Mastering Security

Home Security Installation
By Bruce Kelly

Now that you have chosen to install a home security system, you probably have many questions are not sure what to do next. Choosing a home security system is one of the best investments you can make for your home and your family. They provide protection from the threat of home theft to providing enhanced medical emergency notification for every member of the family.

While the most basic home security system provides protection against window and door intrusions, the most complex systems provide an array of features. An all-inclusive system will provide protection against intrusion, fire and smoke, carbon monoxide danger and medical emergency dispatch.

The next steps for home security system installation are to consider the possible locations for the control panel and keypads. This really comes down to lifestyle and personal preference. The control panel commands the entire system, while the keypads allow you to adjust or program the system from remote locations in the home.

Choosing the location for the control panel is your personal preference, and depends on whether you would like to keep it hidden from an intruder. Because the control panel controls the system, an intruder may purposely seek out the box to disarm the system. While expanded home security packages offer additional protection and safety measures should the hard wires be cut, a basic system will be disarmed if an intruder correctly “kills” the system.

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Should you choose to have the control panel installed in a hidden place to avoid the possibility of an intruder disarming the alarm system, have it installed in a closet or secret compartment. Common locations may be in the floor, the kitchen pantry, a closet, basement or garage. If not specified, most control panels are installed on the outside of the home.

Next, consider where the remote (or hard-wired) alarm system keypads should be installed. The largest determining factor for this feature is lifestyle. Do family members get up in the middle of the night to use the restroom or go to the kitchen? Are there pets in the home that roam the house at night?

If so, setting the alarm system for night motion detection can be a little tricky. The motion detection system cannot distinguish between family members and intruders, so if the motion detectors are armed, any movement will trigger the alarm. However, here are some suggestions.

Ask the alarm system installation company if there is a way to arm only a group of motion detectors, while leaving others disarmed. Say for instance, your home is two-stories. Arm the motion detectors downstairs, while leaving the detectors upstairs disarmed. Keep pets outside, upstairs or out of the motion detector area to avoid setting off the alarm.

Another option would be to arm only the door and window intrusion sensors at night, allowing for everyone already in the home protection and freedom to move about the house. Most homeowners choose to activate the motion detectors only when no one present at the home -when they leave for work or out of town traveling.

Be sure to ask the home security installation company for guidance or answers to your questions or concerns.