Tools of the Trade: Security Equipment

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Designers Fountain's 7022M-05

Turn on the Lights
Thieves tend to bypass well-lit structures, so light up farm offices and tack rooms to keep them safe. Barn Light Electric manufactures a selection of country-style items, including chandeliers, wall sconces and lights, such as their popular Outback gooseneck barn light in 12- to 27-inch shade sizes, dozens of gooseneck styles, five finishes and eight types of glass.

Motion-detector lights add another dimension to rural security when mounted near entryways and in sensitive areas such as tack rooms and offices.  Brinkmann’s Solar Home Security SL-7 Motion Detector features two 10-watt spotlights, an adjustable, remote solar panel with a 15-foot cord, a 6-volt battery and a shielded motion sensor adjustable from 3 to 75 feet.

Those seeking an aesthetic package for entryways can appreciate Designers Fountain’s lighting fixtures. Available items include the 2868MD-AG cast- aluminum wall lantern in autumn gold with satin crackled glass and the 7022M-05 black cast-aluminum wall sconce with clear glass, both of which incorporate 180-degree motion detectors.

When lighting isn’t enough, consider a motion-sensor lighting-and-camera combination. Field Tuff’s AGSAFE300 SecureSafeCam 500-watt halogen security light provides one to five minutes of light per trigger. It also incorporates a 2.0 megapixel camera that shoots images or video up to 30 feet away.

Wirada Ranch Enterprises carries lights of choice for security systems. Daylight Lighting compact fluorescent bulbs will go strong for 8,000 hours and range from 11 watts (putting out the equivalent of 40 watts of incandescent-bulb light) to 105 watts (emitting 400 watts of incandescent-bulb light).

Full-scale Security Systems
When security is vitally important, only a full-fledged farm security system will do. While it’s possible to assemble one piecemeal, buying a readymade system makes more sense. 

Field Tuff’s AgSafe Wireless Camera Monitoring System package includes four cameras, each with its own frequency to minimize interference between cameras, and a 7-inch, full-color monitor with sound. Each infrared camera sees up to 45 feet in total darkness and 750 feet in the light.

Farm Cameras sells pre-assembled home and barn security systems that they’ll customize to meet specific needs. Their Homestead surveillance package incorporates four cameras and is pre-assembled, pre-wired and pre-programmed for convenience out of the box. The Homestead II package includes six cameras and is pre-configured to accept eight cameras. Both come with a Farm Cameras Quick Guide that allows you to set changes from home or any computer in the world.  

Watch That Drive!
Another security tool especially useful in rural settings where driveways tend to be longer than the norm is a driveway alarm. When a vehicle passes the electromagnetic sensor in a Mighty Mule #FM131 Driveway Alarm, a receiver in the house sounds a chime. It’s configured to sense only large, metal objects to avoid false signals triggered by animals or children. The unit is functional at a range of 400 feet; it’s easy to install, and a driveway-transmitter mounting stake is included in every package. 

Similarly, Dakota Alert’s Wireless Probe Alert 3000 detects vehicles passing via a buried cable and probe. The probe is buried parallel to the driveway and will detect vehicles passing within 10 to 12 feet. The cable is also buried and runs to a transmitter box, which you can mount on a tree or fence post. The receiver can be in your home or barn, up to 600 feet away, and can get signals from four zones with additional transmitters, each producing a different tone when activated.  

About the Authors: John and Sue Weaver are long-time hobby farmers based in Arkansas.

This article first appeared in the November/December 2009 Hobby Farms. 

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