| Technology has done great things for home security. | | | | though can also be done remotely. Any motion |
| We have better locks, better alarms, video cameras, | | | | detected will set off the alarm. There is a brief |
| and all kinds of advanced recognition systems. Motion | | | | interval during which you can enter your code on the |
| detectors are a great technology and are particularly | | | | keypad to disarm the alarm. If the alarm is not |
| useful for residential safety, as they are simple, | | | | deactivated by the code, then it proceeds to call you |
| economical, and highly effective devices that can be | | | | and/or a local police department or emergency |
| used in a variety of different ways. Understand how | | | | command center operated by the security company |
| these tools work, and how they can help you | | | | that installed the alarms. This is an important feature; |
| protect your home. | | | | people are so accustomed to hearing car alarms and |
| Motion detectors commonly use infrared technology, | | | | other false sirens that they are not likely to come |
| and are called Passive InfraRed sensors, or PIR | | | | investigate an alarm, whereas a monitoring center is |
| sensors. These sensors use infrared light radiating | | | | always paying attention. |
| from objects in their sightline. Motion is detected | | | | Another great use of motion detectors is for |
| when a change in temperature is sensed. If the | | | | outdoor lights. These devices are widely available and |
| detector has a wall or other object in its view, then | | | | easy to install by yourself. The concept is simple - |
| when a body of a different temperature (such as a | | | | you have lights around the outside of your house |
| person or animal) passes in front of it, it detects this | | | | that are triggered by motion. The sudden activation |
| as motion. These are sensitive instruments that use | | | | of the light will scare off amateur burglars, and it will |
| differentiation, and within a home there are rarely | | | | chase away shadows and hiding places. These lights |
| false alarms caused by nothing (although there are | | | | are practical because they do not waste energy |
| plenty of cases of false alarms caused by pets). | | | | unnecessarily, and you do not have to worry about |
| As part of burglar home alarm systems, PIR sensors | | | | turning the lights on or off, since they do it |
| should be placed in front of the doors or windows | | | | themselves. Furthermore, they are practical for you |
| that you want to protect. They should always be | | | | regardless of burglars, in case you need to take out |
| installed inside the home, rather than outside of it, as | | | | the trash or deal with another chore outside your |
| they are more cost-effective and reliable this way. | | | | house at night. Motion activated lights are great |
| Magnetic sensors can also be used to detect when a | | | | energy savers, highly practical, and help keep away |
| door or window is opened. To function as a burglar | | | | trespassers. |
| alarm, you must actually set the alarm, which is | | | | As you can see, motion detectors are a simple but |
| usually with a keypad somewhere in the home, | | | | essential part of any home security system. |