SECURITY 101 A Guide to those that were thinking of having a Security System installed in your home.

For reference I have been in this business since 1988 and have designed and sold many systems for Executive Homes, Small to Large Businesses, Schools and Airports, Government Offices and Detention Facilities.

I thought first to offer suggestions as to what type of systems is best suited for the home.

So, think about a Security System, Intercom/Video System, Fire and Smoke Detection System for the home.

Now if your home is currently being built then this is an opportunity for you now to have it pre-wired so that all the openings ie doors and windows are wired for sensors to be installed at a later date.  Also would not hurt to have the "Low Voltage Contractor" generally hired by you or the GC,  to install some low power and Video cable (RG59u  with at least 95% copper braid shield)  for good signal broadcasting. RG6 cable ( has aluminum shield) is normally used for the Cable company to run their signal and is not a cable of choice for CCTV video.  Have this Video cable run to the Garage area and the Front and rear doors so later you can add a camera to these locations.  Home invasions are becoming a problem in this time we are living and a camera system would let the occupants see whose approaching the house and could capture the image for later viewing. In a later Chapter I'll discuss what type of recording device to use to capture and recall the images.

All these cables should run back to a secure location in the house.  Some will say the garage but I prefer a closet in the house where the security system will also protect the system itself from vandals or tampering.  Also, if the location is in the Northern states then the climate plays havac in the electronics on the equipment. Garages are not normaly climate controlled. Make sure there is an AC outlet available that is not controlled by a switch since this could be a  problem if accidentally flipped off. Also, most systems will need a phone line connection so have the Phone Contractor install a jack at the same location. A jack id is the "RJ31x" phone adapter,  this allows for you to easily disconnect the Panel from the phone line in the event it should lock up the incoming phone line.  Most problems occur when the Panel is hit by a Power surge coming in on the Phone line.  Ask the contractor about surge protection on the phone line and the AC power side.  It is a little more but is less than a new system every year.

If your home is completely built then if a crawl space is available then cable may still be able to be runned as described  above. However, if no crawl space is available then I would suggest a RF Wireless system that talks to a sensor via a secured RF frequency transmitter.  The sensors are connected to mini transmitters that communicate to the Security Panel and the panel also knows if one is not checking in.  This is called a Supervised Wireless address were the device has to check in from a pre-programmed period from  time to time.  Also allows for low battery or trouble conditions to be reported to the Security Panel. The Security panel will report these conditions and Alarm events and more to the Monitoring Central Station if you should choose to have the system monitored.  I suggest a monitoring service that has a facility that is local to your region and is a UL Listed Facility since these have stricter needs ie  standby generators and staffing requirements.

If by chance you are living in a rural area and phone lines are not available then there are Models that communicate via the Paging Network of Towers and will send you an electronic message to your text mail enabled cell phone for you to self monitor and or send it to a Monitoring Central Station. These systems are feature rich since you can Arm and Disarm the system remotely by cell phone. Let's say you are about and hours drive from the vacation house, you want to check the status of the Security Panel.   Call it, plug in a password, and it will relate to you what its' condition might be at that given point.  You could turn on the AC or Heat, power to the water heater, or lights in the driveway or open the remote gate for deliveries  so when you arrive it will be just right.

Back to the System design,  put sensors on the window screens if you like the fresh air of outdoors or put them on two places on the windows so the window can be partially open without causing the alarm, but if moved then of course an alarm will occur .  Put door contacts on all doors that lead outside and to the garage. Overhead door contacts are good but make sure you have a keypad or remote arm/disarm station near the garage. A small LED light mounted where it can be seen will remind you that an alarm will sound soon if not disarmed.   A silent alarm if  your away will allow a monitored system to report an event and potentially catch the bad guys.  While an audible alarm while your in the house will likely run off the culprets.  These can be programmed  in most systems today.  Some systems will also have a Talkback path that allows the Central Station to talk directly to you via a built in speaker/siren  without having to go to a phone in the event of an intrusion. I always suggest a Panic Button near the front and rear doors high away from little fingers but still  convenient and also located in the Master Bedroom along with a Keypad to control the system without the need to go moving throughout the house. 

 Keep the pets in a part of the house that will not interfer with the system and it's operation. They tend to get caught in the Motion sensors viewing area.  Cats are the most difficult since they like to get up high and have an attitude. Dogs are more predictable.  Pet allys are used to get around these household friends.

Sounders are best in and outside the house.  Keep them high and out of reach or flush mounted.  Outside strobes are effective for the emergency responders since many times the sound bounces around and is hard to find the address at night without a spot light.

Finally , never take or give your user codes from or to another party.  Have one for the housekeeper, one for the kids, and one for the neighbor who picks up the paper/mail while your on vacation.  These can be changed at will if needed.

Here's a tip.  Most break-ins there is a loss. Then 2-3 weeks after you have replaced these items with the insurance money, and after the badguys have had a chance to make a shopping list of your stuff , they come back and clean you out again.  Deterents are Security Yard Signs, Outside Lights, Dogs, Cameras, Closed Garage Doors, Nosey Neighbors. Make it difficult for the badguys. Do what you have to do so they will pick someone else or some other location.  Most people wait until they or a neighbor is hit before they invest in a Security System. Crooks are heartless, they take the video of your kids play along with the lastest video releases. They will go through yours and your spouse's  things, papers, medications and priceless items.  Most of the time you will never see these items again. 

So think about it now,.......while you have a choice.

All the best when picking your security for you and your loved ones.

Sincerely,

Searayer268

Volume 1 Chapter1