Home Security How To

Home security systems are a blessing in disguise that gives us peace of mind with regards to protection of our loved ones and property from danger. Still, just as we would do in any other purchase, we have to make sure we buy the home security system that best suits our needs and budget.

When you purchase a burglar alarm system, you have to keep in mind, it’s only a part of a complete home security system. So, when you’ve decided to protect your property and loved ones against burglars, it makes sense to offer additional protection against other dangers as well. Consider these security devices too when you purchase your home security system to prevent other possible hazards. For instance, you could buy a carbon monoxide detector or a temperature control security device that will notify you whenever the temperature goes below a particular level. This way, you could prevent your water pipes from getting frozen.

Most homes security alarm systems have the facility of a switch inside the house that could activate or deactivate the alarm system. Modern alarm systems have gone a step further and introduced a keychain remote system that can be used to switch on or switch off the alarm system. Thus, you could control and monitor your alarm system even when you’re not at home. Most alarm systems have a backup battery facility that keeps it going even if there’s a power cut.

Home security systems offer protective doors and windows with customized locks and sensors that offer additional safety. If you still want more protection, you could opt to install motion detectors. These sensors are installed outside your house and will give out a warning when movement is perceived when it shouldn’t be. Other useful warning devices include glass break system and driveway protection.

You just have to adjust the settings of the motion sensors so that it doesn’t get triggered off because of any pets you may have around your house. Talking alarms are the favorite of many since it uses voice prompts to ward off intruders. Most burglars will get discouraged on seeing a yard sign warning them of the security system. You could opt for the wireless security alarms; they look neat and can be installed easily. Wireless systems are the best option when you have multiple layers in your security system.

Find out where your property’s most vulnerable, which areas need most protection and which assets you want to safeguard essentially. Take into account all facets of your property to decide what kind of security system and which system will best suit your budget and at the same time offer best protection for your assets.

The best alternative to the conventional security camera is the motion triggered security camera. Unlike normal security cameras, motion activated cameras do not save the video images 24 hours in secondary devices. This turns out to be an advantage where you can save disk storage up to 90 percent when compared to normal security cameras.

The most common approach that we use today to save the video captured is to use hard disks. However you can imagine how much disk space will be needed to store the video data recorded every minute for 24 hours!!

The main theory behind the motion activated security camera is that, the video is only captured and stored if a motion is detected. This thus saves a huge amount of hard disk space and is especially when the video captured is of very high quality and good resolution which effectively increases the amount of data. Moreover, when you save a lot amount of disk space, you can save your video data for a longer amount of time. You need not much worry about hard disk space running low or spending huge cash on hard disks!

Motion detection cameras are a blessing especially where motion can be inferred as a danger or a sign of intrusion. For example some area which are monitored at night (warehouses), your home or office buildings.

Further, some motion activated security cameras come with motion tracking. These cameras has built in mechanism composed of stepper motors, tilting and panning capabilities and fixed software which makes the camera to follow the target movements. These cameras therefore require certain amount of computing by the software, most motion activated cameras are IP cameras which are strong enough to handle their job.

How are the cameras triggered?

There are two methods in which this is achieved. First an optical sensor is used (very much similar like the ones used in day-to-day security systems) to activate the camera and start recording the image frames. Second the IP camera software will compare the recorded frame (a constant comparison is carried out) based on the input provided. The video is saved if the captured frames are different (a captured frame will only be different if there is some movement). There will be no recording if the two consecutive frames are same (i.e. there is no movement at all).

Thus we can see that motion activated cameras are quite useful when want them for a long run.

Responds are the types of actions that a security system can take when the alarm is triggered. A normal system would include a siren and it’s designed to produce loud noise to let you and your neighbors know that there has been a break-in and also to let the intruder know that they have been detected. Once you or your neighbors are aware that there is an intruder in your house, you or your neighbor should call the police.

