How Home Alarm Systems & Its Add On Components Work!The control panel is the brains of the system and it fundamentally functions as a central computer. The control panel is what allows you to interact with the alarm system. Some of the functions that the panel performs through its computerized alarm circuitry are detecting alarm conditions. It transmits electrical power to the sounding device(s) as well as all other components. The control panel performs operational tests as well as other modes of operation & it also houses a battery backup. The panel is programmed to act on the data it receives from the system's sensors. To get more detailed information on wired & wireless control panels please check out my alarm system components web page. The Keypad is the command center for your system as it lets you interact directly with your control panel. A Key Pad depending on the model may have several modes of operation. Its two main functions is to allow you with a pre-programmed code, to arm & disarm the alarm system, as well as let you activate & deactivate any security zones you may have. The key pad is what you use to operate & control all functions in your system. Many keypads are equipped with a panic button that can be pushed at any time. The panic button being pushed will immediately trigger your system into a full alarm state with your alarm(s) sounding. For detailed information on alarm system keypads please take a look at my alarm system components web page
The sounding devices for home alarm systems are available with a few different types of sound. You can purchase a siren, buzzer or an alarm bell style sounding device. These different alarm types are available for the interior & exterior of your home. Some interior alarms sold are not as loud as they need to be. The audible sound that comes from an alarm needs to be unnerving as well as loud. I have seen alarms sold individually & in various alarm kits that are rated for 85db & this in my opinion is not loud enough for the important function that the alarm needs to perform. The alarm for your system needs to be strident as well as loud & it needs to be loud enough to instill fear or panic into the intruder so he/she quickly moves on. The interior alarm for your home depending on where it is situated should be between 105db & 120db. UL (Underwriters Laboratories) state that sounding devices used in home alarm systems should not be rated lower than 105db. You also need to ensure that you & your family do not get overly exposed to your security alarm sounding as too much exposure may cause permanent hearing loss. There are several good websites that can give you a much better understanding than I could about how certain levels of sound could cause permanent hearing loss. You will find reliable comprehensive information on this subject on the NIDCD (National Institute on Deafness & Other Communication Disorders) web site by clicking on the following link: NIDCD- Noise-Induced Hearing Loss . You can also find more detailed information on sounding devices for alarm systems by visiting my alarm system components web page. Strobe lights & Other Visible Alarm Signals! It is not always so simple to pinpoint exactly where an alarm is coming from, even when it is loud enough to alert neighbors & instill fear or panic in an intruder. Many home alarm systems use some sort of visible alarm signals that are wired into an exterior audible alarm. One of the more popular visible signals is a strobe light & these visible alarms are usually installed up high on the front section of a home. These visible signals are activated when the alarm system is triggered. They are normally setup to remain activated even after the alarm system resets itself, so that the audible alarm is no longer sounding.
We just looked at the three main components that are a part of all home alarm systems, the Control Panel, Key Pad & Sounding Device. Your most basic home alarm systems would consist of those three components with just one detection device (sensor) added. Now that you know what components make up the most basic home alarm systems, it is only a matter of choosing the appropriate detection devices (sensors) that will work best for you. The following content should provide you with what you need to map out the various alarm sensors that will be required to safeguard your home.
You need to make sure that all your physical security measures that are a part of your first line of defense have been addressed. Your second line of defense is your home alarm system more specifically for your windows & exterior doors it would be the installation of magnetic switch sensors (window & door sensors). Magnetic Sensors are used to protect a home’s perimeter, they are popular, widely used, inexpensive and reliable. They can be surface mounted or recessed. The surface mounted sensor is housed in two small rectangular plastic casings, one holds a magnetically activated switch & the other one holds a magnet. This sensor as well as the recessed model works exactly the same & they are commonly used on windows and exterior doors. With a surface mounted sensor, one part is attached to the door and the other part attached to the frame. When the door is opened the magnetic field is broken, causing an electrical circuit to open, triggering an alarm. Recessed sensors are cylindrical in shape with one part recessed in the door jamb, the other recessed on the side or edge of the door. The recessed sensors are a little harder to install but once they are recessed they are hardly visible. For further information on magnetic sensors, you may want to take a look at my window alarms web page.
Shock Sensors & Audio Discriminators are two of the most common glass break detectors that are used & sold in today’s market. Shock sensors are triggered by vibrations from glass windows that have been struck. Shock sensors are mounted right on the glass it is protecting by an adhesive backing or a small suction device. Audio discriminators are triggered by detecting the sound of braking glass. This sensor can be mounted on a wall or ceiling & can be used to protect all windows in the sensors range. Audio discriminators in my opinion are by far the best glass break detectors sold. They are reliable, reasonably priced and several windows can be protected using a signal sensor. Some models of audio discriminators placed on a ceiling can monitor sounds in all directions. Depending on the size & layout of your home, a signal sensor strategically located could protect many windows on one floor. For additional information on these glass break detectors please take a look on my glass break sensors web page.
Passive infrared (PIR) motion sensors work by detecting changes in infrared energy levels caused by anyone coming within range of the sensor. PIR Sensors are passive as they don’t send out a signal or emit any type of energy, they just sense infrared energy that emanates from our bodies.
PIR motion sensors are widely used & can be obtained by just about any company that sells home alarm systems. These sensors are reliable & can cost-effectively guard many different size areas. For additional information on PIR motion sensors please take a look at my Motion Sensors web page The above information provides you with a basic understanding of the three main components in all home alarm systems, the control panel, key pad & sounding device. It also gives you information on how the three most widely used detection devices work. These detection devices are magnetic, glass break & (PIR) passive infrared motion sensors. To get a much clearer understanding of a home alarm system's three main components & the three most widely used detection devices, please view the various web pages for these components & devices listed above. Home alarm systems offer a great deal more than helping to protect your home against burglary or home invasions. With the right detection devices your system can help protect you & your family in a number of emergency situations. Some of these emergency detection devices include: • Smoke Detectors • Carbon Monoxide Detectors • Heat Sensors • Freeze Sensors • Water Flood Detectors • Temperature Sensors I sincerely hope the above information was in some way helpful & beneficial for you. You may want to consider bookmarking this site as new & updated content is uploaded weekly.
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