tboyer55101
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Re: RV Security System
ctpres - interesting thought on the construction site application. No doubt it will be MUCH easier to modularize a box than to string cable in the walls of an RV! I'll have to do testing on the claxon to see if there is an effect on the P/S when it's blasting away. With regard to the RMR, the business plan is to split that with the dealer. Dealers get a monthly commission check for as long as the customer remains on the network. Dealer motivation and retention.483Views0likes0CommentsRe: RV Security System
ctpres - It's there "audible alarm and running light flash". The system has i/o's that can drive relays/horn. Once the system goes into an active alarm all bets are off on power consumption - it uses all it needs. It sips current only when it is in storage monitoring with nothing going on. I agree that the hard-wired install is a drag but it the only way that I know to keep the consumption acceptable. Might be a deal breaker. There is a company in WI that does this with a WiFi system (like a few here have suggested) but it will only run for a week or so on one "normal" camper battery. They stipulate that there needs to be an external power source feeding it. I think they also use a regular cell account rather than an M2M device cloud connection - the monthly connection fee is pretty steep. Thanks!483Views0likes0CommentsRe: RV Security System
Gdetrailer - I really appreciate the technical analysis but I'm really not here for that. Clearly, the techniques that you've outlined don't deliver the results - you're right. But there is another way. Please don't be angry, I don't mean to offend. Wa8yxm - Yes, it functions very similar to that. I've chose a burst of still photos rather than real video to save data. The monthly plan cost is very data dependent. The system will pause and then burst again until the motion detect is null. The system consumes much more power during an active alarm. Incidentally, the design group that I manage in my real-life (paying) career designed the ODB-II tracking module that you mentioned. Not specifically the one for Verizon but one used for insurance companies and car rental companies. What I really need to know is if anyone would buy it? So far it is a zero.483Views0likes0CommentsRe: RV Security System
Everyone - Thanks for the feedback. I really do appreciate it, even the negative. I do realize that a home monitoring system can be installed in n RV but not run off the battery (for any amount of time). This system draws 7-9mA @12V in its armed state (no active alarms). So a (healthy) 70A hour battery will last about 290 days before it gets to 20%. Derate it 70%, a typical RV battery will last about 200 days. The list is not a "dream list" - I actually have prototype hardware currently in production in Asia. I'll have 4 units within a month. It will take some time after that for the software integration and android app to be written. Then design validation testing. The real expense (at least for me) is sales, marketing and promotion. I'll have to hire that out. To help explain it; there is an engineering penalty for the low power consumption. The sensors have to be hard wired. The motion detect sensor of a PIR camera only draws about 1mA - When you make the camera wireless, it becomes a power hog. The switch sensors take no power when they are hard wired. There is no WiFi or wireless network running within the unit. There is another processor and cell module "trick" going on as well that saves a very large amount of power budget. LoJack is a good competitive gps example but it is otherwise featureless. This would not have to be a dealer installed product - I would just be more successful with the selling power of a dealer network. If I sell the system myself there would be no dealer margin (and therefore cheaper) but also very limited product exposure. Thanks again! If nothing else I will have a really kick-butt system in my own camper that I've spent a LOT of hours on. HA HA483Views0likes0CommentsRV Security System
Hello everyone, I recently purchased a very nice semi-custom wheeled ice-house that is also a summer crossover RV. I am both worried about leaving the RV in storage and to some degree when I am in it. I don't like the package systems that I've seen online mainly because the power consumption requires the RV is AC plugged at (nearly) all times (can't do that in the storage yard) and also the high monthly network cost. I'm thinking about designing and selling a better mousetrap, in this case an RV security system. I'm a wireless hardware design engineer in real-life. Here's what technology I think I can reasonably field - Is it worth investing retirement savings into? - Tamper, Intrusion and tow-away detect alarms - email alerts on alarm - GPS breadcrumb tracking on alarm (Insurance discount) - Photo captures of intrusion - Uses IoT or device cloud network (cheaper) - Certified access thru major carriers (ATT or Verizon) - Will monitor continuously off RV battery 200+ days (unique) - Recharge automatically when under-tow or AC applied - Monitor Battery level - daily alert on <20% battery - Internal backup battery switch-over on tamper detect - Run 5+ days on internal battery - External antennas for better range - Switch to internal antenna(s)on tamper - Stores data while out of cellular coverage - Auto update of stored data when coverage avail. - Panic button (unique) - 2-way voice communication on panic button (unique) - Capture current photo from phone app - Check current location from phone app - Locations shown on Google Maps - In Storage alarm mode (intrusion, tamper, GPS, Cameras) - Under-Tow alarm mode (intrusion, tamper, GPS) - Owner Occupied alarm mode (intrusion, tamper, panic button) - audible alarm and running light flash - smoke detect - remote thermostat control with cell app - monitor temperature/fuel levels, cell app - purchased and installed @ a dealer - Suggested retail list price less than $1000 - Monthly access - less than $20/month Thoughts and honest feedback is very welcome! Would anyone buy this? What would need to be different to make you say "WOW, I gotta have THAT"! Thank you - Thomas5.1KViews0likes22Comments
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