Basic setup of a security system consists of a low-voltage electrical circuit connected to sensors. Sensors are installed on entry door or window to detect movement of doors and windows. For an alarm to be triggered, electricity has to be turned on or off by opening or closing part of the circuit. Opening of door or window will either open or close part of the circuit.

In a closed-circuit system, electricity is flowing all the time from one end to the other. If there’s a break in the circuit whereby the electricity can’t flow, the alarm will be triggered. In this kind of system, closed doors and windows complete the circuit allowing electricity to flow. Whenever a door or window is opened, the circuit is broken and thus triggering the alarm.

In an open-circuit system, there’s no flow of electricity within the circuit as the circuit is incomplete. Closing the circuit will allow electricity to flow and thus activating the alarm. In this kind of system, opening the door closes the circuit, so electricity begins to flow.

Closed circuits are normally a better choice because for an open-circuit system, an intruder can deactivate the open circuit by simply cutting the connected wires. The disconnected wires will not allow the circuit to be completed even when part of the circuit is completed when a door is opened.

Even with a closed circuit system, a security system is still a flawed system without a control box. This is because a burglar can just simply turn off the alarm when inside the house by just closing back the door or window.

The control panel is hooked up to one or more alarm circuits, but it also has its own power supply. It monitors the circuits and sounds the alarm when they are closed or opened. But once the alarm is triggered, the control box won’t cut it off until a security code is entered at a connected keypad. For added security, the control box should be positioned in an out-of-the-way spot, so the burglar can’t find it and attempt to destroy it.

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