An alarm system is a great way to provide extra protection for your home. There are plenty of options available for you to ensure your home’s safety. So don’t take chances. Protect your family with a home security system that will safeguard your most precious valuables, and the people you love.
What are they?
Motion detectors spot the movement in areas covered by the security sensors. Motion detectors transmit high frequency radio wave signals. They give a warning that someone is entering into your home.
Different kinds of motion detectors & how they work:
Infrared Sensors:
Motion detectors use infrared light to detect heat changes, i.e. when a person moves across this light it detects them with the help of the infrared sensors. If a person moves in the range of the motion sensors, the alarm is activated. Infrared sensors are cheaper than microwave sensors and ultrasonic sensors. Infrared sensors are generally smaller and very reliable.
Vibration Sensors:
It detects a person through vibration. Many car alarms have this feature to alert the owner that something has bumped into their car.
Photoelectric Sensors:
Some motion detection systems use lasers and photoelectric beams. The laser is shot across to the other side of the room or doorway. If the laser is interrupted the unit's alarm signal is activated.
Ultrasonic sensors :
They use a frequency around 30kHz. The transmitter bounces the waves of walls, furniture, windows and ceilings and when the room has stabilized, the alarm is armed.
Acoustic Sensors:
They can detect the energy produced by any kind of sound, including breaking glass. In the case of breaking glass from window intrusions, the pattern of the sound emitted is detected.
Friday, September 4, 2009
How Does A Motion Detector Work?
Thursday, August 6, 2009
How Does A Motion Detector Work?
An alarm system is a great way to provide extra protection for your home. There are plenty of options available for you to ensure your home’s safety. So don’t take chances. Protect your family with a home security system that will safeguard your most precious valuables, and the people you love.
What are they?
Motion detectors spot the movement in areas covered by the security sensors. Motion detectors transmit high frequency radio wave signals. They give a warning that someone is entering into your home.
Different kinds of motion detectors & how they work:
Infrared Sensors:
Motion detectors use infrared light to detect heat changes, i.e. when a person moves across this light it detects them with the help of the infrared sensors. If a person moves in the range of the motion sensors, the alarm is activated. Infrared sensors are cheaper than microwave sensors and ultrasonic sensors. Infrared sensors are generally smaller and very reliable.
Vibration Sensors:
It detects a person through vibration. Many car alarms have this feature to alert the owner that something has bumped into their car.
Photoelectric Sensors:
Some motion detection systems use lasers and photoelectric beams. The laser is shot across to the other side of the room or doorway. If the laser is interrupted the unit's alarm signal is activated.
Ultrasonic sensors :
They use a frequency around 30kHz. The transmitter bounces the waves of walls, furniture, windows and ceilings and when the room has stabilized, the alarm is armed.
Acoustic Sensors:
They can detect the energy produced by any kind of sound, including breaking glass. In the case of breaking glass from window intrusions, the pattern of the sound emitted is detected.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Is Your Burglar Alarm Accredited?
HAS YOUR BURGLAR ALARM ACCREDITED BY LAW?
Due to safety precautions it is mandatory that every alarm installed in your house is registered with FARS. Before the system is placed into service you must check for the following accreditation,
• NSI (National Security Inspectorate)
• NACOSS (National Approval Council for Security Systems)
• ICON (an approval scheme run by NSI)
• SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board)
Registration
A non-refundable $30.00 registration fee must be paid with each initial registration. A separate registration must be obtained for each alarm user and/or location. Registrations must be renewed on a biennial (2 year) basis at a cost of $10.00. Failure to renew when required will result in no “free” false alarms and the imposition of an additional $100 charge for every false alarm.
False alarm
The main reason for the burglar alarm to be accredited by the government is because of false alarms. Each year the Oakland Police Department receives more than 30,000 false alarms! On average, each response to alarms involves two police officers and takes up to thirty minutes-costing the City in excess of 1.4 million, annually. This is equal to 14 full-time police officers responding only to false alarms.
The burglar alarm ordinance
• Authorizes permit fees (waived for alarm users age 65 and older)
• Authorizes fines and penalties for defective or misused alarm systems
• Requires alarm companies to play a greater role in how customers use and maintain their alarm systems.
