|
Home / Home / Home Security
A layman’s guide to home security
By:Anthony Neary
The world today has a plethora of advanced technological means of protecting their valuables be it jewelry, an expensive electronic gadget, piece of art, or antique that you have paid a fortune to make yours!
However, with all good things, there is something bad and security systems are no exceptions! This means technology too can fail!
Looking at the brighter side, like I said all your hard-earned valuables could be protected today without your having to worry 24/7 whether your favourite diamond ring or antique Chinese vase is no more yours when you get back home after a hard day at work!
However before you embark on a search for the best security system for your home, you need to do a reality check. Your best option is to ask your family and close friends- people you trust, about their security systems if they have one. Take a note of all the problems they may have had with their security systems since they installed them. This will help you to cross-question all the security firms that you visit and hence clear your doubts too!
Another important consideration is how much are you ready to shell out to secure your home, now I do not mean just buying the equipment required because the expenses do not end here. If you want a complete security system, you also have to consider paying the security firm that is going to monitor all the events while you are away!
Now to give you a lowdown on the options available to you,
One you can go in for a do it yourself kit, but again I suggest this option only if you are confident of setting up the system and of coarse also if you want to save on costs. However if you goof up, you are obviously going to be spending a lot more then you thought of saving in the first place!
Second, you can visit a security firm who will give you a customized system according to your requirements and budget, they also monitor all the events 24/7, and you will be charged for these daily services. For the best firm in the market and of coarse one in your area you can you can search on the internet or again ask friends and family.
To understand the technical jargon in layman terms you can read on.
In terms of location, you have:
Perimeter alarms
As the name suggests such alarms are usually used to stop the intruder at the boundaries of your property. They are fairly simple in design, why? The answer is simple; because while guarding a perimeter your aim is to stop the intruder outside and hence will want to sound an alarm if somebody crosses the boundary because if they are inside the your property your alarm was ineffective! Simple switch circuits are very effective for such purposes. Good examples of these are the open circuits and closed circuit alarms explained later on in the article.
Building alarms
Now if the intruder has managed to bypass or deactivate your perimeter alarm then you need to protect your house too meaning the inside of the building! Again, there are various ways to do so such as use body heat to detect the presence of somebody inside the building and sound an alarm on detection or vice versa i.e. radiate energy from a source and monitor its reflection, if interrupted the reflection changes and you can sound an alarm. If you want an extensive and detailed alarm system, you can put up a surveillance system with hidden cameras, which of course will cost you a fortune but it is worth it if you have a fortune to protect!
In terms of circuits, you have:
Open circuit
When the intruder completes the circuit by his action of intrusion, he triggers the alarm. For example, a button embedded into the doorway or magnetic switch embedded into a window will trigger an alarm if the door or window is opened.
Closed circuit
In such a system, the electric circuit is complete when the door or window is closed and hence if an intruder opens the door the current path is broken triggering an alarm. Now both these systems- open and closed circuit are very naïve in their designs and hence have to be controlled using a control box so that the intruder cannot deactivate the alarm easily!
In terms energy:
Active Systems
This means you have a source that emits either radio waves or ultra sonic rays into the room and records the reflection of these rays when they travel back; now if somebody comes in the range of these rays their reflection pattern changes and this can be used to trigger an alarm.
Passive Systems
These systems use a detector/sensor to sense a rapid change in infrared energy in the room. What this means is, that when a human enters the field of the senor there is a rapid increase in the level of heat, which is sensed by the infrared sensor; this in turn sends a message to a controller, which in turn sounds a combination of alarms set by the user.
Therefore, if you are looking for an entire home and property security you can go to a professional who will do the installation as well as monitor your home or office for you. Otherwise, you can opt for a do it yourself kit advisable for those who are technologically inclined or at least those who can follow instructions!
Finally buying a safe to protect your valuables from fire or theft is an essential part of sound home and business security. With a wide range of safes available there is something to suit everyone.
Digg
del.icio.us
Blink
Stumble
Spurl
Reddit
Netscape
Furl
Article keywords: valuables, home security system, alarm, surveillance system, sensor, intruder
Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com
Anthony Neary works for www.thesafeshop.co.uk which provides a wide range of security and fire proof safes for your home and business. For more information on security safes visit www.thesafeshop.co.uk/Categories/security_safes/ alternatively for the full range of products check out. www.thesafeshop.co.uk
|
|
| Top Home Security Articles |
- 1). Wireless Home Security Systems By : Joel Noah
Adding wireless home security systems to your home or office can be quite easy as long as you know what you want and how to install them. With just a few simple facts in hand, you can quickly be on your way to finding what you want from the various wireless home security systems.
Prior to choosing wireless home security systems, you must decide a few things.
|
- 2). Home Security - Did You Know This? By : NamSing Then
Most homeowners would face some sort of security breaches one way or another. Be it a football landed in your garden or a burglar trying to get into your house, home security is the most important factor that any home owner should consider.
|
- 3). Home Security How to Spot Suspicious Activity By : Roger Overanout
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.
|
- 4). Phone Taps That Allow You to Listen to Both Ends of the Conversation By : Shawn Davis
There are some phone taps that are not true taps at all. They are more like bugs that only allow you to listen to one end of the conversation. While one end can be very useful, the fact is that it can also be very incomplete, leaving a lot of things to conjecture. The most effective phone taps allow you to listen to both ends of the conversation so that you can get as much context from the conversation as possible.
|
- 5). What is Home Security Monitoring? By : Robert H
If you do not already have a home security monitoring system, you might be completely unaware of the options that are available to you. Even if you already have home security monitoring, you still might not be fully aware of the options available beyond your current home security monitoring system. In its most basic sense home security monitoring protects your family and possessions from burglary but it can do so much more than that.
|
- 6). What’s the big push for Emergency Supply Kits? By : gorgimi
The NOOA is saying that 2006 could be one of the worst hurricane seasons we have ever experienced. Worse than last year with 27 named storms, 15 hurricanes with 4 of those being a Category 5? Hurricanes Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, Ophelia, Rita & Wilma as well as Tropical Storms Arlene & Tammy touched the United States in 2005.
