An intruder alarm detects that someone has entered where they should not and raises the alert: a siren sounds and your phone receives a notification. In homes the most common choice is a wireless alarm: the parts communicate with the control panel by radio, so there is no need to chase walls or run cables around the house.
The parts of an alarm
- Control panel: receives the alerts from every part and triggers the sirens.
- Motion detector (PIR): detects a person's presence in a room.
- Magnetic contact (opening detector): warns when a door or window is opened.
- Keypad and key fob: arm and disarm the alarm, with a code, a card or a fob.
- Indoor and outdoor siren: sound the alarm and deter the intruder.
Some motion detectors have a camera and send a photo or a short video when they trigger, to confirm whether the alarm is real. The user follows everything in a phone app, where the system can be armed, disarmed and alerts received.
Wireless or wired?
| Wireless | Wired | |
|---|---|---|
| Installation | Quick, almost no building work | Planned, with a communication cable to each part |
| When it makes sense | Homes that are already built | New builds and larger buildings |
| Maintenance | Parts run on batteries, replaced when the panel warns you | Parts connect by cable; fewer batteries to replace |
Some panels accept both ways, so wireless parts can be added to a wired installation.
How false alarms are avoided
Some detectors combine two technologies, infrared and microwave, and only trigger when both confirm the movement, which reduces false alarms. The choice and position of the detectors make a difference: if you have pets, tell us before you decide.
What to ask before choosing
- How many doors and windows you want to monitor, and whether there are passage areas (such as the garage).
- Whether you want an outdoor siren and phone control.
- Who receives the alerts: only you, or also an alarm receiving centre.
- Whether you have pets.
- Whether you plan to add cameras or a video intercom later.
Can I arm and disarm the alarm from my phone?
Yes, on systems with an app (for example Hik-Connect or Ajax) you can arm, disarm and receive alerts.
What if the power goes out?
Control panels have a backup battery. Ask us about the battery life of the model you choose.
Can I start with a few parts and add more later?
Yes, on wireless systems it is simple to add detectors, sirens and keypads later.