I'm looking to create a deterrent for a problem we've been having in our warehouse at night. We often find unwanted gatherings near the entrance, and I'm considering using a buzzer that plays intermittently, much like an alarm. Ideally, it should be annoying but not overly loud. I have access to various voltages (230V AC, 24V, 12V, etc.) and I'm thinking about using piezo buzzers or similar devices. What would be the simplest and cheapest way to achieve this?
3 Answers
You could use a 12V DC active buzzer with a timer relay, like an NE555 module. This lets you easily set it to beep on and off, mimicking an industrial alarm. Just connect the buzzer to the relay and power it with your 12V supply. It's straightforward and doesn’t need any programming! If you want more complex sound patterns, you might look into using an Arduino, but that's a bit more involved.
For something really irritating, a truck back-up alarm could be a good choice. It's cheap and loud enough to get attention without sounding like a standard alarm. Also consider pairing it with a motion sensor for automatic triggering—might keep them moving on.
If you're open to other ideas, why not add a floodlight with a motion sensor, or even a pre-recorded sound like police radio chatter? Those tend to be more effective than just buzzers, and you can randomly play sounds every few minutes to keep things unpredictable!
That's a smart idea! I like the randomness of the sounds. I might mix in some visuals as well.