July 2018 - Brooks Dollar

With technology prices dropping and crime always present. I recommend everyone installing some security cameras to the exterior of your home to provide some piece of mind. In this article I will write about how to install security cameras.

Swann SWDVK-849808 Super HD 5MP Security System, 8 Channel 2TB DVR with 8 x PIR Surveillance Kit, White Swann SWDVK-845804-US FULL HD (1920 x 1080p) Surveillance Camera System, 8 Channel 1TB DVR, White Swann 8 Channel Security System SWDVK-845808 1080p Full HD DVR-4575 with 1TB HDD & 8 x 1080p Thermal Sensing Cameras PRO-1080MSB

The first thing I like to take into consideration when setting up cameras is knowing how many cameras you would like, and if they will need to be wireless or wired. Wireless cameras will need a 120v power outlet next to where you mount the camera. It is important to remember that wireless cameras have a maximum distance for effective broadcasting, and their picture quality diminishes the farther away they get. Wired cameras will need a run of wire from where the camera is mounted to the DVR. I prefer homes with attics or businesses with drop ceilings when putting in wired systems. It is also smart to locate the DVR next to where the router will be located in order to be hardwired in. My three favorite brands to set up are Swann, Night Owl, and Zmodo.

Night Owl WM-8HD10L-4720 8CH W/4CAMERAS Night Owl Security HD201-86P-B Video Security Camera DVR with 1 TB HDD & 6 x 1080p Wired Infrared, White Night Owl Security, 8 Channel 1080 Lite HD Analog Video Security System with 1 TB HDD and 8 x 1080p HD Wired Cameras (White)Night Owl CL-HDA30-161022P-B 16 Channel 3MP Extreme HD Video Security System with 2 TB HDD & 8x3MP Bullet Cameras, White Night Owl Security WMBF-445-720 4 Channel 720p HD Video System Indoor/Outdoor (White)Night Owl 16-Channel 1080p Security System with 1 TB Hard Drive, 8x 1080p Bullet Cameras, and 100 Night Vision

Although there are numerous advantages of the newer camera systems then the older ones. I think the best feature of the newer security camera systems is that they give you the ability to view your cameras on your smartphone or tablet through their respective apps. Some of the systems have the ability to notify you when their is motion. The systems will start recording when there is motion for later viewing. You can go back in the archives of the DVR, and view the cameras whenever there was motion present.

Zmodo 8CH HDMI NVR Simplified PoE Surveillance Video Security Camera System With 8x720p HD Weatherproof Cameras 1TB HD Remote Access Motion Detection Zmodo Full HD 1080p Simplified PoE Security Camera System w/Repeater, 8 x 2.0 Megapixel IP Outdoor Surveillance Camera, 8CH HDMI NVR and 1TB Hard Drive Zmodo 1080p HD NVR WiFi System 4 HD Outdoor and 4 HD Indoor 1.0 Megapixel Wide Angle Wireless Security Camera with 500GB Hard Drive, Intelligent Recording, Smart Motion Detection, Web Access Zmodo 8CH Wireless Security Camera System – 1080P HDMI NVR with 500GB Hard Drive, 4 x 720P HD Wireless Cameras Night Vision – WiFi Easy Installation No Video Cables Needed (Certified Refurbished)Zmodo Wireless Security Camera System (2 pack) Smart HD WiFi IP Cameras with Night Vision

It is important to remember that some of the corners of the attic may be hard to squeeze into when running wires for the cameras. I will drill a small hole in the eave of the house for the wire and push a fish tape through the hole to retrieve the wire in the hard to reach spots. This technique will make your life much easier when running the wires. Please email us if you have any questions or concerns, and we can update this article accordingly. dollarmech@gmail.com

Many homeowners are handy, but tend to get confused when it comes to their home AC system. In this article I will go over how to wire a home AC thermostat. First you will have to choose a AC thermostat to satisfy your personal needs. Whether you decide on choosing a Programmable or Non Programmable thermostat. They are wired the same way. Some of the newer Smart thermostats have Wifi compatibility so you can control the units with your smartphone or computer while away from the house. These thermostats usually require a Common Wire. So it is smart to look at the existing thermostat wiring if you don’t want to rewire a thermostat wire from the unit to the thermostat. Common wire is usually black, but I have seen different colors used. Common wire is attached to the common side of the 24v transformer that the red wire is attached to.

Thermostat wiring colors

Red – 24v POWER from transformer
Green – Fan
Yellow – Cooling (compressor/outdoor fan)
White – Heating (Gas Furnace or Electrical Heat Strips, Optional)
Orange – Heating (Heat Pump with a Reversing Valve, Optional)
Blue – Heating (Heating on Rheem and Ruud units)
Black – 24v Common from transformer

Nest (T3007ES) Learning Thermostat, Easy Temperature Control for Every Room in Your House, Stainless Steel (Third Generation), Works with Alexa ecobee4 Alexa-Enabled Thermostat with Sensor, Works with Amazon Alexa ecobee3 lite Smart Thermostat (2nd Gen), Works with Amazon Alexa Honeywell RCHT8610WF2006 Lyric T5 Wi-Fi Smart 7 Day Programmable Touchscreen Thermostat with Geofencing, Requires C Wire, Works with Alexa Honeywell RTH9585WF1004/W Wi-Fi Smart Color Programmable Thermostat, V. 2.0,Honeywell TH9320WF5003 Wi-Fi 9000 Color Touch Screen Programmable Thermostat, 3.5 x 4.5 Inch, White, ‘Requires C Wire Honeywell TH6210U2001/U T6 Pro Programmable Thermostat, 2 Heat/1 Cool Heat Pump Or 1 Heat/1 Cool Conventional Lux Products TX9600TS Universal 7-Day Programmable Touch Screen Thermostat Emerson UP310 Premium 7 Day Programmable Thermostat Honeywell TH3110D1008 Pro Non-Programmable Digital Thermostat Honeywell RTH221B1021/E1 RTH221B1021/A 1 Week Programmable Thermostat Honeywell CT87K The RoundHeat Only Manual Thermostat

When removing the cover of your old home AC thermostat you will see wires coming from the wall. Try to avoid breaking the wires when removing the old thermostat. REMEMBER THAT THE RED WIRE IS HOT! I recommend disconnecting the power of the unit if you are a novice electrician. You could possibly burn out a small fuse or pop a micro circuit breaker on the transformer. I tend to replace the thermostats really quickly without disconnecting power, but I have changed hundreds of thermostats and deal with different electrical wires daily. You just have to be careful with where the metal ends of the wire touch. I recommend installing the red wire first to get it out of the way. Going from one thermostat base directly into the other one. Green wire controls the indoor fan. Yellow wire controls the outdoor unit compressor and outdoor fan motor. White wire is usually used for gas furnaces or electrical heating. Orange wire is used for heat pump units, and it activates the reversing valve. Reversing valve changes the flow of the refrigerant. Blue wire is used on some units for heating. Black wire is almost always common. It is attached to the common side of the 24v transformer that the red wire is attached to.

After attaching the wires and reattaching the face plate. It is important to finish the steps in the instructions that came with the home AC thermostat. The newer Smart thermostats will have a series of questions to answer. It is important to answer the questions to the best of your ability. After you are done with the set up questions. I recommend testing the unit in the different modes to ensure that the wiring is correct. I will always test in cooling and heating to prevent a call back. If you have any questions about your home AC thermostat. Feel free to send us questions at dollarmech@gmail.com

Month: July 2018

How to install security cameras

How to wire a home AC thermostat