Because a home or business are the biggest investments most people will
make, it reasons to assume that these are also things that need to be
protected. There are many home security systems available, but the best
home security systems should include the following:
• Motion detectors – Motion detectors work by being able
to pick up any motion in a room above a certain level. The detectors
are placed in the top corner of a room that is usually open and wide.
The motion detector works by scanning the room in which it has been
set up. Because the best detectors have a 180-degree range of site,
they also can scan other rooms if they are unimpeded by walls or doors.
One of the concerns that some people have about these detectors is
that their dog or cat may accidentally set the detector off. The most
sophisticated detectors are able to measure the steps of somebody walking
in a room. Because the stride of a cat or dog is much different from
the stride of a human, the best home security systems are preset to
distinguish between strides.
The best motion detectors usually can only be purchased from security
companies. The detectors sold at retailers will do simple jobs, but
are not sophisticated enough to do the complicated things.
• Door and window sensors – The sensors placed on doors
as well as windows are exactly the same. These sensors are installed
in two parts. The first part of the sensor is placed on the door or
window frame. The second part is installed exactly opposite of the first
part, on the door or on the window.
The sensor has an electromagnetic charge that is sent from the part
on the frame to the part on the door or window. When this charge is
broken by the opening of a door or a window, the alarm sounds. The best
home security systems will allow you to have some sensors turned on,
while others are turned off.
• Glass break alarms – The glass break alarms look similar
to motion detectors, but work in a different manner. These alarms do
not detect movement – they detect noise. More specifically, they
detect noise associated with shattered glass.
These alarms can be advantageous in areas of the home with many windows.
Instead of placing sensors on each window, the glass-break alarm can
be used. Or the motion detector could be used as well.
The beauty of the best home security systems is the fact that the security
items that are used can be interchanged and used in different ways.
Although there are home security experts that will come to homes and
design and recommend systems for the needs of people, it should be remembered
that this “expert” is also working on commission. This means
that the more equipment he sells, the more commission he will make.
Because the top-tier home security companies tend to be very competitive,
there are new innovations constantly being made. One of the most recent
innovations is a key and door lock combination that allows a person
to enable and disable his system with the turn of a key.
The advantages of such an item is the fact that the security system
owner will not need to set or reset alarms on a keypad as he or she
enters or leaves the home. The disadvantage is if somehow somebody who
should not have it obtains the homeowner’s key, the person entering
the home will not need to know the security code.