Amcrest Forum

I can find no real world examples of how to make use of the external alarm out (or in) on the Amcrest IP2M-841 or IPM-721. Their manuals give zero information and online I have found the opposite extreme in the form of a circuit diagram showing the output circuit in the camera. Unfortunately, for a non-electrical engineer, this is just as useless as no info. What I can't find is an example of how to do something really obvious like allow the camera to turn on a simple 12v siren. The camera manuals refer to the output as a relay implying it is on open/close switch i.e. I could just ground the 12v siren through the output port connections, but I have had a support person on the phone telling me that it is not a relay and it actually outputs a voltage. He said it was 5v but when I measured it, it only gave a voltage of 1.1v.
So, how does one actually make use of this port?
Does it confirm to some know standard?
Are there external peripherals that work directly with this port?
I have been told that neither of these camera models can generate their own audible alarm so it is pretty important to be able to simply connect an external siren/buzzer of some kind.
What are the electrical specs of the port (whether a relay or DC voltage out) i.e. maximum voltage, current etc.?
Please help!!!!

Typically, alarm out ports are to be used with an alarm system. The camera would simply be connected to one of the zones on the panel. Upon motion, the camera would trip the zone putting the panel in alarm. I've never usethese ports on an Amcrest camera but what I've laid out is typically how it works. I apologize is this is not the case with these cameras.