Air conditioning condenser theft

Really?

Home or auto?

Auto you can put an additional switch on the hood to detect opening and tie to the rest of the auto alarm.

Home I will have to ponder.

Home units, the thieves are stealing the entire condenser not for scrap but for resale on a black market.

Still?

The price of scrap metals has dropped to the point that this tweaker crime should have abated, somewhat.

If the system has a Schrader valve, you could screw a pressure switch on it and wire to some kind of alarm, or, if this is a remote unit, you could wire it to a 1/4 stick of dynamite. This would be considered an audible alarm in Texas, I believe. Just set it at some point below static pressure.

No Schrader valve? Maybe some creative use of an electric fence power supply?

I hear the latest fad is stealing pool pumps.

Good luck!

Yeah, here around my place the fashion is to steal automatic gate motors... People here is using the electric fence principle. But they just "forget" to use the usual power supply and sometimes "forget" some uncovered wiring from the equipment installation. It usually discourage the "friends of the other's belongs" (as we say here) once for all. Or you could also use that alarm that makes a really big noise converting chemical energy to kinectics in a projectile usually made of lead, but this is another story...

How about a cage of expanded metal, bolted to the house. Then I would sneak a wire from an electric fence setup and energize the beast. Have a whole whack of warning signs. The electrics won't kill (aw) just knock the on their #%S (yes).

land-mines would do the trick, or could you move the condenser high on the wall to make it more difficult for the thieves?

or you need a sentry bot?

Run an extra pair if wires into the condenser that are just a loop back circuit that keep a relay open, when the thief cuts all the wires they trigger an alarm and perhaps some spotlights. Low life types tend to work at night.

All humor aside, the issue is expensive when you are the victim.

Us the 12 volt DC power from the transformer for you thermostat and pass a loop of wire out to an inocent looking point on the condenser, keeping the circuit closed, but using two spade ends to anchor them in contact each other under a screw. Then run the 12V to a relay switch inside such that the energized relay is in a normally open config. and power an audible alarm across the controlled side of the relay. Place the horn or alarm klaxon so that it blares down on the condenser. When the thieves disconnect the wires, including your low voltage loop, breaking your circuit, the relay closes and entertains them with the, not so subtle, music of your alarm horn.

I used this type of circuit a few years ago when I was having problems in virginia and it only had to go off once. You can build the whole alarm for less than $20. I caught my thief and in the process 'accidentally' raked him across the top of my wire fence while waiting for the cops to arrive, they took one look at him and agreed that he must have struggled when I caught him. I am sure that the scratches the fence left in his flesh were a better lesson than the probation that he got from the court system.

Simple, efficient solution.

My suggestion is to put a metal cage bolted on the concrete pad of the condenser with padlock for the serviceability. However your question is "alarm system" what about to install photocell movement sensor where if he detect or sense movement in the condensing area he will trigger and put on your light and sirens. I think it was commonly called motion sensor.

Kind regards

Roman

My first thought was to use a hidden camera. They're quite cheap these days and small enough to disguise.

After a while, I began to think of booby traps. Not the ones that can harm of course. I saw one on TV where the thief gets blasted with smoke or a powder which clings to him. Even if he washed it away, the smoke leaves a residue that shows up under ultraviolet light.

Putting a little explosion sound effect along with the smoke ought to send him running with his tail between his legs.

regards,

Vulcan

do not bother with an outside unit ,

go with a ground loop system.

Hi Guest,

Please clearly give us your idea, it could be a brilliant one. However seems lack of details.

Kind regards

Roman

http://www.groundloop.com/

If you have a home alarm system, there is a standard hook-up that attaches to your AC condenser and will trip your burglar alarm if someone breaks the contact by moving it.

A simple infra red "fence" can be constructed around the condenser to stop the thief having to cut anything before your alarm goes off.

Also have the suggested "wire" version as 2nd backup.....

Lots of good ideas on here, and you can buy pieces-&-parts to make your own 12V break-able contact circuit pretty easy, tied to a powered siren anchored to the soffit above your equipment...
Full systems that do other things, like alert you when they break into your garage, home, etc. at places like this: basshome.com - where they can give you some advice on the cheapest kit that will do the job you want for ~$130 like those from DSC.

