Saturday, December 19, 2009

Sleep Better At Night: Install Burglar Alarm Systems

By Craig Johnson

When you start looking at burglar alarm systems, you quickly see that there are various kinds in a wide price range. Some can be installed easily without help while others will need professional installation. But they all can be broken down into how they are set off and alert you.

The simplest type of alarm is one that incorporates a circuit system that is broken. These come in two different varieties, either closed-circuit or open circuit. In a closed-circuit type, the circuit functions when the door or window is shut. When it is opened, the circuit is broken and the alarm is triggered.

In open circuit systems, the circuit does not become completed until the point of entry is opened. When the door or window is open, the circuit is then closed and the alarm will be triggered. Closed-circuit designs are generally preferred as they are harder to be deactivated by an intruder.

A control mechanism will normally be included as well which will monitor the circuits and the alarm. There will usually then be a keypad where you enter a code to set and deactivate the alarm system.

These types of systems work well for detecting entry. But once the entry has happened, you need an alternative method for detection. A common device used at this point is a motion detector.

Some motion detectors are based on radar. The system will emit energy and then sense the energy when it bounces back. If there is no one in the area, the energy bounces back unchanged. If there is someone there, the energy pattern changes and an alarm is triggered.

Photo sensor motion detectors are also often used. These work by using a light aimed at a light sensor, across a doorway for example. When an intruder walks between the two, the sensor notices the difference and triggers an alarm.

Passive infrared motion detectors may also be incorporated into the security system. These types of devices sense an intruder by his body heat. The alarm is only triggered when there are very quick changes to the infrared energy.

For most effective security, more than one type of motion detector will be combined to cover the different areas of the building. When the alarm is sounded, there will be a loud noise in the building itself such as bells, sirens, horns or some combination of those. In the more advanced systems, a call will automatically go to the police and/or the security company that installed it.

If you have been thinking about investing in burglar alarm systems, you will find one that meets your budget. And you will sleep easier tonight knowing you are protected.

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