Safe-Home.com

Question about the K9 Heat Alarm.

Q: "I have a motorhome and travel with my pets. Would the K9 heat alarm work in my situation? I am afraid the power may go off with the air conditioning or the motorhome will stall when we are shopping for groceries." Thanks. Steve.

Answer: My first sale for this product was for a motorhome owner just like you. He had been looking for a unit that would sound the horn if the temperature rose inside.

Although more typically sold to protect police dogs, this heat alarm made in the USA also works to protect pets or other animals from heat stroke or cold temperatures. This is a 12Volt system and includes the window drop module. Other options include a beeper/pager, dual window drop module (Included with this unit), light bar and/or fan system.

The fan system has 8 blades. Note: Install grills on rear vehicle windows to prevent pets from exiting an unattended vehicle. Use this car ventilation fan with or without the window drop feature. Mount fan carefully to avoid interfering with the window drop and to avoid causing a hazard to the dog.

Ventilation Fan Specifications: Construction: Black high impact plastic. Physical size” 13 7/8 inches in diameter and 2.75 inches thick. Typical Airflow: 675-800 CFM, dependent upon grill type used. Power: 12V fused, 10 Amps. Note: Professional installation may be required. Fans can be mounted on the inside or outside of the window grill guard. Fan motors vary in shape. Grill may need some minor cutting to allow for motor on inside mount. Fan tap is mounted to a battery hot fuse. One year limited manufacturer's warranty.

In order to make sure you get the best installation information, we will need the vehicle make, model and year

The K9 Heat Alarm unit uses temperature sensors along with a microprocessor control system that blows the vehicle horn when an alarm condition is detected. Optional pager has about a one mile range. Backlit alphanumeric display. Microprocessor monitors both temperature sensors and the vehicle's battery. Software based features allow for future upgrades.

Optional Remote Pager and Beeper Module (SM-HA-RBM-D) for K9 Car Alarm: Two part sophisticated paging system includes trigger, timing circuitry and matching receiver (the "beeper"). Alerts when K9 Heat Alarm is activated by high temperatures or low temperatures. Transmitter: maximum output power of 4 watts as allowed by the FCC. Efficient low-loss sensitive pager/receiver senses transmitted signal up to one mile away. Actual range may vary depending upon environment, installation and/or antenna used. Receiver can be programmed to receive page signals from 3 separate vehicles

K9 Car Alarm Features:

• Temperature monitoring system for use in a canine vehicle.
• Horn Activation Module. Pulsed outputs for the Ace K9 is a distinctive S.O.S. horn honk that makes the vehicle horn sound like no other.
• Dual Remote Temperature Sensors with extended 15' cables. Place each sensor where you choose. Most Accurate K9 Car Alarm Temperature Sensors on the market with accuracy better than 0.5° F
• Dual real-time resolution 0.1° F
• Full Alphanumeric LCD Display.
• Comprehensive status reports with easy setup.
• Modular Design allows addition of options such as beeper, pager, dual window drop module, light bar and/or fan system.
• Non-volatile Memory for temperature alarm setting. Temperature alarm setting is permanent until user reprograms.
• Monitors and Displays Vehicle Battery Voltage. Alarm sounds before battery or alternator failure.
• Complete Self-diagnostics of both control head and temperature sensors. Warns if problem with one temperature sensor and sets off alarm if both sensors fail.
• Software Upgrades. Allows for new features and easy customization for your unique requirements.
• All outputs are open collector negative signal with internal over current protection of 300 mA.
• Keypad enables easy access and control of all features. Keypad Size: 4 3/8" W X 3 3/4" H x 1 1/2" D.
• Warranty: Two Year Limited Manufacturer's Warranty.
• Outputs provided for options : Remote Siren Beeper Pager Module, Light Bar and Fan System.

We hope this unit will meet your needs.

Sincerely, Barbara

Eliminate monthly monitoring fees with the HouseEvolve home monitoring system by FreeVolve. This system improves home safety and allows you to monitor and manage your home from anywhere in the world. Other features include being able to call to check on current conditions, receive warnings of developing problems, and adjust environmental conditions at any time.

Question about home power monitors.

Q: "I winter in Arizona. My home in Oregon is in the country at the end of the power grid. I leave the furnace set at 55 degrees while I am gone those 4 months. My neighbor keeps an eye on the house. But a storm or fallen tree can knock out my power and leave his power still on. I don't want my pipes to freeze or my home damaged. What do you sell that can alert him and me that the power is out at my house?"

Answer: We currently sell two brands of remote monitors. Neither require paying a monthly monitoring service fee. These are the Sensaphone and the Microtechnologies brands.

The Sensaphone 400 , once known as the Sensaphone "cottage sitter", lets you program in 4 phone numbers, add additional sensors, control your thermostat remotely, and has a 24 hour battery backup using C cells. Two other units are less expensive choices that would to meet your needs are the Homeguard and the TemperatureGuard monitors. What you are looking for is a monitor that can dial out an alert that the power is off and give you the temperature in your house as well.

The standard Homeguard and TemperatureGuard units have a built-in 4 hour battery back-up that activates when the power goes out. We've learned over the years that getting the insurance of a Temperature Guard with 20 hour battery back up or one with a 30 hour battery back-up has its advantages, primarily that the units will have extended battery so that if you turn off your phone at night (or your neighbor does), there will be enough battery left to continue dialing out until you wake up or turn on your phone or phones.

The Homeguard can dial up to 4 phone numbers. It also comes with a 20 hour or 30 hour battery back-up . The Homeguard alert is set at below 45 degrees F or power off for 5 minutes or more. The TemperatureGuard can also send messages to pagers as well as dial up to 4 phone numbers. The TemperatureGuard lets you choose both an upper and a lower limit (for summer and for winter) as well. Of course you can call into either unit at any time to get the power status (on or off) and the temperature. Both units and their brothers and sisters need a land phone line and electricity to work. Programming is easily done with a telephone.

Please read the instruction manuals on our website for more information or contact us.

Thanks for your question.

Sincerely,
Barbara

Q: "Is there a way to program the Home Guard Monitor 500-2 With 30 Hour Battery Backup NOT to call unless the power has been out for 6-8 hours?? The power frequently goes out for short periods of time around us and the 5 minute set up would be quite bothersome. The instructions explain how to set the temperature but not the time frame." Rick

Answer: We contacted the manufacturer for guidance. Here is the response from Microtechnologies: "I do not recommend setting the power outage time delay to 7-8 hours. How about starting with 1 hour and working your way up? Do you have the instructions for adjusting the factory default? If you do it is Option 6."

We hope this helped you. If not, please send us more questions.

Sincerely, Barbara