Home security systems,
such as security alarms, are special systems designed to detect entry
of someone who’s not authorized. These systems are mostly placed in
buildings with functions ranging from residential all the way to
military, commercial and industrial uses. Mostly, these systems were
established to protect places against intruders and thefts.
Alarm systems nowadays
are most importantly made to protect homes from burglars and even
fire. The security systems can also be connected to surveillance
cameras that record intrusion activities. As for other features of
the security systems, control of locked doors is also made possible.
Home security systems range from really small ones that are, at first
glance, not security systems up to real big and complicated ones that
involve skillful control and monitoring.
Basic alarms nowadays are
made of sensors, sometimes more than one, and a device that alerts
when intrusion is detected. Most home security system includes a PCU
or a premises control unit. Some just simply call this one the panel
or the system brain. What it does is it reads the input of the sensor
and tracks the arm to decide whether a signal for intrusion must be
made or not. In modern devices, the panel is mostly a circuit board
(or a group of it) that’s placed inside a metal, alongside a good
supply of power.
The most famous parts of
security systems, the sensors, are simply the devices that can tell
whether an intrusion has taken place or not. The sensors are situated
inside the area of protection itself or around it. There are a lot of
ways for a sensor to detect unauthorized entry. Some of them are
monitoring opening of windows and doors, monitoring sounds,
vibrations, motions and disturbances. The alert devices, usually in
form of a siren, a flash light or a bell, simply indicate an
intrusion. In the same way, these devices that indicate alarm
condition can also be used to denote a smoke or fire situation.
Yet again other systems
have keypads. They are placed on the walls, and they act as the
interface of the human to the system. Interconnections simply consist
of wirings or, in some modern cases, wiring links that make it
possible to control units. Additional security devices such as
lasers, cameras and spotlights can also be used.
Modern-day home security systems are coupled with monitoring services. Meaning to say, when
the alarm switches on, a monitoring station (police, security forces
or 911) is notified. This signal is transmitted either though
circuits, telephone lines or even through the Internet.