From 20$ do-it-yourself kits to high tech security systems that need to be installed by professionals, alarm systems are all build around the same few basic concepts.

We will try to examine these concepts and as you’ll probably see the most simple and cheap burglar alarm systems are also the most effective. Usually the basic burglar alarm system is a very simple electric circuit that is built into an enter way.

In a burglar alarm the “switch” detects the act of intrusion such as opening a door or a window.
The magnetic sensor in a closed circuit consists of only few components , the most basic design usually has:

•    a battery to power the circuit
•    a spring-driven switch built into a door
•    a magnet in the door lined up to the switch
•    a separately powered buzzer

When you close the door the magnet closes the switch and the circuit is complete but the buzzer circuit stays open, if you open the door you move the magnet, the springs snaps the switch back in it’s position. This cuts of the current and sounds the alarm.

There are two types of circuits usually used when building an alarm system : a closed-circuit system and an open-circuit system. Closed-circuit systems are usually better given the fact that a crook can deactivate it by cutting the connected wires.

Some cheap burglar alarms use a button as the switch . The button is embedded in the door frame , when someone opens the door the button is realesed changing the circuit and causing the alarm to go off.
All of these circuits guarantee the security at the points where a burgler can enter the building but let’s see what we can do if he manages to pass trough the door alarm.
To detect an intruder who’s already inside the house you need a “motion detector”.

Basic motion detectors are common these days and also reasonably priced you can see them every day at shops doors for example.

In typical cheap burglar alarm systems however the control panel wont sound the alarm immediately to give the owner time to go and enter the security code. If the security code is not entered tough the control panel will activate the alarm.

There are few things security systems usually do when detecting an intruder such as activating:
•    flashing outdoor lights
•    a siren
•    a telephone auto-dialer that can either dial the police and play a recorded message giving them the address either dial the security company that will have information the information and call the police.

Home security industry is growing constantly and the competition between companies now made the prices drop, even a cheap burglar alarm system that can cost no more then 100-200 $ can be a good protection for your home.

To find out about specific alarm systems check with your local sellers.

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There are a lot of things WRONG with common used home alarm systems here are few of them:
1. The control panel the keypad and the siren are usually “all in one” , while these type of models were created to ease up the installation and are part of free or cheap burglar alarm systems they are all equally useless.

The big issue with this type of systems is that to assure the owner of the house can stop the alarm when he gets home there has to be a “delay” time between the moment the door is opened and the moment the alarm actually goes off, that gives a crook the same time to enter go to the “all in one” alarm system and just take the unit off the wall. Since most likely a crook will know how these cheap burglar alarms work they will destroy it before the siren goes on making the whole alarm useless.

2. As if this wasn’t enough right next to this type of alarm systems there is the power supply that can be easily turned off and make the alarm again useless.

3. The worst part is that the phone jack is also located near the power supply, this being the only connexion to outside if it gets unplugged the alarm wont be able to communicate and the crook wont even have to bother ripping the alarm off the wall .

The sad part is that a cheap burglar alarm offers zero security value and serves only the purpose of bringing companies that make them large amounts of money every month from the “monitoring fee ” .

Millions of systems like this “secure” homes all over U.S.A and Canada  offering literally no value and making people indulge in a false sense of  security .

What do we have to always keep in mind when buying an alarm system?

• The keypad has to be far away from the actual control panel, it should take a lot more to find it then the Delay Time you have to enter the security code, if possible it should be in a hidden place.
• If the siren is close to the control panel then it’s all useless as the crooks can just follow the siren sound to find the panel so install the siren in a different place as well.
• All important parts of the alarm such as the phone jacket  the control panel and the power supply must not be visible from outside your home.
• If you plan on spending money each month on monitoring the alarm system you might as well invest in an alarm that is properly installed and that can actually protect you from crooks , if not invest the money in solid security such as better locks and solid glass.

Never go for cheap burglar alarm systems that might seem like a bargain at first but will never give you and your family any protection always remember that a crook will know more about an alarm than you do so at least make it as hard as it gets for him to put your alarm off.

The good news is thousands of people from all around the world are allready replacing their cheap burglar alarm systems with improved ones.
Stay safe.

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