| If you have lots of valuables, an insurance | | | | indicators showing which parts of the system |
| company may insist that you fit a burglar alarm | | | | have been triggered. There is usually a test facility |
| as well as taking other security precautions. This | | | | so that you can make sure the system is |
| rules out d-i-y alarms, since they will almost | | | | working properly and, like the external warning |
| certainly insist on an alarm installed to BS 4737 | | | | devices, the boxes are fitted with tamper |
| which includes a provision for the installing | | | | protection so that the alarm will sound if anyone |
| company to inspect regularly. Companies who are | | | | tries to take the front off the box. |
| registered with the National Supervisory Council | | | | Wiring up a do-it-yourself system is fairly |
| for Intruder Alarms (NSCIA) guarantee to install | | | | straightforward: the most difficult parts of the job |
| to this standard. | | | | are concealing the wires and fit¬ting |
| Before installing a burglar alarm, you should think | | | | flush-mounted magnetic contacts. Wiring up |
| about the advantages and disadvantages of | | | | contacts and the control box can be fiddly; to |
| having one. | | | | wire the warning device you will probably need to |
| On the plus side is the fact that you have a | | | | work up a ladder. The better systems use |
| visible deterrent to would-be burglars, and the | | | | four-core and six-core wire for detection devices, |
| alarm going off may stop a burglar getting in or | | | | which means that the alarm will sound if any wire |
| cut down the time he stays around if he does | | | | is cut. |
| get in. There may also be advantages in | | | | The alarm itself is wired in low-voltage cable, but |
| protecting a window with a burglar alarm rather | | | | the control panel usually needs a connection to |
| than a lock so that you can get out quickly in | | | | mains electricity via a fused connection unit. If you |
| case of fire. And for people living on their own - | | | | are in any doubt about this part of the job, call in |
| or elderly or disabled people - there is the | | | | an electrician. |
| additional advantage of being able to attract | | | | Wire-less systems |
| attention with many alarm systems. A panic | | | | A wire-less system has components similar to a |
| button could raise the alarm if someone were to | | | | conventional wired-in do-it-yourself burglar alarm |
| attempt to push their way in through the front | | | | system, but the communication between the |
| door. | | | | various parts is by radio waves rather than by |
| On the minus side is the inconvenience of | | | | electricity. This means that no wiring is needed |
| activating and deactivating the alarm, and the cost | | | | (except between detection devices and their |
| and problems with false alarms. And if you live | | | | transmitters) and that the control panel can be |
| miles from anywhere there may be no one to | | | | situated anywhere in the house and moved |
| hear an audible alarm. | | | | around if you want. The control panel itself is set |
| Burglar alarms which you can install yourself break | | | | by key and tells you if any parts of the system |
| down into four groups: wired-in systems, wire-less | | | | are not secured before setting the alarm and will |
| systems, door alarms and movement detectors. | | | | indicate whereabouts a break-in has occurred. The |
| You can also get different types of security | | | | system can be divided into zones and |
| lighting. | | | | incorporates a portable emergency transmitter; |
| Wired-in systems | | | | infra-red transmitters to detect movement can |
| This is probably the most common type of d-i-y | | | | be used as well as magnetic contacts and |
| alarm system. A 'kit' consists of three main parts: | | | | pressure pads. The system is very easy to add |
| a series of detection devices, a warning device | | | | to and can incorporate a remote dial¬ling |
| (siren or bell) and a control panel. | | | | facility, but this is very expensive. |
| Detection devices | | | | Door alarms |
| The detection devices for this type of system will | | | | Rather than having a centrally controlled alarm |
| usually be there to react if someone opens a | | | | system you can instead fit individual |
| window or door connected into the system. | | | | battery-operated alarms to the doors and |
| Magnetic contacts will cause the alarm to sound if | | | | windows which are at risk. This makes the |
| the circuit is broken: the neatest and most | | | | system a lot easier to install. |
| effective are flush-lilting (like mortice locks); | | | | Most door alarms depend on movement of the |
| surface-mounted contacts are easier to install and | | | | door: the alarm is set either with a key or by |
| may be the only option on double doors or | | | | lapping in your personal code on a key pad. A |
| metal-framed windows. Pressure pads are fitted | | | | door alarm can be set to 'instant' (when you are |
| under carpels (in front of the hi-fi or under one of | | | | in) or 'delay' to allow you time to get in and out. |
| the steps of the stairs) and will cause the alarm | | | | Some door alarms have an additional 'visitor' |
| to sound when trod¬den on. Most d-i-y alarm | | | | setting which gives a chime or bleep when the |
| systems have a manually operated panic button | | | | door is opened. |
| (or personal attack button) which is fitted by the | | | | Movement detectors |
| bed or by the front door and will set oil' the alarm | | | | Devices that detect unwanted movement in a |
| (even when the system is deactivated) if you | | | | room work in one of two ways. Either they are |
| push the button (it can be reset only with a key). | | | | infra-red - they detect the body heat of an |
| Few do-it-yourself wired systems contain | | | | intruder - or they rely on the breaking of an |
| movement detectors, but they can usually be | | | | ultrasonic beam. Either way, the devices are |
| added as an extra. | | | | unobtrusive and easy to install, needing only a 13A |
| Warning devices | | | | electrical supply. |
| The warning device is usually an ear-piercing bell | | | | Many movement detectors are disguised as |
| or siren in a box fixed to a high part of the wall | | | | household objects such as hi-fi loudspeakers, but |
| of the house. They are designed to sound for no | | | | nonetheless will let off a piercing noise if anyone |
| longer than 20 minutes (to comply with the law); | | | | enters the room they are protecting. |
| some systems incorporate a flashing light as well | | | | Some movement detectors can be wired to |
| which will go on for longer. The warning device | | | | external alarms, and some can be included in |
| usually has its own battery which will cause the | | | | whole-house burglar alarm systems. |
| device to operate in the event of mains failure or | | | | Security lighting |
| the wires being cut. You can usually buy 'dummy' | | | | There are essentially two types of security |
| bell boxes as extras to put on other sides of the | | | | lighting you can fit to your house. |
| house. Most systems can be fitted with an | | | | The first utilises a security light switch which you |
| internal alarm which goes oil' just before the main | | | | fit in place of an ordinary lightswitch (after turning |
| alarm sounds. | | | | off the electricity). This type of switch will turn |
| Professionally installed systems may also have | | | | the controlled light on and off according to the |
| remote dialing where a phone call is made usually | | | | programme set on the switch. A side light could |
| to a central monitoring station when someone | | | | also be turned on and off by a simple light switch |
| breaks in, before the audible alarm sounds. This | | | | plugged into the socket outlet which feeds the |
| facility is expensive. | | | | light. |
| Control panel | | | | The second type of security light is mounted |
| This is the heart of the system and is usually | | | | outside and is operated by an infra-red sensor, |
| key-operated to switch the system on and oil'. | | | | either incorporated within the light itself or |
| Most systems have a delay built in so that you | | | | mounted separately. External lights, especially |
| have time to get through the front door without | | | | powerful ones, are good burglar deter¬rents, |
| selling off the alarm; some have different zones | | | | and one that comes on automatically will tend to |
| so that you can protect different parts of the | | | | frighten them away. This type of light is easy to |
| house. You might, for example, want to leave | | | | wire, requiring only a connection from a fused |
| only downstairs protected during the night. | | | | connection unit inside the house with perhaps |
| Control boxes are generally mains-powered with a | | | | further wiring if a single detector turns on more |
| (rechargeable) battery back-up, and many have | | | | than one light. |