An Introduction to Burglar Alarm Types

When it comes to choosing a burglar alarm for your home, you may get confused with all the different types out there and be wondering which one you should for your home. Here is an introduction to burglar alarm types to help you to make a good decision.

The most basic of burglar alarms is the magnetic switch sensor. The sensor contains a switch which opens and closes when it is near a magnet. It is referred to as a closed circuit system and has an electric current flowing through it. When the door shuts, a circuit completes. When the door is opened, the spring attached to the magnet causes the switch to release to the open position. The electric current stops flowing and the monitoring unit on the alarm detect this and causes the siren to go off unless the correct key is coded into the control panel to disarm the siren. Magnetic switches can be attached to a door or window frame.

A good magnetic alarm with not allow an intruder to close a door or window after the alarm has been triggered. They also come with a back up battery system so that they are operable even if the electricity gets shut off. The only the alarm can be deactivated is by keying in the proper code.

Another type of sensor is a shock sensor. They can be added to a magnetic switch or as a separate sensor. The sensors can be attached to a door or window. There are also advanced shock sensors which do not need to be fastened to the door or window. They can be placed anywhere and sense when someone is attempting to break into the doors or windows of the house.

Another type of sensor is a Passive Infrared Motion (PIR) sensor. This type of sensor detects movement. If someone successfully breaks into the house, their body heat and movement will end up trigging the PIR sensors which will sound the siren. These sensor come with a delay to give the homeowner time to type in their code to deactivate it.

A high end type of burglar alarm is a monitored system. These can be expensive but are starting to become more affordable. The system comes with an auto dialer. The telephone line is your house is used to automatically dial a staffed monitoring center or whatever numbers you set it up with if the alarm is triggered.

Burglar alarms can be either wired or a wireless system. When the alarm system is wired, all of the various components that make up the alarm system get wired together. This is a very reliable type of alarm system and does not require a lot of maintenance. However, a wired system is much more expensive and complicated to install. The sensors are all powered from the central control unit. No batteries are required.

Wireless alarm systems do have several advantages. Installation is pretty easy. Many homeowners are able to install a wireless alarm system on their own. The main disadvantages is that all of the sensors (magnetic, PIR and shock) run on batteries. This requires more maintenance. You will need to check and replace the batteries the come with your alarm system on a regular basis. Wireless systems are also potentially not as secure as wired systems are and are easier to tamper.

Choosing the best burglar alarm system for your home will depend on your security requirements as well as your budget. Wireless systems are inexpensive to buy and install and offer a lot of flexibility. However, a wired solution may offer you a higher degree of security.