Home Alarm Wiring for a New House
When you move into a new home, it’s important to take precautions against burglary. The best way to do this is to invest in a good quality home security system, of which there are a few different types.
In this handy guide, we’ll go over the basics of installing a home alarm system when you move into a new house. By the time you’ve finished reading this short article, you’ll be equipped with the right knowledge to protect your home against burglars!
Types of Home Alarm Systems
There are a few different types of Home Alarm Systems, including:
- Bells Only Alarm System (Wired) – this will ring an internal and external alarm, and will shut off after 20 minutes if not deactivated internally
- Monitored Alarm System (Wired) – these systems are actively monitored by an external home security company, who will contact their security team or the emergency services if a break-in is detected
- Wireless Alarm System – these rely on the home broadband network rather than cables to send signals back and forth
- Dummy Alarm Box – works as a deterrent for burglars, as it looks like a fully functioning alarm system but does not emit any noise, nor is it able to detect break ins
You can also read our full guide on what kind of alarm system should I get to protect my home?
Components of a Home Alarm System
There are a few different components that can feature in any Home Alarm System:
- The master control panel – normally found on the main hub of the alarm system, this is used to control the alarm system
- Motion sensors – these detect motion near the sensor, and cause an action to take place, for example turning on cameras or lights, or setting off alarms
- Cameras – these can range from being classic CCTV-style cameras or newer technologies, such as doorbell cameras
- Glass break detectors – these detect the pitch of breaking glass and set off an alarm as a result
- Of course, cables! – in a wired system, cables are essential to ensuring connectivity throughout the system
How Are Wired Systems Installed?
Prewiring
If you’re starting from scratch and building a new property, then prewiring is the best choice for you. During the construction phase of the house, it’s a lot easier to drill holes and run cables where needed without causing too much disruption. It’s also beneficial as whoever is installing your Home Alarm System can co-ordinate with the electricians on any specific requirements that need to be met, like power or lighting connections for the alarm system.
Wiring an Existing Structure
While this is more difficult and can be expensive, you can install a wired Alarm System into an existing property, too. It’s recommended that you hire a professional electrician to do this, as it’s a complex process and can be dangerous if you don’t have a lot of experience in the area. However, there are some fairly simple do-it-yourself kits online if you’re looking for a more cost-effective option.
Click here to explore our range of Alarm Cables.
If you have any further questions that weren’t answered in this article, click here to get in contact with our friendly team.
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How Much does an Alarm System Cost?
When you’re looking to invest in a Home Alarm System, one of the main concerns we’re sure you’ll have is – how much money do I have to spend?This quick article will provide a clear-cut pricing guide for the different kinds of Alarm Systems, so you can expect the sort of prices you’ll be quoted when you go to purchase a system for your own property.How Much Does A Home Alarm System Cost?Depending on the type of system you choose, a Home Alarm System can cost anywhere from £25 to upwards of £1,000. The average spend is therefore around £500.The costs of each of the main types of Home Alarm System are listed below:Dummy Alarm Box: Around £40 on average Wired Bells Only Alarm System: Ranges from around £150 to £500 depending on the system you choose Wireless Bells Only Alarm System: Ranges from £300 to £400 depending on the system you choose Monitored Alarm System: Ranges from £250 to £500 depending on the system you choose plus around £50/month for monitoring the home If you’re not planning on installing the Alarm System yourself, you should take installation costs into consideration, too. This can cost anywhere from £125 and £800, depending on the type of system you choose (wired vs wireless, how many sensors, etc.).Does Having A Burglar Alarm Lower the Cost of Home Insurance?Unfortunately, there’s no absolute yes or no answer to whether having a burglar alarm lowers home insurance prices. It depends on the insurance provider you choose – some will offer a premium if you have a functioning burglar alarm in place, but others may not. It’s always best to shop around and find the right insurance provider for you!If you’re looking for cables for a Wired Home Alarm System, take a look at our range of Alarm Cables here.Have any questions that weren’t answered in this guide? Click here to talk to someone from our team of experts. We’re always happy to help!
What Kind of Alarm System Should I Get to Protect my Home?
If you’re looking to invest in a new Alarm System for your property, there’s a lot of different options to choose from. In this handy guide, we’ll break down the main options and their pros and cons, so that you’re well informed to make the best choice for your home security.There are a few different types of Alarm Systems, but the main ones we’ll go over are:Bells Only Alarm Systems Monitored Alarm Systems Dummy Alarm Boxes Bells Only Alarm SystemsThe most common type of Alarm System, a Bells Only system will ring a loud alarm when activated by an intruder. Bells Only systems will not contact the emergency services if a break-in is detected, so if you’re away from home you’ll have to rely on friends or neighbours for this.Due to UK laws surrounding noise pollution, most alarms will automatically disable after 20 minutes if not already deactivated via the control panel.Pros and consGenerally affordable Loud noise offers a good deterrent to burglars and alerts neighbours Will not contact the police in the event of a break-in Will not alert you if you are not home Monitored Alarm SystemsMonitored Alarm Systems are normally installed and controlled by home security companies. As opposed to a Bells Only System, they are consistently monitored by the security company, and in the event of a break-in, the company will notify both the homeowner and the police.Pros and consMost reliable and secure option Property safely monitored even when you are not home – no relying on friends or neighbours to contact the police in the event of a break-in Higher cost for installation Monthly fee required to be monitored Dummy Alarm BoxA Dummy Alarm Box is a visual deterrent that is fitted to the exterior of the property. It often features flashing LEDs to give the impression of a functioning alarm system. However, it does not emit any noise if the house is broken into – it simply acts as a visual warning to burglars that the house has an active security system (regardless of whether this is true or not). Dummy Alarm Boxes can be purchased from high-street retailers such as B&Q and Toolstation.Pros and consActs as a visual deterrent for burglars Cost-effective Does not actually provide any protection against burglary Experienced burglars may be able to recognise a dummy alarm system, and target your home as a result Wired vs Wireless Alarm SystemsOne of the decisions you will have to make when shopping for an Alarm System is whether to go wired or wireless.Wired Alarm Systems utilise electrical signal to transmit data from sensors to the alarms and main control panel, so rely on cables for the transmission of information. Because of this, the range within which a Wired Alarm System can send information to its sensors is as far as a length of cable can reach!Once installed, they require very little maintenance. Unless you’re a qualified electrician, we recommend that you get a professional to install a Wired Alarm System.Pros and cons of Wired Alarm SystemsVery reliable Little maintenance required once installed More difficult and expensive to install Wireless Alarm Systems, on the other hand, do not need cables to send information from sensors to the alarms and main control panel. Instead, they communicate via the home’s broadband network. Because of this, though, you have to be careful with where you place your sensors, as they might not reach the central hub if they’re too far away.Pros and cons of Wireless Alarm SystemsEasy to install, can install it yourself Battery changes required Limited range between sensors in some systems Here is our range of Alarm Cables.If you have any further questions that weren’t answered in this article, click here to speak to a member of our team of experts. We’re always happy to help!