Paying for your permit
What ever type of alarm you use it should be accredited by the government. If you have an alarm system that is functional and is activated, the alarm ordinance requires you to obtain a valid alarm user permit. Please remember, if you do not have a permit and the Police Department is dispatched to your location for a false alarm, you will may be subjected to a $250 fine.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Keep Burglars Out With A Home Security System
A home security system doesn't just keep your home and property safe, it also provides peace of mind. Statistics show that your home is three times more likely to be broken into if you have no security system.
Basic home security systems are made up of the control pad, a motion sensor (or possible several), a few magnetic switches on doors and windows and of course an alarm. The switches and motions sensors can be either wired or wireless.
More advanced systems may include video cameras and centralized monitoring by the alarm company. Monitoring gives you an extra level of security because you'll have trained personnel keeping track of your security system.
One of the main advantages of having a home security system is its deterrant factor. If a potential thief sees the yard sign or sticker saying that your house is protected, or if the alarm is activated while they are attempting to break in, they'll be less likely to go through with it.
Being the lowlifes that they are, they're more likely to look for the path of least resistance and will find a home that doesn't have protection instead.
There are 5 major components that almost every security system should include:
1. Control Panel
This is the control system for the alarm - the "brains" behind it. This is usually installed somewhere like the basement or in a closet, as it isn't necessary to access it very often.
2. Keypad
The keypad is normally installed somewhere relatively close to the main entrance to the house. It lets you arm and disarm the alarm, as well as control the various other components.
3. Magnetic contacts
These contacts are installed on doors and windows and will sound the alarm if the contact is broken when the alarm system is armed.
4. Sensors
Motion sensors are the most common but there are also body heat sensors available. Again, if the system is armed these sensors will sound the alarm if there is any motion (or heat) detected.
5. Alarm
This is usually a loud siren or clanger and may include flashing lights for even more attention.
Is Your Burglar Alarm Accredited?
Labels: accreditations, alarm, alarm ordinance, alarm system, Burglar alarm, Burglar Alarm Accreditation, Burglar Alarm Accreditations, burglar alarmsHAS YOUR BURGLAR ALARM ACCREDITED BY LAW?
Due to safety precautions it is mandatory that every alarm installed in your house is registered with FARS. Before the system is placed into service you must check for the following accreditation,
• NSI (National Security Inspectorate)
• NACOSS (National Approval Council for Security Systems)
• ICON (an approval scheme run by NSI)
• SSAIB (Security Systems and Alarms Inspection Board)
Registration
A non-refundable $30.00 registration fee must be paid with each initial registration. A separate registration must be obtained for each alarm user and/or location. Registrations must be renewed on a biennial (2 year) basis at a cost of $10.00. Failure to renew when required will result in no “free” false alarms and the imposition of an additional $100 charge for every false alarm.
False alarm
The main reason for the burglar alarm to be accredited by the government is because of false alarms. Each year the Oakland Police Department receives more than 30,000 false alarms! On average, each response to alarms involves two police officers and takes up to thirty minutes-costing the City in excess of 1.4 million, annually. This is equal to 14 full-time police officers responding only to false alarms.
The burglar alarm ordinance
• Authorizes permit fees (waived for alarm users age 65 and older)
• Authorizes fines and penalties for defective or misused alarm systems
• Requires alarm companies to play a greater role in how customers use and maintain their alarm systems.
Paying for your permit
What ever type of alarm you use it should be accredited by the government. If you have an alarm system that is functional and is activated, the alarm ordinance requires you to obtain a valid alarm user permit. Please remember, if you do not have a permit and the Police Department is dispatched to your location for a false alarm, you will may be subjected to a $250 fine.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
A layman’s guide to home security
The world today has a plethora of advanced technological means of protecting their valuables be it jewelry, an expensive electronic gadget, piece of art, or antique that you have paid a fortune to make yours!
However, with all good things, there is something bad and security systems are no exceptions! This means technology too can fail!
Looking at the brighter side, like I said all your hard-earned valuables could be protected today without your having to worry 24/7 whether your favourite diamond ring or antique Chinese vase is no more yours when you get back home after a hard day at work!
However before you embark on a search for the best security system for your home, you need to do a reality check. Your best option is to ask your family and close friends- people you trust, about their security systems if they have one. Take a note of all the problems they may have had with their security systems since they installed them. This will help you to cross-question all the security firms that you visit and hence clear your doubts too!
