Home-intrusion-alarms

to check intruders on the sill

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Home-intrusion-alarms are only a part of a comprehensive Home Surveillance and Security System that should be set up to protect one's dearest place and make it safe. As a matter of simplification Home-intrusion-alarms can be dealt with separately, although other sensors can be integrated in a well balanced system.

The purpose of intrusion alarms is to detect the break-in from the first attempt to open a door or a window by an intruder, and to generate a reaction designed to scare the burglar into fleeing quickly lest he/she is caught by security forces or guards in a compromising situation.

The complete Home-intrusion-alarms systems should include

• a central monitor and control panel
• a set of different sensors capable of triggering an alarm once a signal is detected
• capability to deliver over the phone a prerecorded message to one or more numbers
• provisions to test that the system is in good operating condition (diagnostics)
• provisions to operate also in case of natural of deliberate black out
• provisions to connect additional sensors if necessary.

The Home-intrusion-alarms system, if the house is so large that it would make sense to divide it into separate security zones, should be planned to serve several independent areas, individually armed and monitored.

For smaller dwellings a single security zone might do.Once the essential elements of a Home-intrusion-alarms systems are in place, a prominent sign advising that such a system is in operation may serve as a deterrent, even if providing no cost advertisement for the equipment supplier.

The intrusion alarm control panel is usually located in the basement or otherwise out of sight. It is wired individually to each door and window sensor and also to motion sensors unless those are connected directly to surveillance cameras to start their operation.

If any of the Home-intrusion-alarms sensors activates the system, a signal goes off to initiate the programmed actions like piercing sounds from a siren and blinking headlights to call for attention. Phone calls can be originated from an auto dialer to deliver prerecorded messages.

The Home-intrusion-alarms operations center displays a keypad to arm and to disable the system when going out and when coming back. It is placed near the entrance door and it may have a delay system to give the owner the time to disarm it when coming home, before ringing the alarms. Remote controls may be available for these operations.

Contact sensors, either magnetic or not, are essentially switches mounted on the moving part of doors or windows, and operated by the opening action that can either open or close an electrical circuit.

The exact type is of no consequence. It is important however that once started the signal should latch the alarm, and not be interrupted if the burglar swiftly closes the switch by hand.

All these Home-intrusion-alarms should have, besides their usual power connection, also a backup battery to ensure operation when the power goes out.

A system can be made more complex, to include also:
Video Alarms
Driveway Alarms
Smoke and Gas Detectors
Glass Break Detectors.
Door Chimes
Emergency Button
Siren Alarm
Fire Alarm

It is however preferable a simple functioning Home-intrusion-alarms system to a complex one with many operational problems difficult to fix. It is recommended to start modestly, and to add features and complexity only once some confidence is already assured.

Check for Home Intrusion Alarms

Wireless sensor signal transmitters and receivers are also offered, with the advantage that no wires have to be laid and connected. Their reliability however has to be proved in each case.