How Does A Home Security System Work?

Home Security System are used throughout the United States and the world, people know what
Burglar alarms are and what they are used for. Nevertheless they may not know how
they operate. Let's see how this protection system works in detail.

The Circuit

Home Security Systems are a simple electric circuit. To open or close a light, you simply
throw a switch. In a burglar alarm it's the same except the switch detects the
movements of the intruder such as the opening a door or window.

Two categories

In a closed-circuit system, the electric circuit is closed when the door is shut. This
means that as long as the door is closed, electricity can flow from one end of the
circuit to the other. But if somebody opens the door, the circuit is opened, and
electricity can't flow. This triggers an alarm.

In an open-circuit system, opening the door closes the circuit, so electricity begins to
flow. Also in this system, The Alarm is triggered when the circuit is completed.

Magnetic sensor
A magnetic sensor in a closed circuit consists of a few simple components.

- a battery powering a circuit
- a spring-driven metal switch built into a door frame
- a magnet embedded in the door, lined up with the switch
- a separately-powered buzzer with a relay-driven switch.

Control box

The control box is hooked up to one or more alarm circuits, but it also has its own
power supply, just in case there is a power failure the control box will still be able o function. Once the alarm is triggered, the control box won't cut it off until
somebody enters a security code at a connected keypad. In most installations the
control box is kept in a veered place so that the burglar can't even think of disabling it
then the alarm goes off.

Home Security - Protect Your Children Online - Part 2

The Seven Signs of Unsuitable Use or Contact From the Internet
Home security is about protecting your family, and the most overlooked means of entry is sitting in your living room…your computer. The Internet has become a vast and great resource for our children to learn things they would never have had the opportunity to learn otherwise. We all remember having to go to the library to research our next term paper using the World Book encyclopedia or the Periodicals catalog. The Internet Age has allowed our children to receive, almost instantaneously, information it would otherwise have taken days to receive. This "instantaneous" aspect of the Internet yields split second access to materials unsuitable for children to see or hear.

So with that said, here are seven warning signs that may show your child is using the Internet in unsuitable ways:
1 - Your child spends most of their home time on the Internet.
2 - Your child quickly turns off the monitor or shuts the computer down when you enter the computer room.
3 - You receive phone calls from strangers asking to speak to your child.
4 - You recognize outgoing phone calls, mostly long distance, from your residence to phone numbers you do not recognize.
5 - Your child begins receiving gifts from people and addresses that you do not recognize.
6 - Your child's personality begins to change, becoming more combative when asked to reduce his/her computer usuage.
7 - You pull up pornographic or other unsuitable materials from your computer's hard drive.

The major Internet access sites, including America Online, MSN, Earthlink, and others, have made it increasingly difficult for children to receive unsuitable material through their Internet connections. These services have also allowed the parent to restrict even more the online experience of their children. It is important that a parent reviews these increased security options and determine if they are applicable to the online situation.

However, most of these sites still allow access of minors to sites that are conducive to chatting and instant messages. It is these areas, as well as electronic mail, that provide the greatest risk to our children. Unlike the typical phone call, the Internet has no "face" or "voice" from which to somehow identify the person our child is communicating to. The person happily chatting with our child via the Weather Channel chat room about cumulonimbus clouds and the report the child is writing could just as easily be a 50 year old pedophile waiting for his chance to trap the child into divulging personal information about themselves and their location.

It is extremely important that we advocate to our school communities the hazards which exist for our children on the Internet. There are resources available to you that will expand on the signs of abuse and the steps to take in protecting your child from experiencing this unsuitable content on the Internet.

The Basics of Home Security

Every homeowner needs to be active and aware of their home security concerns. With home invasions and break-ins on the rise, it is time to take some steps towards protecting your family and your valuable belongings. It would surprise most people to realize how simple it is for a burglar to break into their home. By following these simple steps, you can reduce the odds of coming home to discover your home has been broken into and your cherished valuables have been taken.

For a burglar, the three greatest enemies are noise, time, and light. If a burglar must make a lot of noise, take a lot of time, and work in a well-lit area to get into your home, chances are that he will not bother. In most cases, he will move onto an easier "mark". These are things that work in the favor of homeowners. I always tell my clients that, in order to defeat the burglar, one must think like the burglar.

