first step in not being a victim is not fitting a victim profile.how will flood lights help you lay low if you're trying to ride out y2k disruptions?also if the lights are shot out in a firefight your night vision will be shot low-light or starlight optics might be a more viable option for staying low key

-- zoobie (zoob@aol.com), April 24, 1999.

Earlier on this forum someone suggested a great idea. Board up you windows and spread broken glass all over the areas were the windows are. NO use bothering a place that has already been broken into. I guess its best to learn how to hide in plain sight rather than draw attention to youself.

-- thinkIcan (thinkIcan@make.it), April 24, 1999.

SCOTTY; You want to get real serious, try man traps, used them often in VC land and out on the farm,( too many deer hunters). They are half posts with 30 penny ring shank nails hammered into them at all different angles. The post is about 20 inches log, large enough to catch tires coming towards the house or someone walking in on your grounds.

Bury the man traps about three inches below the surface,just enough for the nail points to stick out.

Have a plan as to where you have placed them, so the owner doesn't succume to his own protection.

This is for ,if you really want to get nasty !!!

Furie...

-- Furie (furieart@dnet.net), April 24, 1999.

Scotty...would you believe that Heartland's catalog has a night vision amplifier for 279.00? My neighbor bought one and it works moderately well. As good as the old Starlight scopes, anyway.

Furie...where and when? Welcome home.....but don't stop checking six.

-- Lobo (atthelair@yahoo.com), April 25, 1999.