Home security alarms

[Red Squirrel]

There seems to be lot of crooks in my neighborhood. I had my car "broken" into twice, well the first time was my fault, I left the doors unlocked by accident, the second time, I swear I had locked them given it's such a habit, but maybe for whatever reason I didn't, because they did not actually break anything. They took my garage door opener and opened the garage and left with it with the remote. Nothing was stolen that I know of, it's kinda weird.

They plan on coming back I'm sure, and it's a matter of time till they go in the house. With a full time job, I'm never home and when I am, chances are I'm sleeping, which makes it very vulnerable. I secured the garage door so it cannot be opened with the opener or manually... turns out a garage door is quite easy to open manually, check your doors people! You'd be surprised. Just lift, and it will open.

Anyway, with that said, they are bound to break into the house next. I've been toying with either a DIY system or calling a company like ADT. While I'm there, I'd also like fire and flood detection too. I don't care if it goes to a monitoring service, or to my cell, I just want it to go to somebody, and also have a blaring alarm inside the house. As much as I'd like to make it silent with better chance of them getting caught, if I can just repel them at least there's less damage. Though they might just start a fire before they leave, out of rage, so it's tough to tell what's better.

For doors and windows I want some kind of laser based sensor, or a open + shatter sensor. Seems most company just do the glass shatter sensor, or the open sensor, but those wont work 100% of the time. Some thieves will break the glass while others will try to pry the whole door/window open. A laser will catch all.

I also have a cat, so I don't really want any motion sensors. I know most of them are designed to not detect pets, but still, they are just prone to false alarms, like if something falls or w/e. I could maybe put one in the garage and in the server room, or other places the cat can't go.

I'm also not sure if I want wireless or wired. Wireless is easy to install, but I'm constantly changing batteries. Wired will just always work, but the installation will be tricky to make it look good. It almost needs to be done before the window frames are installed. I'd also put the whole thing on a big battery backup in case they cut the hydro line and come back hours later.

What is everyone's experience with DIY or non DIY systems? What is the typical cost?

 

[FelixDeCat]

They plan on coming back I'm sure, and it's a matter of time till they go in the house. With a full time job, I'm never home and when I am, chances are I'm sleeping, which makes it very vulnerable. I secured the garage door so it cannot be opened with the opener or manually... turns out a garage door is quite easy to open manually, check your doors people! You'd be surprised. Just lift, and it will open.

D:

I have one of those all fashioned non mechanical manual ones that go left and right not up and down.

 

[brainhulk]

inb4 dog and shotgun comments

 

[DirkGently1]

It was your fault somebody robbed you? That's jolly decent of you but you may want to reserve some blame for the scum sucking, lowlife that did the deed.

In with Dog + Shotgun after the inb4 dog and shotgun post.

 

[DaTT]

I am firm believer that if you never leave anything in your car, leave the doors unlocked. It will avoid the cost of a new window if they really want in.

 

[velillen]

We have a hardwired system in our houe. ~19 years old at this point (same as house). In that time we have had plenty of false alarms (two kids growing up lol....most were our fault). But we also had one real alarm. Guy seemed semi pro. Cam ein through one of the smaller windows that wasnt as easy to get into as the rest. No sensor on that one. But got in took 3 o r 4 steps and set off the main alarm and he booked it at that point. We only know he got 3 or 4 steps cause he had muddy shoes and left shoe prints form the window to the door lol.

I will say at least our main alarm is freakin loud. Might be cause we are on 2.5 acres and nearest neighbor is ~1 acre away though. But you can hear the alarm at our neighbors house.

As for motion detectors.....might be a cheaper route to go than sensoring every window. We left our dog in a few times (well more than a few tbh) and she set the alarm off once the whole time we had her that i can remember.

 

[kranky]

Just a note about ADT if you are considering that. Typically it requires a 3-year contract with no way to cancel early (even if you move, you still have to pay!). And there is a very small window at the end of the contract where you can cancel before it is automatically renewed.

 

[spacejamz]

I am firm believer that if you never leave anything in your car, leave the doors unlocked. It will avoid the cost of a new window if they really want in.

Thieves are assholes....have heard of multiple stories (including my brother) where these asshats will still rip the door/window open (with a knife) of soft top jeep even though all they have to do is unbutton the snaps....

