External Strobe Light

[dbMI]

Looking to setup a new camera system. Never used Blue Iris before.
The requirements include having external strobe light/siren that can activate on motion of specific cameras.

1. Does Blue Iris have a feature for this configuration?
2. Can anyone recommend what type/brand I/O hardware box that I will need to connect the strobe light into the ethernet network that Blue Iris can control the light?
3. Are there any specific IP camera specs that I need to meet for them to be compatible with use with Blue Iris?

[Matts1984]

I have very little to offer here so considered not replying at all so as not to fill up the post. That said, sounds like a very interesting idea and goal. Your main question is about deploying a network based (and BlueIris controlled) strobe/siren. I'm sure it's doable, BI is very flexible and configurable for DIO (Digital Input/Output). I'd like to follow along with the journey, especially if you get something working and know what you bought and did.... but I have no idea. - Sorry

The cameras is the easy part. Pretty much any IP based camera (and many analog / USB based) will work with Blue Iris. To make it easier on yourself, look for a camera that supports ONVIF and you should be fine. It really comes down more to build quality, design (dome, PTZ, bullet, etc), sensor quality (1080p, 4K, etc.... I would not recommend just going with the highest because it's the highest, for most purposes 3-5MP is sufficient for people but needs vary), and night vision quality. Depending on your needs, $40 - $50 per camera is very doable.

[TimG]

Hi,

BI5 has support for legacy SeaIO devices from SeaLevel, but I have no experience with those. In my experience, "legacy" will lead to "deprecated" !

I use BI5 with Homeseer HS4 Pro to turn on outside lights when specific cameras detect motion. That uses BI5 Alert Actions to send a JSON command, and I can then use Homeseer logic to turn off the lights after a pre-determined time unless they have been retriggered. My lights are presently Zigbee, but it will work with whatever lights you have connected to HS4.

BI5 has MQTT too, so there are quite a few ways of doing this. If you don't want Homeseer, (£$£$£$ !) then I'm sure you could do it with Home Assistant running on a Raspi.

Are you using any home automation software ?

[dbMI]

This is for a commercial building application. I am not familiar with BI5. Where can I get further information?

Any other suggestions for integrating the sirens?

[MikeBwca]

BI Support?

[Talywain]

In a camera’s Alerts tab there is an option labelled Actions, where you can set up various options. One of which is run an external program which could be anything from a .bat file, .exe or my favourite Powershell. You can get network controlled power switches so the program just needs to send the command to the device. As you say this is a commercial building perhaps you could send the command to its Building Management System.

[dbMI]

Network controller power switches? Ok. Can you recommend any?

P.S. There is not building management system.

[MikeBwca]

I didn't know this was a thing. Interesting.
If these cannot connect into BI, you can always write a script to execute on a BI schedule or camera trigger to control them.

Google is your friend!... https://www.google.com/search?q=ip+powe ... CAk&uact=5

This one has 8 controlled power outlets!
https://www.amazon.com/Web-Power-Switch ... CB2L&psc=1

TRENDnet 8 outlet, and up to 128 cascaded power outlets.
https://www.trendnet.com/products/KVM-P ... er/TK-RP08

https://www.amazon.com/5Gstore-App-Cont ... 088&sr=8-3

I'm sure there's more. I woudl go for a name brand like TRENDnet...

[Talywain]

Can you recommend any?

Sorry but I don’t have any recommendations. I think I first heard of them on an IFTTT forum. Have a look on there, you may not get recommendations but you may get info on the brands to avoid. I don’t need them as my house is fitted with an iLight system (iLumen in USA). It’s an architectural lighting system and as I was an engineer in their R&D dept my house was used as a test bed (Corporate I.T. wouldn’t allow ‘alien’ systems, even if it was one they made – go figure) so when I retired I got to keep lots of fun kit which is easily capable of switching a few amps of mains and a few things beyond.

[KC8TMV]

I use BI5 with Homeseer HS4 Pro to turn on outside lights when specific cameras detect motion.

I run BI5 and HS4 PRO as well and I like your idea. BUT I have another use case that I was wondering if anyone had a thought on.
Note: I do not have any DIO devices and REALLY would rather not add anything else considering I have HS4 for my devices.

USE CASE SITUATION:
Away from home (Geofence in BI5 already told HS4 to make sure my doors are locked!), I get a BI5 alert in my BI5 app, open it to see someone getting ready to break in my door.

WHAT I WANT TO DO:
Since I am in the BI5 app already, I would like to go to the "Remote Control" button in the app (Light Bulb) and click on one of the "Trigger" actions that would MQQT to HS4 to do "something" (lights siren etc.).
BUT, it seems to me that all of the "Trigger" icons are ONLY for DIO.

WHAT WOULD BE NICE:
If the trigger buttons inside of the "remote control" page were able to be assigned to ANY action within the available "action set".

action_set.JPG (23.07 KiB) Viewed 7789 times

Anyone have any thoughts on this? Good idea, bad idea, different approach?