Hello!
I’m brand new to the forum and I have a project that I’d like to work on. I have very minimal experience with electronics from many years ago, so I’m having difficulty sorting out precisely what I need to do. I tried searching the forums already but didn’t have any luck, so I’d appreciate any assistance you can provide.
I have a security camera recording system (Q-See QT-526) at my house which comes with an “Alarm In” capability. Basically, it detects whether a circuit is open or closed and I can program a set of responses (i.e. begin recording, send an e-mail, etc.) when it changes state. It has the flexibility of detecting either a normally open or normally closed circuit.
What I’d like to do is trip the alarm using my doorbell.
It is a Heath Zenith DW-86 hard-wired doorbell system. The transformer takes 120V and converts it to a lower voltage that rings the bell when the button is pressed. I don’t know what the output voltage is since I installed the transformer in the wall already, but I can test it with a multimeter later.
I believe I can wire a relay in parallel to the transformer's output so that when the doorbell is rung, it will simultaneously open/close another circuit for me. That other circuit would be connected to the security camera system. I’m thinking that I want to somewhat isolate the doorbell circuit from the security system so that I don’t accidentally fry the security system by wiring it directly in series with the transformer output.
Am I on the right track and if so, what type of specifications should I be looking for on the relay?
Thank you in advance!
I’m brand new to the forum and I have a project that I’d like to work on. I have very minimal experience with electronics from many years ago, so I’m having difficulty sorting out precisely what I need to do. I tried searching the forums already but didn’t have any luck, so I’d appreciate any assistance you can provide.
I have a security camera recording system (Q-See QT-526) at my house which comes with an “Alarm In” capability. Basically, it detects whether a circuit is open or closed and I can program a set of responses (i.e. begin recording, send an e-mail, etc.) when it changes state. It has the flexibility of detecting either a normally open or normally closed circuit.
What I’d like to do is trip the alarm using my doorbell.
It is a Heath Zenith DW-86 hard-wired doorbell system. The transformer takes 120V and converts it to a lower voltage that rings the bell when the button is pressed. I don’t know what the output voltage is since I installed the transformer in the wall already, but I can test it with a multimeter later.
I believe I can wire a relay in parallel to the transformer's output so that when the doorbell is rung, it will simultaneously open/close another circuit for me. That other circuit would be connected to the security camera system. I’m thinking that I want to somewhat isolate the doorbell circuit from the security system so that I don’t accidentally fry the security system by wiring it directly in series with the transformer output.
Am I on the right track and if so, what type of specifications should I be looking for on the relay?
Thank you in advance!
