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Burglar Alarms / Home Alarm Systems
Securing Your Home
Let's face it, home security isn't a topic you like to think about. Who wants to imagine that their family is going to be a victim of a crime or fire? But the truth is, it's happening everywhere you look these days. Even if you think you don't have anything valuable to steal, there is probably someone worse off than you lurking in your neighborhood.
Securing Your Business
When it comes to running your company, a security system is something you don't like to think about. You don't want to imagine that everything you've worked for will be a target for crime or lire, but statistics show that it's happening in the smallest stores to the largest retail chains.
ABC's of Home Alarm Systems
• There are three basic components to all alarm security systems. Sensors, or detectors, are sophisticated devices that detect unwanted entry. They do this through various kinds of sensing instruments: electronic, electromechanical, radar or microwave, audio and motion/vibration, photoelectric. Detectors work by either breaking an electric current, completing an electric circuit or transmitting a detectable signal to a control unit.
• Control units are the core of most security alarm systems. They receive information of a disturbance from the sensors, and this triggers an alarm or alarms.
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Alarms are internal or external bells, horns or sirens, designed to make a great noise and scare off the intruder. The noise is continuous or in timed sequences. Some alarm systems include switching devices that can turn on outside and interior lights. Other systems can be connected to an automatic telephone-dialing device that calls a local police station or central monitoring station. And if a heat-sensing device is attached to an alarm system-dialing device, in the event of a fire it can call a fire department.
• Generally, home security alarm systems are classified into two broad categories, perimeter systems and interior space detectors. Perimeter systems consist of various sensing devices placed on the primary protection locations, the windows and doors. Devices on chest ports of entry are intended to keep intruders away from your home. Different types of sensors include magnetic detectors, recessed switch detectors in door and window frames and glass breaking detectors. When any one of these devices signals the breaking of glass or the opening of a door or window, the control unit activates the alarm.
• Interior space detectors provide a secondary protection system. Among these detectors are pressure mats. They can be placed under rugs or carpets of entryways or near valuable items such as pictures, TVs, and so on. Many people place these mats along interior passageways or at the bottom of stairs.
• Ultrasonic motion detectors fill a room with high frequency sound waves. Disturbance or movement of any kind triggers the alarm. These detectors aren't recommended for houses with pets that wander around or for houses with central air conditioning or forced air-heating systems.
• Audio detectors respond to specific sounds created by an intruder: breaking or splintering wood, shattering glass, moving furniture. Infrared photoelectric sensors project a light beam between two points, and anything breaking the beam triggers the alarm. These devices, the ubiquitous "electric eye", are popular for protecting entryways, hallways and large open spaces.
• In addition to the basic systems, which can be custom mixed and matched to fit your particular security needs, there are several fancy options that can be integrated into home alarm systems. For example, the battery backup gives continuous power for your alarm system if there is a power failure or if wiring is cut by a potential predator.
• Remote panic button provides you with remote control to trigger an alarm if a burglar gets into your house, if there's a fire or other emergency or if you think someone's in your house when you arrive home.
• Temperature monitoring devices check the temperature to assure that if it goes below a specified level an alarm sounds, alerting a neighbor to have your heating system checked. The device can also be connected to a dialing system, to notify the person responsible for your house. This feature is particularly useful in vacation homes or for the times you go away on an extended trip.
• Remote alarm/central station systems, a commercial service, transmit alarm signals to a private security company or to round-the-clock operators who monitor the system and alert police officers to a potential burglary or fire.
• Remote control panel and locking devices are available. Your security systems dealer or local sales outlet can provide you with catalogs and information.
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