Monday, January 31, 2011

Alarm Systems for the Home

Home is one of the most important property investment of an individual and safety of the house is a major concern for everyone. The drastic increase in crime rates has triggered the warning bells for every homeowner. The technology companies are also leveraging the potential market of alarm systems for the home, by innovating new and improved versions of the various alarm systems for homes. The bottom line of every company is to safeguard the home from burglary, theft and fire. The alarm systems for home now a days are equipped with facilities that can directly warn the police in case of theft or burglary and inform the fire department in case, there is a fire in the house.

Security Devices For Home
Home security systems are designed by professional companies and their primary aim is to warn the homeowner about any damage to life and property, like flood, fire, earthquakes and burglary. The security devices for home are assisted by 24x7 surveillance camera and they are electronically administered to quickly respond to any warning signs. There are many different types of surveillance cameras, namely home surveillance camera systems, outdoor surveillance cameras, etc. The signal transmitted from the disturbance area, is received by the authorities within seconds and they are able to control or prevent the disaster. The home security devices are useful in warning police departments, flood authorities, electrical department (in case of power failure) and fire officials. You may wish to read more on house alarm and home security systems.

Audio And Video Surveillance Systems
Wireless alarm systems for the home are one of the safest and most reliable forms of security systems, that are becoming widely popular, thanks to the advanced technological changes. In the wireless security systems there is no connection of wires and they can be easily installed and maintained. The hidden cameras can be suitably installed in every nook and cranny of the rooms and the monitoring can be done easily on a computer screen, even at some distance outside the house. The video surveillance camera systems record every minute detail and they can be used as a future reference in case of any problems. ATM machines in the banks are installed with the closed circuit television system cameras and so they are able to detect the miscreants that run away with money, in case of robberies and thefts. Even CCTVs can be installed at the entrance of the buildings and houses so that one can monitor the entrance and exit of different people. This can help in monitoring any suspected person who may have nefarious pursuits of theft and burglary. You may read more on wireless home security systems.

Fire Alarms
Fire alarm systems are one of the crucial home security systems that are essential for preventing the house from unexpected fires. Fire alarm systems come in two forms - smoke detector alarms and the fire alarms. There are many types of smoke alarms, like the optical smoke alarm and the ionization smoke alarms.The smoke alarms get triggered once the alarms are able to detect the presence of smoke in the room. You may read more on how do smoke alarms work or even on how do fire alarms work.

Some Other Alarm Systems For The Home
Besides the above mentioned home alarm systems, you can also consider the following:
  • Panic Button Alarm: An electronically designed device that calls for help, on touching a button and is extremely useful in panic situations.
  • Motion Detector: It is used to detect any movement with the help of light motion sensors.
  • Water and Flood Sensors: These are sensors that detect over-flooding of water tanks, so that advance warnings can help you avert disasters.
The wireless home alarm systems combined with self vigilance and alertness can reduce the possibility of dangerous thefts and unexpected tragedies at home. With the latest advancements in technology, we should take care that we and our families are well protected.

Motion Sensors - Wireless Motion Detectors

Motion sensors, as their name suggests, detect motion over a limited distance through infrared heat sensors. They are also called wireless motion sensors, as they can transmit their response to motion through radio frequency transmitters. They are mainly used as home security devices.

How do Infrared Wireless Motion Sensors Work?

Wireless motion sensors are designed to detect rapid motion in a specific area around them. These motion sensors detect movement through detection of rapid changes in infrared radiation incident on them.

There are certain crystalline materials that show pyroelectric effect. That is, when heat in the form of infrared radiation is incident on them, they generate a current on their surface. These crystals are very sensitive to small changes in infrared radiation and therefore the current they generate changes accordingly. Such crystalline material wafers are used as thermal sensors. Every object which has a quantity of heat, radiates infrared radiation. The human body emits infrared radiation which is around 9.4 micrometer wavelength. Motion of a human body therefore creates changes in the local infrared radiation pattern in the vicinity of the sensor.

The incident infrared radiation is focused on the sensor by a 'Fresnel lens', which is made up of a material that is transparent to radiation between 8-15 micrometer range. This frequency range is used specifically, so that human movements are detectable. The Fresnel lens is a plano-convex lens with the convex part diminished or made thinner. The convex part faces the sensor crystal and focuses infrared radiation from a limited angular range on the crystal. Movement within an angular range of 80o in front of the motion sensors can be detected this way.

Therefore, the wireless motion sensors have a pyroelectric crystal that acts as a sensor fitted with a Fresnel lens. The change in heat around the sensor generates electrical signals which are passed through an appropriate electrical circuit that measures the pulse width and the rapidity of change.

It is important that environmental heat changes and temperature changes due to sunlight, do not trigger the response of a motion sensor. So to avoid the triggering of the sensor by these factors, sensors which monitor ambient temperature and heat changes are installed.

The thing that differentiates a human body movement from an environmental heat change is the rapidity of change in radiation pattern. So the electrical feedback system of the motion sensor is designed such that, only rapid changes in motion that create rapid changes in electrical signal output are detected.

Once it detects motion this way, there are transmitters inside the device which relay radio signals and switch on lights instantly, or create any other kind of programmed response like activating an alarm.

How to Set Up A Wireless Motion Sensor Security System?

The wireless motion sensor comes as a single unit which can be coupled with your light devices outside the house by using a radio frequency base receiver. The base receiver can be connected to many light devices, which can be instantly switched on as a response to motion detection. You can set up the motion detector in the porch or around the house, where you suspect intrusion. If any motion is detected during the night, it lights up the porch lights or triggers an alarm. It also has an inbuilt timer which switches off the lights, if no motion is detected for a prefixed amount of time after that. The outside casing is made weather resistant as well as tamper proof with a specially designed screw.

A wireless motion sensor coupled with a video surveillance security system can be an effective deterrent and prevent burglaries and trespassing on property. The importance of such devices is essential for protection of vital assets.

It can also be used indoors, as an electricity saving mechanism, which switches off lights in the room automatically, if there is no movement for a specific period of time. So it can help in bringing down unnecessary wastage of electricity and reduce your electricity bills.

With devices like the wireless motion sensors around, one can rest easy about home security and enjoy a good night's sleep!