The Basics of Burglar Alarms
Home security systems are a great way to ensure that valuables are kept safe. There are several different types, all of which rely on some sort of electrical circuit. Some involve magnets, others involve motion sensors and some detect heat.
The simplest but least secure burglar alarm system will utilize an open circuit that closes when the point of entry is compromised. This type of circuit works essentially the same way as a light switch, and the break-in turns on the alarm. Generally there is a relay on part of the door frame that corresponds to a magnet on the door itself. Inside the relay is a small piece of spring-steel that is being held away from another piece of metal via the magnet. The door opens, the magnet moves away and the spring moves to close the circuit. Electricity can now flow to the alarm.
The problem an open-off/closed-on type of alarm is that cutting the wire to the alarm will prevent it from working. As long as the circuit is open somewhere, the alarm will stay off. Any reputable company will not manufacture an alarm this easy to disable.
Most common is an alarm that is has a closed circuit when off. To activate this, simply cut the wire or open the switch, and the circuitry triggers the alarm. In addition to being harder for a thief to disable, this type of alarm is more versatile. It can be used to protect windows from being broken. A small layer of foil is plated directly to the glass, so that if it is shattered, the foil also breaks, opening the circuit.
Motion and heat sensing alarms are used for more sophisticated systems, or in conjunction with a point of entry detector. A motion sensor typically sends out invisible microwaves and detects the return pattern. Motion appears as a sudden change in the distance to any surrounding objects. Infrared sensors work by detecting sudden changes in the amount of heat from a certain area.
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Author: Marilyn Rogers
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