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Alarm System Overview

Alarm systems have long been used by homeowners to raise an alert in the event of a breach in home security. Across time, people have tried everything from trained guard dogs to the old cans-stacked-by-the-back-door trick. As early as 1853, however, electro-magnetic alarm systems were being designed and developed as a more practical means of providing home security. Here, find a brief overview of modern alarm systems that may help you narrow down your options to make the best choice for your household.

Helps Protect Your Family & Valuables

Having a security system will certainly help deter the crime away from your home. Burglars can recognize a home with a security system, since security companies install a sign and probably an outdoor siren. Assuming a burglary attempt occurs, the security system will notify authorities or the home security company and they will take immediate action. This notification will certainly help to reduce or eliminate the damage caused by the burglary. Having a system installed on various entrance points of your home (doors, windows, roof) will give you a sense of security and peace of mind.

Alarm systems only helps protect windows and doors that are actually wired into the system. If you only wire your front door, back door and windows on the lower level of your home, an intruder could potentially prop a ladder against your home and enter undetected via an upstairs window or balcony door.

Some systems employ motion sensors to detect unusual activity inside the home even when no breach in the circuit-wired entry points is detected. These systems use radio waves to survey a space, and if an object interferes with these waves, an alarm is triggered. In homes with pets or lots of activity, motion sensors may be impractical. However, these sensors can be turned on and off, so you can choose to activate them only when you expect no movement in your home.

Control Pads

The control pad is a key feature to any alarm system. Usually a small panel placed near the main entry point of a home or business, the control pad is where a user enters a code to either arm or deactivate the alarm function. Many modern home security systems also feature rapid response buttons to allow a resident to summon emergency services immediately. Some systems will connect you directly to 911 while others will route you through a monitoring system.

It is essential every person who is authorized to control the alarm system understands how to use the control panel. Unless the correct code is entered within a pre-determined amount of time after a sensor circuit is interrupted, the alarm will sound. Some systems automatically summon emergency response if the alarm is not turned off at the control pad.

Back-Up Power

Alarm systems should have a battery-powered back-up feature, as any loss of electricity to the home would otherwise render the alarm system useless. Without a back-up battery, a power outage or even sabotage to your home’s electrical supply could leave you vulnerable. Most alarm systems feature batteries that are able to continuously charge themselves.

Alarm System Components

Alarm systems components vary in their complexity. Most standard alarm systems operate using a magnet and an electrical circuit with a metal switch that the magnet holds closed. When the magnet comes away from the switch, such as when a wired window or door is opened, the circuit pops open and triggers an alarm to sound. Authorized users will have a pre-determined amount of time to respond before the alarm goes off.

To deactivate the alarm, users enter a pass code into a control pad located near the primary entry points to the home. If the pass code is not entered, the alarm will sound and in some cases, emergency services will be automatically summoned after a certain amount of time.

Sensors come in wireless and hardwired forms; homeowners may opt for a hardwired system while renters will appreciate the flexibility and portability of wireless options. Read more about other alarm system components below.

Standard and Specialty Alarm Systems

One key component to any system is the alarm siren. This is the device that produces the actual sound once the alarm is triggered. Some sirens are “self-contained,” meaning the siren, driver and speaker are combined in the same product. In other cases, alarm siren drivers are required to produce different sounds.

Advances In Modern Home Security

Sensors now exist for backyard pools to alert when any object is detected breaking the water. This can be a life-saving device for parents with small children or people with curious pets that can’t swim. Sensors can also be attached to a gate leading to the pool to trigger an alert before anything enters the water.

Carbon monoxide and smoke alarms have also come a long way in recent years; some can even send text alerts or pre-recorded messages when smoke or unhealthy levels of carbon monoxide are detected.

see also : Marie Van Brittan Brow inventor of the home security system