Which home alarm to choose?
2023-04-06
Are you planning to install an alarm system that would protect your apartment? In this article you will learn a bit about the elements of such a system, how the alarm works and which home alarm system to choose.
Elements of the alarm system
The basic element of the alarm that controls the entire system is alarm panel. It is responsible for collecting and processing signals from other devices and, if necessary, triggering an alarm. Depending on our needs, appropriate devices supporting the required number of alarm inputs and outputs are selected. It is recommended to plan them in advance, in case we need to expand our system in the future. The type of control panel is also responsible for the way of communication with other devices.
After selecting the control panel, we must select alarm sensors, responsible for detecting the threat. Our company's offer includes motion and presence detectors (infrared and microwave detectors); contracted, i.e. magnetic detectors detecting the opening of windows or doors; smoke or gas detectors; flood sensors; breakage sensors or temperature sensors (useful in pharmacies or cold stores where increasing the temperature is unacceptable).
In the case of a home alarm system, the most important will be motion sensors and contacts, which are the basis of the intrusion detection system. The best decision will be to choose dual sensors, because detectors equipped with only one of the technologies can cause frequent false alarms. You can learn more about the operation of the sensors in our article about the possibilities of alarm systems – click and see.
When an alarm is triggered by the control panel, this information must be forwarded. basic the receiving device is acoustic or acoustic-optical siren commonly known as alarm siren. It emits a loud audible signal and an optional bright light. In modern alarm systems, notification of a security breach can be received on the phone – push notification, voice call or text message.
Of course, a triggered alarm must then be disarmed using keypad. It is a device similar to a tablet or simply a keyboard that controls the system. Modern systems allow for installation in which there are no keypads – then we control the system with the help of an application on the phone.
How does the alarm work?
Our customers often ask the question: how does the alarm work? Modern high-quality alarms maintain constant contact with the sensors. This is to protect them against damage by a burglar. If it tries to breach system components, it will automatically trigger an alarm. This will also happen when an attempt to deceive or cover the sensor is detected, any non-compliance in operation, communication with the control panel or unscrewing the device is considered a burglary attempt, about which we will be immediately notified. The control panel, receiving a signal of intrusion or detecting an attempt to violate/deceive, triggers the output responsible for the alarm, which is connected to the siren or other devices. A professional alarm system should also have its own emergency power source, which will allow the system to operate for an hour or more in the event of a power outage. This can be achieved with the help of uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) or batteries dedicated to alarm systems.
A modern alarm system can be combined with the functionality of a smart home. Thanks to this, we will gain the ability to remotely control various devices via the Internet, even when we are not at home. Setting various schedules will also allow us to save energy and facilitate everyday activities. Thanks to the operation from the telephone level, we will be able to remotely open the gate and garage door, disarm the alarm and start lighting or heating.
Watch the video to learn more or read the article: alarm system capabilities
Which home alarm to choose?
To answer the question of which home alarm to choose, you must first ask yourself what you want to protect. If we do not have specific requirements, but only want to protect our home in general, it is possible that a basic system consisting of 2 detectors will suffice. They will detect an intruder in the corridor and the most exposed room. Each house and apartment has a different layout, so it is impossible to determine in one sentence which alarm will be effective. We have motion and contract sensors to use. from which you need to build an appropriate detection system. The sensors can protect entire spaces or only a separate line if they have a curtain mode. Contracts allow you to detect the opening of doors or windows, so they can work even when you are in a given room or have pets.
If we have a two-story house, alarm zones may be useful. Then at night we can secure zone 1 (ground floor), and zone 2 (floor), where we sleep, will be disarmed so as not to raise an alarm. When we leave the house, we secure both zones, ensuring the protection of the entire house. We also have external protections at our disposal, such as infrared barriers. However, these solutions are much more expensive. If you are considering buying an alarm system whose advertisement suggests the possibility of installation without a specialist and an attractive price, you should consider why you want to buy this alarm. Cheap, commonly advertised systems are often devices that do not meet security standards, do not have an emergency power supply or two-way communication discussed earlier. In the event of theft, the insurance company may therefore refuse to pay compensation or insurance discounts. Another drawback of such solutions are often numerous false alarms caused by poor quality sensors or software errors. Such systems also pose no threat to a burglar who knows many ways to deceive them