Try a quick search on eBay for "Security-Systems"

and you'll find a plethora of complete systems for less than $200.

Get one with an IR video camera or get a separate hunter's-type IR digital camera with motion-sensor and you'll get some nice high-definition photos for the police of the scum-bags wetting themselves.

Share them here too! ;)

thanks for the great advice.

Bob

Because the theft is motivated not by scrap but resale on the black market, an inexpensive alternative might be to go to the dump or talk to an installer and get the cover from a larger and much older air conditioner condenser.

Camouflage your recent model with the exterior from the old condenser. if you add some motion sensor lights and maybe a surveillance camera, your risk of loss from theft if probably significantly reduced.. Quality work will ensure airflow is not significantly affected, and that the disguise is convincing..... It might kind of sucks because if you do a really nice job, you can't show off your pride to anyone. Two people can keep a secret if one is dead....

Phone these people.

we are doing the locked cage here in North Carolina. I also put a motion light above so they would be under a lot of light. You can buy a motion light that activates a remote switch inside that will activate a 110 volt plug and includes a loud enough alarm to alert anyone who is home. Available at your hardware store. I also had a hvac installer suggest that I lock the disconnect so it cannot be turned off which would make them thank twice.

good luck

have you seen the CopperWatcher? It monitors voltage, refrigerant pressure and communicates with all burglar alarm systems.

Hmm, you start your thread: "Do you know of an alarm system I can attach to my air conditioning condenser to stop theft? We have a real problem in Texas with this type of theft."

Then you bring up a product you link to in your profile.

Worst. Sales. Scheme. Ever.

Ten minutes later the link is gone. That's quite fishy.....Are you trying to hide something?

Yes, this is an invention that I am in the research stage, I wanted to find out from professionals if they knew of a product that could protect A/C systems and from the answers so far it seams like no one has a sure fool proof answer.

nothing is ever 'fool proof'

It' bad enough that we have idiots who cannot search out their own answers and WASTE our time with stupid questions, but now we have to deal with dishonest people, too.

I'm putting a sticky note on my screen with your name on it to remind me if you ever come back that you lied to us.

How is it dishonest to obtain information from a group of professionals who deal with this sort of theft on a regular basis. If it was such a waist of time why did you take the time to write such a negative response. The question was on copper theft and nothing more. By the way isn't this site set up for questions and answers? If my question was so stupid why did others share their ideas and try to assist? Then their is your response that has nothing to do with the question presented to the forum!

Hm, so the real reason for this thread, was so you could insert some spam?

No I just wanted an answer the the question regarding copper theft.

It was your "less than clearly defined" vested interests that you neglected to mention up front.

That's really bad "blog manners"......

If you need to have that explained further, you won't understand on principle....so I won't bother.....

.......except to say that as in life "Honesty is the best policy!"

I can understand why you could feel that you were misled, I should have asked the copper theft question differently and for that I apologize. The fact remains that copper theft is a problem and from the answers provides there seems that there is no knowledge of an system to protect A/C units from theft. Now for those of you interested in protection your A/C there are a few systems available they all are connected to the condenser in one of two ways monitoring voltage or refrigerant pressure. Some as simple as a low pressure switch attached to the service port and a 9 volt battery with a small exterior horn located with in the condenser. Another monitors voltage at the contactor both systems will do the task however not efficiently, to be efficient and as fool proof as possible requires the addition of various types of sensors and back up products. If you are at all interested in protection your equipment do your research there are all types of systems available, for those of you more interested in the motives of others please see answer #20 to the copper theft question.

I somehow feel you are too thick skinned for us.

So I will leave this blog completely. I would never buy anytzhing you produce, period.

To the rest of CR4:-

Let us leave him talking to himself Guys......

Byeeeeee

What you did was you led us to believe that you had a problem when, in fact, you had a solution.

There is a place in CR4 for advertising (Commercial Space) but you chose to pose a question in the Mechanical Section as if you were seeking answers when you were actually seeking customers.

Dishonesty comes in many forms.

regards,

Vulcan

That's not the CR4 way Sir!!!!

Please desist immediately.........

Robert !! I do know of an alarm system for a/c Condensor. To prevent a/c theft ...Cost under $200.00. Richard Johnson kb4dcb@live.com