Main Control Panel/Keypad

The main control panel is the heart of the alarm system and determines all the features of the system. Each control panel can handle a certain number of zones (each door contact, motion detector, etc. are put on a separate zone). You can get systems with 4,6,8, or 16 zones, and the better systems come with 8 zones built in, but can add modules to give 32, 64, or even 128 zones. Any future expansions should be considered when choosing the control panel. The control panel consists of a main circuit board inside a metal cabinet and is usually located in the basement or somewhere out of the way. You seldom need to access it. All devices in the system connect to this control. Keypads are what you use to arm and disarm the system. They also tell you the status of the system and each detector . You can get keypads with an LCD readout as shown in this picture and usually cost a little more, or they can have lights to show the status of the different devices, or zones. 
Be careful not to buy a system in which the keypad is also the control panel. One blow with a hammer, and your whole system is dead. 

Motion Detectors

Motion detectors are used extensively in burglar alarm systems to detect an intruder. Before we had them, we had to wire all the windows and put foil tape and contacts on them. This was very labour intensive - and therefore expensive, and required frequent service. Motion detectors allowed us to do away with most of this by protecting the area inside the premises instead of the perimeter entry points - and the cost of alarm systems decreased dramatically. The first motion detectors were high in false alarms, but they have been improved dramatically.
This is how a "Passive Infrared" motion detector sees an intruder, by detecting body heat. When a warm body moves into the path of a detector, there is a sharp and sudden contrast between the background (blue) and the body. When the difference passes a pre-set tolerance level, the detector goes into alarm.
Higher quality detectors have built-in processors which can distinguish between a small animal and a person by the amount of infrared energy (body heat) that is emitted.
Passive Infrared motion detectors scan the room in a pattern similar to these illustrations. Each "finger" monitors the infrared energy in the area it looks at. The detector must see a person enter 2 or 3 of the fingers, giving it a chance to analyze the motion/heat levels before it will trigger an alarm. This illustration is a top view of a typical detection pattern.
Motion detectors scan the room at different levels. This illustration shows a detector mounted about 7' from the floor, with a set of 'fingers' looking straight out at a slightly downward angle, another set looking down at a sharper angle, a third set at an even sharper angle, and a fourth looking straight down.

Other Equipment

Glassbreak Detectors have a built-in microphone which "hears" the sound of breaking glass. When a window is broken, the detectors picks up the sounds, analyses them, and trips the alarm if the sound is consistent with breaking glass. They typically have a direct-line-of-sight range of 20-25 feet depending on the acoustics of the room.
This method of detecting a burglar is often used when there are pets in the home which will trip motion detectors. They allow you to have perimeter protection of the building with the freedom to walk around inside without setting off the alarm. They can provide an earlier detection of a break-in because they trip the alarm BEFORE the burglar enters the premises; thus they are often referred to as "pre-entry" alarms.

Door/Window Contact: This is a magnet switch which can be placed on doors or windows. One part (a switch) goes on the frame, and the other part (a magnet) mounts opposite the switch on the door or window. When the switch and magnet are close together, the alarm system considers the door or window closed. When they separate, the door or window is open. When the system is armed, opening the door or window will trip the alarm.
If a door which is designated as an entry/exit door is tripped, the keypad will sound to remind you to turn off the system before the entry delay expires. Failure to disarm the system within the designated entry time will result in an alarm.

Smoke Alarms: Alarm systems can also be made to detect the presence of smoke, water on the floor, toxic gases, etc. Smoke Alarms can be added to your security system to detect the presence of smoke and automatically notify the monitoring station - even when no one is in the premises to make a call. 

Sirens: When an alarm is tripped, you want the burglar to get out quick and to have someone you know and trust alerted so that your premises can be checked out. Most alarm systems have sirens inside the premises to inform the burglar that their cover is blown, and to alert anyone inside that there is danger. Sirens can also be placed outside to alert anyone in the area. Because sound tends to bounce off trees and buildings, it can be hard to tell where the sound is coming from. Strobe lights that flash while the siren sounds (and after the siren has stopped) draw attention to your premises.

Strobe Light: This can draw attention to your premises in the event of an alarm. When the alarm is tripped, the siren usually sounds for 4-5 minutes, but the strobe light will continue to flash until the system is disarmed. This can also help you when you approach the building after an alarm by alerting you that you are the first person to arrive after an alarm has occurred. You can then approach with caution.

Keyfob: You can add on to your alarm system the ability to arm and disarm your system with a wireless keyfob. This may not be a good idea - if your keys are lost or stolen, someone could not only enter your premises, but also disarm your system. However it could be a convenient to arm/disarm your system from a bedroom.

Card Access Control: We also provide access control systems. These systems allow you to control and record who enters certain doors. We can even integrate the card access system with your alarm system so that you can arm/disarm your alarm system with your card. You can restrict certain people to be able to open only certain doors at certain times, with a permanent record. You can program people in and out of the system very easily. We can custom tailor a system to need any need and any size.
Code/Card Access Control: For single door applications, we have systems which will allow people to use just a code, just a card, or can require the use of a card and code together to gain access. These systems are programmed right at the keypad, and do not keep a record of who has gained access to the building. Otherwise, they have most of the features of a regular Access Control System.

Monitoring Service

Monitoring Service: Hopefully the siren will scare the burglar away, but it doesn't always work; and usually burglars don't even have the courtesy to close the door after them when they do run out, leaving your premises vulnerable to others. It is important to have someone you know and trust notified in case of a break-in so they can investigate, or meet the police with a key at the premises so they can get in and check things out.
When an alarm trips, a signal is immediately sent to the monitoring station indicating that the alarm has been violated - and it even tells what area(s) have been entered. The monitoring station will then notify police, neighbours, relatives etc. in whatever order you have indicated. There is a monthly charge for monitoring services. It is an important part of your protection.
Usually alarm signals are sent to the monitoring station via a phone line. However, because phone lines are not always reliable, you can also choose to an a cellular radio back-up, which will send a back-up signal to the monitoring station in case your phone line is cut or otherwise not working. This is highly recommended for a more secure system.

 

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