Additionally, your security system can be connected to a central monitoring station over a telephone line. This will enable your system to automatically inform the relevant authority. In the event of an alarm, the control panel sends a message over a telephone line to a central monitoring station, which is manned 24 hours a day. After attempting to contact the homeowner, the central monitoring station will contact the police, fire department, or medics. There is usually a monthly fee for this service.

Unmonitored systems typically have on-site alarms and/or flashing lights that indicate the security system has been breached. It relies on neighbors as the eyes and ears to see or hear the alarms and then to call police. Neighbors or passersby should never investigate an alarm themselves. With an unmonitored system, it is best to have a combination of strobe lights and alarms. They should be located on the street side of the house and in an as-inaccessible spot as possible. Because it can be difficult to determine the location of a siren, it is best to discuss this with your neighbors and to place the siren and flashing light on the house where it can be easily seen.

The advantage of this type of system is that a burglar’s primary goal is to gain entrance to the house, remove property, and do so without being noticed. Many burglars will leave once alarms and strobes are activated. The disadvantage to an unmonitored system is it relies on neighbors who may not be at home or may not want to become involved. This system is appropriate for a typical suburban setting but might not work as well for a home out in the country without close neighbors.

Monitored Systems contact a monitoring company by telephone. The typical sequence of events is as follows: The security system senses intruder. The security system waits for 30 to 45 seconds before going into alarm allowing the homeowner a chance to deactivate the system to prevent false alarms. If not deactivated, the security system goes into alarm and sends a message to the monitoring company over telephone lines. The monitoring company receives the message, determines the nature of the alarm and verifies the alarm, generally by placing a phone call to the home. If they do not receive the proper password or do not receive an answer, they call the police. The police receive the monitoring company’s call and respond.

Caution: If personal safety is at risk when the alarm sounds, a homeowner will be unable to call 911 or call for help through phone while the security system is communicating through the phone line with the monitoring company. Even so, the communication period between the control panel and the monitoring station is very short as it only involves the sending of a short message to the monitoring station. A solution to this would be to have more than one telephone line into the house or have a cellular phone available.

A monitored alarm system may also have a compatibility problem with digital subscriber line (DSL) high-speed Internet service. The DSL Internet service, because it transmits over the same telephone lines, may prevent the security panel and monitoring service from properly communicating with one another. Normally this compatibility problem can be solved with a special filter or by using a DSL splitter system. Contact your central monitoring service to find out if you have a problem and how to remedy it.

How to Choose an Alarm Company
Choosing an alarm company can be confusing and the technology complicated. Here are some suggestions:

Like a radar system, the microwave motion detector emits energy and analyzes it by measuring the different frequencies of the returning microwaves as they bounce off the moving object in question. It operates at frequencies of 10 Mhz.

If an object is moving in the sensor’s field, the returning microwave will be at a different frequency, higher or lower than the original signal transmitted. Microwave sensors are most effective in detecting objects moving toward the sensor rather than across its field of vision.

Microwave sensors are especially effective in harsh environments where heat sources cycle on and off, and where PIR technology might be prone to false alarms from heating vents, for example. The sensors are also commonly installed in large storage spaces like warehouses where the air flow is difficult to control. An advantage of microwave sensors are in its ability to penetrate walls which means these security sensors can be placed behind objects.

A drawback to using microwave sensors in a home security setting is their strong sensitivity, which makes them hard to set or adjust effectively, and makes them vulnerable to interference from other electrical devices such as lighting and radios.

Even with this drawback, some manufacturers have come out with sensors that are immune to elements most commonly found at home such as the 797520 Microwave motion sensors. With its built-in sensitivity to ANY size pets, it’s immune to false alarms caused by pets wandering around your home. Some units are even able to continuously adjust to room environment such as the 797573 60 X 70 Sq. Ft. Motion Sensor. It comes with adaptive technology and with this; it has improved microwave sensor’s reliability and reduce false alarms.

Ultrasonic sensors are a type of motion sensors. It uses frequencies around 30khz. These sounds are inaudible to humans but are audible to dogs and they may find them annoying.