Take some time and "case" the exterior of your home for points of entry. Imagine yourself as a burglar. Where would you try to get in? Where are the security weaknesses? You could even conduct a little experiment, by locking your home and trying to break in. If you, honest citizen, can break into your home with relative ease you can be sure it will be no problem for an experienced thief to gain entry.

Doors and windows are the first places to check when assessing the security of a home or business. Make sure that your home is equipped with a hard wood or metal exterior door, that is at minimum 1 ¾" thick. The doorframe should be equally as strong. A peephole is much better than a simple door chain, as it will allow you to identify the person at your door without having to open it. And if there is one thing you spend a bit of money on, be sure it is a good quality deadbolt!

Windows are also extremely vulnerable, from a security standpoint. If you have an older home with double-hung windows, you can secure them by nailing the upper and lower panes together from the inside. As well, simple key locks can be added to windows for a reasonable price. If you have windows that are located at street level, consider adding an iron grate or grille for added protection. Balconies and fire escapes can also be security weaknesses, so consider purchasing one of those metal "accordion" gates.

There are a few other simple precautions you can take to secure your home. Try to establish a routine to ensure that your doors and windows are locked when you leave the house and when you go to bed each night. If you can afford it, you should also invest in a home security system. There are some incredibly advanced systems available on the market today, and these systems are very difficult to bypass. These simple steps could make the difference between being a victim of crime and being safe from harm. Think about it!

Home Security How to Spot Suspicious Activity

In part nine of this series on home security, I am going to giver you a list of things to watch out for to help in spotting possibly suspicious people, its surprising how regularly we miss rather obvious signs that should put us on our guard.

1. Somebody going from house to house, this is particularly suspicious if, once a few homes have been visited, one or more of the people go into a back or side yard. It is even more suspicious if another remains in the front when this occurs. It may be that they are looking for a house to burglarize, or there could be a burglary in progress.

2. If somebody is waiting around in front of a home this becomes very suspicious if you know the homeowners are away. The individual you can see may be a lookout for a burglary that is in progress inside.

3. Everyone seen forcing an entry into a home. This is clearly suspicious at anytime and in any circumstances immediately dial 911 or 999 if in the U.K.

4. If you see anybody who does not live in the home, going into the yard, it is possible that a burglary is being committed.

5. Someone running away particularly if something valuable is being carried, they may be leaving the scene of a crime.

6. If you see somebody showing strange mental or physical symptoms, they may be injured or under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

7. Anybody moving property may be considered suspicious in some circumstances. Perhaps if it is late at night or if the item is not wrapped, it is possible that the article has been stolen.

8. A large number of comings and goings from a particular house, this may not be suspicious, unless it occurs on a daily or very regular basis, especially during late or unusual hours when it could signify vice or drug related activities.

With all of the above situations you must use your common sense, in the majority of situations there is a perfectly innocent explanation for what you see but if you are not certain dial 911 or 999 in the U.K. and let the police investigate.

Home Security How You Can Help the Police Before Your Property is Stolen.

Welcome back to part 7, if you have implemented the recommendations we have made so far you will have gone a long way toward protecting your home. Nobody can promise that you will not fall victim to a thief, so in this article I want to give you a few tips on how you can help the police retrieve your goods if it should be stolen.

Make an inventory of your property.

Keep a list of your processions in a secure place, perhaps in a safe deposit box or with a friend, this will help the police if you do have a burglary, and it will also help to support a claim if you have a house fire or some other kind of loss.

The better the job you do on the property inventory the more help it will be. Now that digital cameras are readily available take pictures of all the rooms in your home and their contents. In case of a loss by fire or flood etc. it will help you in your claim with your insurance provider.

On your property list, show, which room the goods, were in. Describe the article as fully as feasible; include the manufacturer model number, size, color, and the material the article is made of as well as its price. It is also a good idea to include damage marks, repairs, etc because these are unique to your things.

