| It is often said that a man's home is his castle; | | | | panel. |
| however in the days of castles they were well | | | | Motion detectors allow the alarm system to 'look' for |
| protected by men and weapons. Today we do not | | | | movement in the protected areas and set off an |
| have the option of great walls of stone, garrisons of | | | | alarm when anything meeting the criteria is detected. |
| men in armor wielding weapons and giant siege | | | | Motion detectors may have a 'pet immune' function |
| weapons to hold off attackers. Today's dwellings | | | | which overlooks movement under a certain size or |
| may need protection as much as the castles of the | | | | weight. The motion detector can be wireless and |
| past, however residents are now best protected by | | | | mounted in areas that give the most protection. |
| a good security alarm system. | | | | Door or window sensors are used to tell the control |
| A good home security system can protect your | | | | unit when the status of a door or window changes |
| property and family from theft, assault, fire and | | | | from closed to open. Sensors can be placed next to |
| vandalism. There are a variety of options that can be | | | | the entry or recessed in a frame to hide them. Each |
| selected when getting security equipment, a variety | | | | unit would cover one entry, so consider how many |
| of control panels, sensors, power options, | | | | doors and windows you would like to cover before |
| communication and speakers as well as functionality | | | | purchasing the equipment. |
| differences. This allows security coverage to match | | | | Glass break detectors listen for the sound of |
| your needs and varied situations and gives you a | | | | breaking glass. If you have a sliding glass door with a |
| greater sense of comfort. | | | | door sensor installed it will monitor to see if the door |
| A control panel manages all of your security | | | | opens, however breaking out the glass will allow |
| equipment so it is important to choose the right one. | | | | entry without the door being opened. This sensor |
| They are available in smaller versions which contain | | | | type is very useful in that scenario. |
| only a siren that sounds or a more advanced version | | | | Carbon monoxide and smoke alarms are also available |
| that can use phone lines, or cellular service, to | | | | in many security systems as well for additional |
| contact people when an event occurs. Many allow for | | | | protection for your family. A panic button remote |
| the input of codes to arm and disarm the system | | | | very useful as it allows you to signal for help without |
| using a keypad or remote device. A good control | | | | having to be at your control panel. If you are asleep |
| panel will also have a backup power source in the | | | | upstairs and hear noises downstairs you can use a |
| case of a power outage. Control panels may have | | | | panic button to trigger your alarm system without |
| other unit's built into the same housing to reduce | | | | having to expose yourself. |
| cost, so check out all the features of your control | | | | |