Sound waves were emitted from a sensor and the resulting reflected sounds were analyzed to detect changes. Ultrasonic sensors engage when they detect a change in ultrasonic frequencies caused by motion in a space. It is only through movement that an ultrasonic sensor is triggered.

There are limitations that affect their use in home security settings. Jingling keys and ringing telephones may set off the alarms. Since ultrasonic sensors don’t detect very fast or slow moving objects, an intruder could hide behind an object and move across the sensor’s viewable area and not set off. The disadvantage of ultrasonic sensors is that they don’t work well in rooms with wall to wall carpeting and drapery. The sound waves from the transmitter get absorbed by these materials and are too weak to return to the sensor. Ultrasonic sensors were used in alarms system back in the 70′s and because of the constant false alarms caused by this sensor; it has been rendered obsolete and replaced by a more reliable sensor such as the infrared sensor.

All smoke detectors consist of two basic parts: a sensor to sense the smoke and a very loud electronic horn to wake people up. The two most common types of smoke detectors used today are the photoelectric detectors and ionization detectors.

Photoelectric smoke detectors therefore use light in a different way. Inside the smoke detector there is a light and a sensor, but they are positioned at 90-degree angles to one another. In the normal case, the light from the light source shoots straight across and misses the sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, however, the smoke particles scatter the light and some amount of light hits the sensor. This will cause the alarm to go off.

Ionization smoke detectors use an ionization chamber and a source of ionizing radiation to detect smoke. This type of smoke detector is more common because it is inexpensive and better at detecting the smaller amounts of smoke produced by flaming fires. Smoke detectors can run off of a 9-volt battery or 120-volt house current.

You probably already have a battery-operated smoke detector. Do you need one installed as part of my security system?  Smoke detectors are highly effective in preventing loss of life and property. However, there are differences between the “stand alone” or battery-operated smoke detector you would buy at your local hardware store and one installed as part of your home security system.  “Stand alone” detectors are not connected to other detectors or warning devices. A smoke detector connected to your security system offers more protection when it is monitored by a central station. If fire strikes, the detector sets off an alarm and sends a signal to the control panel. The control panel dials the central station, where the operator notifies the fire department. Only central station monitored smoke detectors provide automatic notification of authorities when you or your family are asleep, not at home or unable to get to the phone. Protect your pets too from fire while you’re at work!

The 7497R HARDWIRED SMOKE & HEAT SENSOR comes with 2 sensors to provide triple the protection against fire and with its small size, it can be placed anywhere.

Magnetic sensors are two-part devices used to safeguard windows and doors. One part of the contact is a switch installed in the window or door jam; the other contains a magnet and is placed in the window or door itself. Any noticeable shift in contact with the switch results in an alarm. These can be home-run wired back to the main control panel, daisy-chained with other door/window contacts or part of a wireless transmitter combo.

This type of sensors is often used on doors to apartment buildings and secure areas in government offices. In a closed circuit system, when the door is closed, the magnet pulls the metal switch closed so the circuit is complete. The current powers the relay’s electromagnet, so the buzzer circuit stays open. When you move the magnet by opening the door, the spring snaps the switch back into the open position. This cuts off the current and closes the relay, sounding the alarm.

Of all the sensors used in a home security system, magnetic sensors are the simplest and cheapest. Typical magnetic sensor in the market has a small operating gap and though it may work fine for most doors and windows in a home, it does not cut it for larger doors. Larger door such as the garage door uses a different type of sensor such as the 7113-10 TEN-PACK OF 7113 MAGNETIC CONTACT SWITCHES because of the size of the opening. This type of sensor is commonly available and here are some of the links to where you can get one.

Glass break sensors or also known as acoustical sensors are a perimeter device that uses sound to catch burglars trying to break through glass to get into your home. This type of sensors uses an omni directional microphone that hears the sound of breaking glass. The detector mounts in a wall or ceiling and listens to an area approximately 35 feet in all directions. They do not hear through walls or around corners or into a room because the door is open.