The NOAA says (11/29/2005): With six months until the official start of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season, NOAA urges hurricane-prone residents to take proactive measures during this time.
|
- 7). How Does A Fire Alarm System Work? By : Gray Rollins
A fire alarm system alerts people in the building of a possible fire. They help protect those inside by notifying them that they need to evacuate for safety. Most fire alarm systems will also automatically notify the nearest emergency personnel so they can take care of the fire.
Fire alarms can be triggered by smoke detectors, heat detectors, or manually.
|
- 8). Tips On Buying An Effective Alarm System By : Mike Davidson
Burglary is one of the most commonly committed crimes in the United States. Most homeowners fear that their homes are at risk of being broken into that they purchase insurance to protect them from losses due to burglary and fires.
But more than the insurance to protect them from the losses, a more important thing to consider is to install alarms to monitor and alert authorities on unauthorized entry and in cases of fire.
|
- 9). High Tech Spy Equipment By : Shawn Davis
If you want to make the move from surveillance amateur to surveillance professional, you need high tech spy equipment. The best private investigators and bounty hunters use the best available spy equipment and bring in the results. Not only can good equipment help you improve your results, it also provides an impressive display of prowess and ability.
|
- 10). Safe Drinking Water in an Emergency or Disaster By : Carlo Morelli
Nothing makes clearer the importance of water than a large disaster; clean, fresh water becomes more valuable than gold. It’s easy to forget that without water, we just can’t survive. 60 percent of our bodies are water, in fact for infants, water makes up about 80 percent of their body, so it is even more vital they have access to clean drinking water.
|
| New Home Security Articles |
|
|
|
|
- 3). Keep Your Home Safe With Covert Hidden Cameras By : Shawn Davis
Do you have a wall phone located in your home or office? Do you also need the protection of covert hidden cameras? Now you can combine the convenience of a wall phone with the security of a covert hidden camera. These great innovations come wired, which allows the phone to be an actual working phone or wireless, which is then a nonfunctional phone, but just a working camera, and since the camera is pointed out the front of the phone, the camera has a solid view of most rooms.
|
- 4). Kids and Guns By : David Nash
As a firearm instructor, you might not believe how many times I hear from someone that they would like to own a gun, but their spouse will not allow it because they have kids in the house. On a grand scale, I understand and agree with the REASONING behind this feeling. It’s a parent’s job to keep their children safe, and no one wants to bring something into the home that is dangerous to their child.
|
- 5). Disaster Planning for the Hurricane Season - Pure Water for Natural Disasters By : Jon M. Stout
The hurricane season will be upon us shortly and it is wise to begin preparations for all consequences associated with these catastrophic events. Timely and proper planning will avoid much of the stress resulting from hurricane damage and may well avoid injury and loss of life.
The Hurricane Season
Many people do not realize that the hurricane season is lengthy and spans the six month period from June 1 to December 1 each year.
|
- 6). How You Should Prepare Your House For A Hurricane By : David Stone
Preparing your house for a hurricane is very important, and it does not need to be a difficult task when done properly. Most of the things that are important for protecting your home can be done in advance so you have everything you need when a storm comes your way.
The most important thing to have for any home is window protection. Windows are the weakness of any structure, but they do provide the light that is necessary for everyday living.
|
- 7). Get Your Suspect With Body Worn Cameras By : Shawn Davis
You are a private investigator, or a member of a drug task force or just about any type of vice cop. You need to use body worn cameras for your covert operations, and you need to do it without it being detected. How can you do it? One way is by using a covert hat video camera. The camera is placed inside a traditional baseball cap, and the cable is attached directly a DVR that is worn elsewhere on your body.
|
- 8). A Common Question: "Should I Use Mace or Pepper Spray?" By : Ross Bainbridge
Pepper spray is a generic term for all self-defense sprays that contain oleoresin capsicum, a carrier, and a propellant. Oleoresin capsicum is the active ingredient in pepper spray, harvested or derived from cayenne peppers or other peppers. Its effects are physically incapacitating rather than painfully irritating; this makes it ideal for self-defense sprays that are intended for use on assailants who are immune to pain (psychotics, those under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or just “tough guys”).
|
- 9). A Guide to Pepper Spray Laws By : Ross Bainbridge
Pepper spray is the most popular self-defense weapon, but it is not legal in all states. At the time of publication of this writing, common pepper spray law was that you are allowed to carry it in all states.
In California, the largest can of pepper spray you are legally allowed to carry is 2.5 oz.
In Michigan, New York, Wisconsin, and Hawaii, pepper spray law says you are allowed carry it.
|
- 10). The Basics of Home Security By : Jack Nelson
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.
|
|
|