 

[Red Squirrel]

That's the thing I'm not sure if I'm ready to get locked into contracts and also if I cancel I don't know if I can even use the system. I kinda like the idea of owning and managing my own equipment. If I go with the infrared sensors I'm sure I can figure a way to point them so that a person will trigger it, but my cat wont. That and they are actually designed to be pet immune anyway.

Anyone have experience with systems like these?:

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/p-...max-design-express-wireless-alarm-system.aspx

what I like about these is it looks like you can buy individual accessories and add them into the system. So I'd probably get the smoke and CO detectors as well. The price is decent too, I figured I'd be spending a few grand on this kind of stuff.

Also how good are battery operated wireless modules when it comes to battery life? If I'm changing batteries like every month, then maybe I'll bite the bullet and go wired, and make the appropriate holes in the walls. I do have some of the original paint left over so I can always patch and touch up after. If I skip the window/door sensors and just go with the motion ones, installation will be way easier too. While I have part of the walls opened I can always add a small conduit going from the basement to the attic, so it would make future additions easier.

 

[jtvang125]

Stupid adt guy keeps coming around the neighborhood trying to get new customers with scare tactics. Recent one told me a house in the area was broken into. They broke a small window in the garage door and released the manual latch using a hook.

I was thinking of plugging my stereo into a timer and have it play to make it seem like someone is home. Seems it'll work for a random burglar but probably won't work if they've been staking your house for awhile.

 

[boomerang]

That's the thing I'm not sure if I'm ready to get locked into contracts and also if I cancel I don't know if I can even use the system. I kinda like the idea of owning and managing my own equipment. If I go with the infrared sensors I'm sure I can figure a way to point them so that a person will trigger it, but my cat wont. That and they are actually designed to be pet immune anyway.

Anyone have experience with systems like these?:

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/p-...max-design-express-wireless-alarm-system.aspx

what I like about these is it looks like you can buy individual accessories and add them into the system. So I'd probably get the smoke and CO detectors as well. The price is decent too, I figured I'd be spending a few grand on this kind of stuff.

Also how good are battery operated wireless modules when it comes to battery life? If I'm changing batteries like every month, then maybe I'll bite the bullet and go wired, and make the appropriate holes in the walls. I do have some of the original paint left over so I can always patch and touch up after. If I skip the window/door sensors and just go with the motion ones, installation will be way easier too. While I have part of the walls opened I can always add a small conduit going from the basement to the attic, so it would make future additions easier.

They are a very good source for a do-it-yourselfer. My system is hardwired so I can't comment on the wireless. Call them, they are very helpful and will answer all your questions.

A couple of things to consider. The ideal situation is to keep an intruder from entering your domain to the least extent possible. Door switches, window switches and glass break detectors are most effective from that perspective. Motion detectors are obviously effective when they're already inside.

If you have a home phone, I highly recommend you research having the alarm monitored. Check with your insurance company for discounts. You may find that the monitoring will be nearly free. Here in the states, we can get monitoring for cheap. I just renewed at $11.50 a month. The insurers really like it when you have a system that dials out to a central station to let them know the house is on fire. Cops like it too. They don't like showing up at fires and firemen really don't like showing up at burglaries.

DSC is a Canadian company so if you're feeling patriotic, you might want to consider their stuff.

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-73-wireless-alarm-systems.aspx?&mfrid=6

 

[Red Squirrel]

They are a very good source for a do-it-yourselfer. My system is hardwired so I can't comment on the wireless. Call them, they are very helpful and will answer all your questions.

A couple of things to consider. The ideal situation is to keep an intruder from entering your domain to the least extent possible. Door switches, window switches and glass break detectors are most effective from that perspective. Motion detectors are obviously effective when they're already inside.

If you have a home phone, I highly recommend you research having the alarm monitored. Check with your insurance company for discounts. You may find that the monitoring will be nearly free. Here in the states, we can get monitoring for cheap. I just renewed at $11.50 a month. The insurers really like it when you have a system that dials out to a central station to let them know the house is on fire. Cops like it too. They don't like showing up at fires and firemen really don't like showing up at burglaries.

DSC is a Canadian company so if you're feeling patriotic, you might want to consider their stuff.

http://www.homesecuritystore.com/c-73-wireless-alarm-systems.aspx?&mfrid=6

Good to know, I never even thought of getting a DIY system monitored, I'm sure some companies may do it and it probably wont cost as much since I'm not leasing any equipment. I'll call and ask about the wireless and see what they say. That would be the best for my situation.