Most units today are tuned to react only to the specific frequency of glass breaking. There are some units still on the market that react to any loud noise. Be aware of the environment that you put an acoustical in. Loud music, high background noise levels, ceiling fans or other machinery (can generate harmonics), and very high humidity such as in bathrooms, can adversely affect the performance of sound detectors. Sounds such as lightning cracking, some people’s sneezes, clanking two glasses together in the sink or a pet bird squawking would also replicate this frequency and cause false alarms.

Newer detectors are mostly immune to loud noises unless they are extremely close the frequency of breaking glass. There are even detectors that are designed to only work with certain types of glass and in other cases the type of glass will affect the range and performance of the unit. Most commonly used types of glass for home windows are:

Tempered Glass: Which breaks into rounded grains instead of jagged shards.

Plate Glass: The most common which contains few impurities.

Laminated: Resists shattering, generally a composite of two sheets of glass with an intermediate layer of transparent plastic.

While it’s not easy to find a sensor that can work with only the glass used on your window, it is easier to get one that can work with most common glass such as the MCT501 – Visonic Wireless Glass Break Detector.

A major advantage of these units is their ability for one detector to protect a medium sized room with several windows. With recent development of dual technology sensors, it’s making this type of sensors to be a very reliable detector. Several manufacturers have combined both motion and sound detectors into one unit such as the 71242 PIR DETECTOR that will not trip an alarm unless both technologies have activated. This unit may be used where the normal conditions would cause a single technology detector to generate false alarms or for enhanced false alarm protection.

Motion detection systems detect movement in areas covered by the security sensors. Some motion detection systems make use of radio wave by transmitting high frequency radio wave signals into the secure area of a room or hallway and then listen for echoes. By analyzing the reflected signal, a change or disturbance in the reflected signal will indicate movement in the area.

Other systems make use of infrared light to detect heat changes. A single infrared sensor mounted in the corner of a room near the ceiling usually will be able to monitor the entire room. An infrared sensor works by detecting the heat produced by the human body. When someone enters the room, there will be a change in the heat signature and this will trigger the sensor. Since infrared sensors are sensitive towards heat, it will cause a lot of problem when used outdoor or in room with a lot of sunlight. To avoid false alarms, just be sure to locate it well away from objects that rapidly change temperature, such as furnace vents, wood stoves, and sun-heated windows. If those objects are unavoidable, the LX-802N motion detector offers sunlight immunity sensors. If you have pets that are free to run around the house, choose a “pet-immune” model such as the K980-Visonic Pet Immune Infrared sensor.

Some motion detection systems use photoelectric beams. This type of sensors involves a light-sensitive cell and a directed light source such as a laser. The laser is a light beam shot directly towards the cell on the other side of the room, doorway or passageway. The source transmits invisible light beams to the adjacent cell or sensor. Often an infrared filter covers the light source to make it non-visible to intruders. When a person move across the photoelectric connection, the light beam’s continuous transmission is broken and trips the alarm. Mirrors can be installed with photoelectric security systems in order to allow one light beam to be projected across a large area, thus allowing a criss-crossing of the light beam across a room. This makes it much more difficult for an intruder to crawl under, or step over the light beam.

Other motion detecting systems detect vibration. Many car alarms have this feature to alert the owner that something has bumped into his automobile or someone has broken into it.

Some sensors such as the EagleEye Motion Sensor can be coupled with a transceiver to add additional functionality to the security system. The signals received from the transceiver can be passed along into the house’s wiring and used to turn on lamp or appliance. It offers personal security such as lighting up dark area when you moved into that area.

A motion sensor can also be installed on the exterior of the house such as the driveway and when coupled with floodlights, an area can be illuminated when motion is detected. This kind of combination is very useful in drawing attention to the intruders and to scare them off. A sensor that is able to alert the owner of movement within the compound with spoken alert signal such as the the BS-KIT – MURS ALERT SYSTEM, offers early detection warning to the homeowner. This model is especially useful for large application such as a ranch as it offers the ability to monitor activity at remote location.