Home Alarms In-Depth - The Anatomy of Glass Break Sensors

Every year, homeowners from all over the nationplacing one in a room with many windows - and
install home alarms and beef up their home security inaccessible points of entry for a burglar - is the best
order to ward off potential threats. They updateway to correctly utilize them. Additionally, they come
their door locks, trim the surrounding growth thatin two varieties: single technology and duel
impedes views and install motion sensor lights outsidetechnology, both offering advantages and
of the house. Many even pay monthly fees to alarmdisadvantages.
companies to guarantee that their houses are beingSingle technology glass detectors listen specifically for
monitored and watched over if something were tothe sounds of wood splintering and glass breaking.
ever occur. In fact, many of these alarm companiesSo, if a burglar were to break a window to enter a
are able to detect fires and carbon monoxide leaks inhome, the detector would hear the frequency and
homes, allowing them to notify the authorities of anysound the alarm. However, the frequencies can
potential emergency.sometimes be mimicked by other, non-threatening
What is surprising, however, is how little many peoplethings such as lightning striking or glasses clanking
know how this advanced, secure technology works.together, which in turn would signal the alarm. Yet,
Many people just rely on blind faith, which is notalthough this design flaw does exist, these detectors
necessarily a bad thing, but demonstrates that thetend to be a lot cheaper than the duel technology
consumer is uneducated. If somebody is going toones.
invest a ton of money into securing the home andUnlike their counterparts, the duel technology
protecting their loved ones, it would make sense fordetectors operate using the same frequencies of
them to spend a little bit of time knowing how thesplintering wood or breaking glass, except that they
systems actually operate.also listen for a thud before sounding. They pick up
Although most home alarm systems are pretty easyan additional frequency that signals a point of impact
to explain, utilizing pressure sensors or magneticand can thus distinguish between a robber prying
electrical circuits to detect forced and uninvited entry,open a window to enter - a thud sound followed by
other more specific types of systems such as glasssplintering wood, since a crowbar would more than
break sensors are a bit more complicated. So, inlikely be used - and a couple toasting champagne
order to advance the knowledge of what isglasses to celebrate an anniversary. So, false alarms
protecting the home, let's analyze the alarms cateredwould not be triggered. However, as said before,
specifically for windows.these models are a bit more expensive.
Known in the security world as "audio discriminators,"So, now that glass detector alarm technology alarm
glass break detectors operate as a home alarmis explained, consumers can now make much more
system specializing in windows and glass. Theyeducated guesses. Because when it comes to home
operate by listening to specific sound frequencies andsecurity, no one can know too much.
can normally cover a 35-foot radius. Therefore,