Another important consideration is how much are you ready to shell out to secure your home, now I do not mean just buying the equipment required because the expenses do not end here. If you want a complete security system, you also have to consider paying the security firm that is going to monitor all the events while you are away!
Now to give you a lowdown on the options available to you,
One you can go in for a do it yourself kit, but again I suggest this option only if you are confident of setting up the system and of coarse also if you want to save on costs. However if you goof up, you are obviously going to be spending a lot more then you thought of saving in the first place!
Second, you can visit a security firm who will give you a customized system according to your requirements and budget, they also monitor all the events 24/7, and you will be charged for these daily services. For the best firm in the market and of coarse one in your area you can you can search on the internet or again ask friends and family.
To understand the technical jargon in layman terms you can read on.
In terms of location, you have:
Perimeter alarms
As the name suggests such alarms are usually used to stop the intruder at the boundaries of your property. They are fairly simple in design, why? The answer is simple; because while guarding a perimeter your aim is to stop the intruder outside and hence will want to sound an alarm if somebody crosses the boundary because if they are inside the your property your alarm was ineffective! Simple switch circuits are very effective for such purposes. Good examples of these are the open circuits and closed circuit alarms explained later on in the article.
Building alarms
Now if the intruder has managed to bypass or deactivate your perimeter alarm then you need to protect your house too meaning the inside of the building! Again, there are various ways to do so such as use body heat to detect the presence of somebody inside the building and sound an alarm on detection or vice versa i.e. radiate energy from a source and monitor its reflection, if interrupted the reflection changes and you can sound an alarm. If you want an extensive and detailed alarm system, you can put up a surveillance system with hidden cameras, which of course will cost you a fortune but it is worth it if you have a fortune to protect!
In terms of circuits, you have:
Open circuit
When the intruder completes the circuit by his action of intrusion, he triggers the alarm. For example, a button embedded into the doorway or magnetic switch embedded into a window will trigger an alarm if the door or window is opened.
Closed circuit
In such a system, the electric circuit is complete when the door or window is closed and hence if an intruder opens the door the current path is broken triggering an alarm. Now both these systems- open and closed circuit are very naïve in their designs and hence have to be controlled using a control box so that the intruder cannot deactivate the alarm easily!
In terms energy:
Active Systems
This means you have a source that emits either radio waves or ultra sonic rays into the room and records the reflection of these rays when they travel back; now if somebody comes in the range of these rays their reflection pattern changes and this can be used to trigger an alarm.
Passive Systems
These systems use a detector/sensor to sense a rapid change in infrared energy in the room. What this means is, that when a human enters the field of the senor there is a rapid increase in the level of heat, which is sensed by the infrared sensor; this in turn sends a message to a controller, which in turn sounds a combination of alarms set by the user.
Therefore, if you are looking for an entire home and property security you can go to a professional who will do the installation as well as monitor your home or office for you. Otherwise, you can opt for a do it yourself kit advisable for those who are technologically inclined or at least those who can follow instructions!
Finally buying a safe to protect your valuables from fire or theft is an essential part of sound home and business security. With a wide range of safes available there is something to suit everyone.
Monday, June 22, 2009
What Are The Different Components Of A Alarm System?
Burglar alarms are used in houses, banks and shopping centers etc. There are numerous varieties of burglar alarms but they all are designed to do the same job. The main components of a alarm system would be a sensor, a camera, a motion detector, a buzzer a flash light and batteries.
Sensors
It is a component that is usually used to detect noise or a movement. Sensors are usually connected to the circuit. As soon as it detects the slightest noise or movement it initiates the circuit which results in triggering the buzzer and the flashing light.
Cameras
The camera as everyone knows, it is a gadget which is used to take a snap or video. You must be wondering why this is used for an alarm. Cameras help to show who and how many of them have broken in and hence resulting in identifying the burglar with ease.
Motion detector
This detector sends out bursts of ultrasonic sound waves and then waits for the reflected energy to bounce back. If there is no one interrupting the signal, the radio energy will bounce back in the same pattern. But if somebody enters the area, the reflection pattern is disturbed and the alarm sounded.
