Intruder Alarm System

An intruder alarm system is a system whose aim is to monitor and detect unauthorized access to a building. These systems are used for different purposes and in different contexts both residential or commercial. The main purpose of an intruddr alarm system is to protect from burglary, vandalism, property damage, and, of course, the security of the individuals inside the building.

As we will see later in the article, there are many different types of intrusion alarm systems that can be standalone elements (like a glass-break sensor) or fully incorporated security ecosystems with CCTV cameras and access control. However, for the sake of clarity, we have dedicated separate overviews to access control and video surveillance systems. By doing so we will be able to focus better on the smaller components that help to keep your building safe.

CCTV cameras will be explained later in the next chapter but today we will focus on access control intruder alarm system which is as shown in the schematic diagram below.

A home security system is a group of physical electronic components that all work together to protect a home. 

Security camera: Smart security cameras hook up to Wi-Fi, enabling us to livestream footage of our system remotely and receive notifications when our cameras detect movement, people, or packages. Many cameras include infrared or color night vision, cloud or local storage, and two-way audio, which allows us to speak to whoever is on camera. Some cameras also have smart platform integrations such as Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant.

Motion sensor: Motion sensors should be placed in a main entryway or hallway on the ground floor of a home so that they can detect motion and alert us when our system is armed. Some motion sensors are sensitive to pets, so they don’t go off every time our dog walks by.

Entry sensor: Also known as contact sensors, entry sensors have two parts: one that goes on the window or door and another that goes on the frame. These sensors use magnets to determine when one of these entrances is opened or closed. If the sensor thinks an entry point is opened, it alerts us. We suggest placing entry sensors on windows or doors on the ground floor. The majority are battery-operated, and many even have adhesive backings for easy installation.

Glass break sensor: Sometimes, instead of opening windows the old-fashioned way, intruders will simply break them open to avoid setting off the entry sensors. However, a glass break sensor also detects the sound of glass breaking and alerts us via mobile notification.

Siren: Sirens exist in home security systems both on their own and as part of other devices, such as the base station (which we’ll get to below). Sires often go off at the same time as other alarms and are intended to scare intruders away or alert our neighbors.

Keypad: To arm or disarm, security systems commonly require a code, which we enter on a keypad that’s mounted to the wall or placed on a flat surface.

Panic button: If something goes wrong, a panic button is an easy and fast way to alert emergency services, be it the police, hospital, or even the fire department. Like key fobs, panic buttons aren’t installed anywhere in particular, but we always have one around in case of an emergency. We recommend that everyone keep at least one at their bedside table.

Base station / Control Panel: Base stations sync all of the connected devices with our mobile application so we can receive those notifications we mentioned earlier. Think of it like Grand Central Station, the channel through which trains (i.e., IoT security devices) pass through.