Mark your goods with your Post Code, your Drivers License Number or some other number that is exclusive to you but do not use your Social Security number! Properly marked property is hard for a burglar to sell on to someone else, and it makes it easier to trace them back to you.

Always mark your assets by engraving in an area that cannot be simply removed and is not in plain sight, if you cannot engrave the thing use a permanent marker or an ultra violet pen. Some items are not suitable for marking and this is where a digital or video camera comes into its own.

Now that you have a catalogue of your property make certain you keep it up to date!

Having marked your property make sure that any possible burglar knows about it, a small sticker displayed on doors and windows will do the job. These are generally available from your local police station or crime prevention officer.

Burglary is the most frequent form of theft in the United States; by marking your property you are taking an important step in protecting your home and avoiding the distress that this type of home invasion causes.

In the next part of this series I will be giving you a few dos and don'ts to help you with your personal and home security, see you soon.

Home Security Systems - An insiders guide to saving you money

Monitoring your home security system has never been easier but there are several things you need to consider before committing yourself to a long term monitoring agreement with any alarm company

Alarm companies don't make the majority of their profit from selling security systems, it comes from accumulating a large base of alarm-monitoring contracts. In fact these monitoring contracts are so profitable that they are frequently bought and sold like mortgage notes.

Tip #1 Ask if they are an authorized alarm dealer or a represent a marketing company.
Marketing companies have learned to flood a market with fantastic offers on security systems with the sole purpose of selling the contracts at a profit. They often use any sub-contractor available, which can lead to poor customer service once the marketing company leaves town.

Once you find a reputable alarm company ask them to come out to your home and give you a quote. You'll find that most will quote you a basic security system at a reasonable price. These basic security systems generally include an control panel, keypad, motion detector, a couple of door contacts, inside siren, a yard sign and warning decals

Tip #2 Make sure the equipment can be monitored by any alarm company not by just the one selling it to you. If they use proprietary security equipment you could be left
in a bind should you become dissatisfied with their service for any reason. Ademco, DSC,& Caddx are well known manufacturers and can be monitored by any one.


Some companies offer low a low installation charge of $99.00 or will give you a "FREE" security system. Many do so if you put a security sign in your yard for advertising purposes and commit to a long-term alarm-monitoring contract.

Since the installation charge doesn't cover the true cost of the equipment and labor, you are charged a substantial monthly fee to recoup their investment. These "deals" or equipment leases aren't necessarily bad but make it hard to evaluate the true cost to you over time.

The best way to evaluate your contract is to ask the salesman to give you a quote to purchase the security system outright and show the home alarm-monitoring fee separately. Most of the time you are better off buying the alarm system because your monitoring fee will be much less.


For example. Say for $99 your monitoring fee is $35 per month for 3 years
you total cost for monitoring your home alarm is $1359.00 Your fee
will remain $35 per month or even increase.

On the other hand say you pay $599.00 installation and $20 dollars a month your total cost is $1319. Not only is your overall cost less but from year 3 on your will be saving $180 per year. This savings would be better spent on upgrading your alarm system to include fire monitoring and added perimeter protection

Tip #3 Don't pay additional charges for medical or fire monitoring.
It's ok to pay for the equipment needed but some companies charge $2-$5 extra for these services. These options are easily programmed into the alarm system and don't require any additional effort to monitor.

Is A Basic Security System For You?

The answer is probably not. Basic systems only cover your doors and are supplemented by the use of a motion detector. This detector is usually mounted in the main hallway to catch a burglar crossing the center of the home. If they come through a bedroom window and never pass by the motion detector, the alarm system will never sound. Imagine being home at the time this happens. Basic security systems are best used as a deterrent to a break in and to notify the authorities an alarm condition exist.

Adding perimeter protection such as window contacts or glass break detectors should be high on the list of upgrades. These types of upgrades not only activate the alarm system instantly but also will give you piece of mind while you are home.


Protect Your Financial Interest Not Just Your Home

Get all quotes in writing and make sure the quote is a binding quote.
At a minimum the following should be included in your contract.