Buzzer
Buzzers are devices which are used to alert people that something has happened. These are set off as soon as the sensor or motion detectors give the signal to the circuits that something fishy is happening.
Flashing lights
These are powerful lights which flash in order to signal people that something is happening.
Batteries
Nowadays burglars are so professional that they do everything under the sun to burgle, they sometimes cut off the electricity so that you’ll not be able to see them and to deactivate the alarm but with improved technology and the use of Batteries it makes it impossible for them to switch off the alarm. Even when the current is turned off your bugler alarm still functions.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Whats The Top Burglar Alarm?
There are so many companies that manufacture burglar alarms. The most recommended and approved by the UK government are ADT systems, AGS systems and British gas home security.
ADT systems
They are the leading provider of electronic fire and security services in the whole United Kingdom. They specialize in home security, and commercial security including, electronic article surveillance (EAS), fire detection, alarm systems, gaseous extinguishing and asset tracking solutions to a wide range of people and organizations. They protect 89 out of the UK’s top 100 companies and more than 120,000 homes.
ASG systems
They have been manufacturing home securities for the past 40 years. Their company has its base in Washington. An example of their astonishing product is the digital video recording and management system. This system can be discreet or fully integrated with:
• Enterprise Level Access Control
• Surveillance
• Badging
• Intrusion Detection
• RFID Asset Management
• Visitor Management
British gas home security
They are the leading firm that manufactures and installs home security in the United kingdoms. They also give tips and information on home improvement projects. Their security systems are:
The Intruder Response/24 system: This is connected to an Alarm Receiving Centre (ARC) which monitors your alarm 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If there is a break-in, the ARC phones your home for password identification. If it is not given the ARC contacts a key holder and possibly the police.
The Intruder Alert/24: This immediately calls up to four telephone numbers with a pre-recorded message alerting you to a break-in. An external siren is triggered to alert neighbours and deters burglars.
The Intruder Alarm/24 triggers an external siren, alerting neighbors and deterring burglars.
Wireless Home Security Systems
Labels: alarm, home, Home Security Systems, protection, security, Wireless Home Security SystemsAdding wireless home security systems to your home or office can be quite easy as long as you know what you want and how to install them. With just a few simple facts in hand, you can quickly be on your way to finding what you want from the various wireless home security systems.
Prior to choosing wireless home security systems, you must decide a few things.
First you must look over your home to determine how many doors and windows will be used with the system. Next you must determine where you want your control panel and keypads. While some people find it is more convenient to have them close to the front door, others prefer to have them closer to the bedrooms. You can also have them in both places if you so choose.
You must also find out how far these doors and windows are from the system’s main sensors. If you are using wireless home security systems, they cannot be too far from the sensors or else they won’t be able to communicate with them.
Do you want a monitored system? For a small monthly fee, various companies’ can ‘watch’ your system. For a less expensive alternative, you can choose a basic system that connects a dialer to your home phone that can dial previously chosen numbers in the case of an emergency.
Motion detectors are also an option, but you may want to reconsider having them if anyone in your house, including pets, have a tendency to roam during the night or whenever your system is enabled.
Now that you have this information you can begin to look through the various options for wireless home security systems. The first step is contacting a reputable company that you know and trust.
When choosing the correct wireless home security systems model, make sure that you choose a system that monitors every zone in your home. With wireless home security systems you must be certain that it can perform correctly by reaching even the furthest zone.
Lastly, a user-friendly system is a must. If you don’t know how to use wireless home security systems, then they won’t do you much good in an emergency.
Be aware that when choosing wireless home security systems, each contact device takes batteries. It can be a bit pricier then a hard-wired system due to the fact that you must pay for service calls to replace the batteries. But this can be avoided if you buy them and install them yourself.
Speaking of installation, installing wireless home security systems can be quite easy to do yourself since they do not require any hard-wiring, only basic tools that you have lying around your house.
As previously discussed, the first step to installing wireless home security systems is figuring out where to put the control panels and sensors. Once you have done that, you are almost on your way to having your home ready to go in case of an emergency or break-in.
By following the instructions that come with wireless home security systems, you can quickly install your system while saving money. But, if you prefer to have it done for you, you can easily call a contractor, or a company specializing in this type of system, to do it for you.
