Choosing a home security burglar alarm can be an extremely confusing prospect for the first-time buyer. There are many types of home security burglar alarms available today, with literally thousands of models to choose from. This guide will describe the main categories of burglar alarm systems available today, which will help you to choose the best home burglar alarm system to protect your home with. A burglar alarm system comes with a number of sensors – the 2 main types of burglar alarm sensors are the closed-circuit burglar alarm sensors, and the motion detection burglar alarm sensors.
Closed-circuit sensors are generally used on doors and windows. With a closed-circuit sensor, when a window or door is closed, an electrical current flows between the two ends of the circuit. When that window or door is opened, that electricity cannot flow anymore, and this then triggers the alarm. The advantage of a closed-circuit sensor over an open-circuit sensor (in which electricity only flows when a window or door is opened, thus triggering the alarm), is that if a burglar attempts to cut the wire providing electricity to a closed-circuit sensor, the alarm will be triggered.
In the home, these closed-circuit sensors are used on doors and windows, one sensor per door or window. A separate alarm can be built into each sensor, or all the sensors in a home can be connected to a control box. The disadvantage of each sensor having its own alarm, is that a burglar can shut the alarm siren off (once triggered) simply by closing the window or door. With a control panel, once an alarm is triggered by the remote sensors, the alarm won’t switch off until the correct code has been entered on a keypad. The control panel normally has its own power supply, and should be located in an area difficult to find by a burglar.
Closed-circuit sensors can also be used in floor pressure pad sensors, which can be placed under carpets or mats. When a burglar steps on the carpet or mat the alarm is triggered. Closed-circuit alarm systems are used to protect the perimeter of a house.
Motion detection burglar alarm sensors are used to detect intruders that are already in your home, and have got past your home’s perimeter defenses. There are 3 types of motion detection sensors, and these motion detection sensors will typically be connected to the control box of the alram system.
Radar-based motion detector sensors send out ultrasonic sound waves, which are reflected around the whole room and bounce back to the motion detection sensor. The sensor makes a note of this reflection pattern, and if someone enters the room the pattern reflected back to the sensor changes, which then triggers the alarm.
Photo-sensor motion detector sensors consists of two parts – one part transmits a laser beam of light. This beam of light is transmitted in a straight line until it is received by the other part, which is the light sensor. If this beam of light is interrupted by someone walking between these two parts, then the alarm is triggered. These alarm sensors are often used in passageways and across internal door openings.
Passive infrared (PIR) motion detector sensors detect the infrared energy (or heat) returned in its particular field of view. If someone walks into the field of view of this sensor, the infrared energy returned will increase substantially, thus triggering the alarm. Alarms with these sensors are quite advanced, and used to be quite expensive. Today PIR alarms can be purchased quite cheaply.
There are several actions that a home security burglar alarm system can do when when an intruder triggers the alarm. Firstly, a siren can be activated, which can only be deactivated by entering a code on the control box keypad. Secondly, an outdoor flashing light or lights may be activated. Thirdly, a phone number may be auto-dialed, such as the local police station or a security company you pay a monthly subscription to – a pre-recorded message (containing the address of your house) will be played back once the number has been dialed.
The alarm siren and the outdoor flashing lights may drive the intruder away, and also let the house occupants as well as the neighbors know about the break-in. The siren and flashing lights also help the police pinpoint the property being broken into.
Today home security burglar alarm systems can either be wired or wireless. The wireless option is more expensive, but are much easier to install, as there are no wires involved. When choosing a home security burglar alarm system, consider your budget, and also the size of your home (the number of rooms in your home that you need alarm sensors for), then choose your alarm system accordingly.
Tags: burglar alarm, home security alarm, home security burglar alarm