Length of contract and if / how it renews. Does it renew automatically?
What type of notice do you have to give to terminate the monitoring agreement

Will your fee increase and is there a limit on the increase. If at all possible lock in your monitoring fee for the entire contract otherwise you could see an increase every year.
Don't be afraid to walk away on this point alone.

Do you own the equipment or is it a lease? A lease means lower initial installation cost but high monitoring fees.

Warranty:
Most of the alarm equipment comes with it's own warranty in addition to what is offered by your company. Specify the warranty for each item so that you aren't charged if it fails.
Also specify how long the warranty on labor is. Expect to pay some labor cost for replacing under warranty items

Service Calls
Alarm technicians are usually well trained to diagnose and fix problems with your security system. Be prepared to pay in the neighborhood of $55 per hour. The fee can seem high when compared to your original installation cost but is not out of line. Think about how much you pay for your car or computer to be worked on.

How long is the response time to service your alarm system.
48 hours is a reasonable time.

Do they provide an installation certificate for your home owner's insurance
Many insurance companies offer a discount for monitored home security systems.

Don't Wait Until You Have A Break-In To Get An Alarm System!

You can replace most things but you may never replace your sense of security in your own home.

Home Security: Options To Consider

Today, there is a large, very important need for home security. There seems to be no limit to what the 'bad guy' can accomplish. They can come in when you are right there sleeping. They can monitor your home in ways in which you will simply never be able to tell. And, they can provide you with a terrifying approach to life each and every day after they have attacked you. By using effective home security, you can really cut down on the times and the abilities of these things happening to you.

Home security is quite versatile. There is something out there for everyone on any budget. In fact, simply putting a home security tag in your window from a company can be a deterrent for robberies itself. Nonetheless, there are many things to consider. First, consider probably the best option and that is monitoring systems that work to monitor the home when you are not there. Should something trigger it, it will react and someone can see just what is happening or can send someone down to look at it.

Other options in home security including home alarms that when triggered can call police or emergency services. You can also use a variety of locks that cannot be broken into as well. There are so many ways in which you can effectively protect your home that there is no reason not to.

When it comes to protecting your family and your home, nothing should stand in your way. You need to safeguard all aspects of that home so that you can sleep easy every night knowing that someone or something is out there looking out for you. And, when you are away from your home, you need to know that it and all of your possessions are safe as well. Home security can do these things for you.

Home Security: Exterior and Interior Lighting

It is a well-known fact, that satisfactory lighting is a very
valuable deterrent to crime. Whatever lighting might help reduce
your risk of becoming a victim, the right lights, utilized
properly will be the effective deterrent to burglars and other
intruders and improve your home security.

Exterior:
Outside lights are critically important, especially near doorways
and at the rear of your residence, where break-ins typically
occur. All round security lighting that is set-up high out of
reach, and is tamper proof, will greatly improve your home
security and help to protect your home.

Lighting in carports and garages is critical. An automatic garage
opener is the best choice. All the best garage door opener fitted
today use a light that operates when the opener is activated,
lighting the garage interior. In carports, it's best to leave a
light on permanently, have a light on a timer, or use a motion
sensor to activate the light.

It is best to use a motion detector on all exterior lights that
are not left switched on. The principal benefit of this for home
security, especially in the backyard, is that the light warns you
that someone is in your yard. When there can be some problem that
dogs, cats, or even birds will trigger off the sensor and cause
the lights to come on, if you set the sensitivity of the sensor
right this will not be a issue. In the front yard, any type of
lighting will be efficient, but make sure that the lighting
design covers the entire front and sides of the home. Sensors can
be utilized however they will be prone to "false alarms" induced
by things like people walking down the sidewalk, or also kids
playing.

Inside:
Whenever you go out for the evening, I suppose that like most
people you leave a light on, the Police call these lights
"burglar beacons". A burglar beacon is a single light that is
left on so you do not return to a dark home when you get back.

Regrettably these lights are a sign for the burglar that you are
out. When you go out for the evening or away on holiday make
certain several lights are left on, in different parts of the
home, and furthermore a radio, put them on timers, from the
exterior your house should look as if someone is home at all
times to improve your home security.

That's it for this time; in the next article we will look at
sorting out the doors on your home.