Home Security

Do You Have An Alarm System?

You can save as much as 5% on your homeowners insurance by installing a home alarm system. Typically the more powerful and sophisticated the system is the more you can save on your premium. It’s possible with some insurance companies to save as much as 10-20% a year.

Deadbolt = Worry Free

It’s a simple and highly effective way to protect against break-ins and it can save you as much as 5% a year in many cases on your premium. The more ways you can show the insurance company that you are protecting your home, the more willing they will be to discount your policy.

Shatterproof Windows, They Don’t Break!

These types of windows can make it quite difficult for a burglar to gain entry to your residence compared to a standard window. To lower your premiums these windows would usually need to be installed on the first floor which is where most break-ins occur. Also, tying these windows into your home alarm system through glass break monitors can lower your premium farther.

Burglar Bars Save You Money, But What The Heck Are Burglar Bars?

These prevent someone from being able to gain entry to your residence through a window. While they may not be the most pleasant to look at, they are highly effective and can save you money. Think medieval times, with wrought iron bars.

Motion Sensing Illuminators

These are light systems on the outside of your home that upon sensing motion immediately light up a designated area that is typically near an entrance. These can not only be helpful for you for easy entry to your home in the nighttime, but they can also scare off a would-be burglar. In addition, a home alarm system can plug in to these as well to alert you to motion around your property and at key entry points to your residence.

The insurance company wants to know everything.

In exchange for your hard work and investment in the safety of you property and family, they are willing to discount your premiums. Talk to your local homeowners insurance agent about how a home alarm system can save you money.

By: Tom Lustina

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Alarm systems can easily protect your family and personal belongings from an intruder, alert you to emergencies, and notify emergency personnel. Selecting the right system is more than just the bottom line price; items such as features, convenience, and options should also be considered.

The first step in selecting an alarm system is outlining your goals. Do you want an alarm system that is cost-effective or the top-of-the-line model? Do you have children that will be using the system (where ease of use would be a selling point)? Does the alarm provider offer sufficient customer support to meet your needs? How long has the security provider been in business? Asking these questions will allow you to focus on the product and choices that will suit your needs.

During an initial consultation, an alarm system expert will visit your home and analyze potential security breaches. The expert will offer suggestions for available products, explain the use of their system, and show the homeowner potential security issues surrounding their current home. It is important to interview the expert and ask questions such as:

o How long have they been in business?

o Do they offer a fire alarm system in conjunction with security features?

o Are they staffed 24 hours a day?

o Do they regularly service the system to make sure it is conforming to manufacturer’s specifications?

The homeowner should also call local law enforcement officials and see if they are familiar with the provider. The Better Business Bureau can also provide records indicating any complaints that may have been filed against the company.

After this has been completed, it is time to discuss customizing the system for your use. Safes and paintings can be protected with stress sensors that detect movement. Systems can also be equipped with gas shut off systems in the event of a seismic disturbance. Systems can also include motion detectors for use around the home, doors and windows can be set with trip wires (magnets that conduct an electrical current), and closed-circuit TV’s. All of these items can be customized to the exact specifications and needs of the individual clients.

Part of finalizing an alarm system is making sure it is monitored and maintained by the security company you select. Most – if not all – security companies offer 24 hour monitoring of the system. However, maintaining the system is crucial for keeping the system functioning properly.

Selecting an alarm system helps ensure safety and security against burglars, fire, and other hazards. Choosing the right alarm system involves selecting the components to meet your needs, as well as a company that can monitor and maintain the system.

Please Visit:

http://www.alarm-system-advisor.com Alarm System

By: Matt Murren

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It was bound to happen sooner or later. You have been diligently working pretty hard for many months in order to get an efficient BOV setup to use in the event of an emergency. You planned every detail and even incorporated them into your RV. It is likely that you have invested both a vast sum of money as well as many hours of your valuable time in your venture. All of a sudden you take your RV out for a Bug Out exercise and you are gone from it for the day and lo and behold when you arrive back at the RV you find it has been broken into or even worse its now been stolen.

You realize all too late that time to consider an alarm system should have been before you needed it and not after. With that in mind, let’s talk alarm security now before it’s actually necessity. It isn’t necessary to locate and purchase an alarm system specifically designed for campers or RV’s since you can readily use off the shelf units made for autos if you merely perform a few simple modifications.

The first change to consider will be to instruct the alarm system installer to place the security system activation LED light on the outside of the RV. This blinking light will serve to alert the would-be thieves that there is an alarm present in your RV. Often time this visual indicator can be a major deterrent to the burglar since the RV would represent too much of a challenge for him at this point. Thieves general seek out easy targets from which to steal from.

Secondly, make certain the installer wired the alarm system so that all of your RV lights flash in the event the alarm is triggered. Since you are talking about an area which is usually much larger then the average automobile you should have a vibration sensitive device installed that will activate the sound alarm if any of the glass is broken in either the windows or doors.

Additional safety measures can be as simple as observing strangers within the area or being suspicious of someone who may be requesting to use your toilet facilities. Never announce your Bug out plans on social sites such as Facebook or MySpace. It’s a lot easier then you might think for someone to find out your address and rob your home while you are away.

Gadgets tend to get a little credit in deterring burglars. Usually a loud TV or a radio often works better then an alarm system. No, it isn’t necessary to leave your RV TV on when you are away from the camper but you can purchase a small device that makes the burglar think a TV is on. This device is called “Fake TV” and it simulates your TV as being on when you are gone. The unit works by recreating the light of a real television set so that the LED lights fill a room with thousands of possible shades of color thus simulating changes of the scenes, fading in and out and on screen motion. If a potential burglar looks at the RV from outside he is fooled into thinking someone is there. Burglars will generally avoid occupied RVs which makes this the perfect solution.

Another popular item is the RV security dog. This RV alarm system barks like a real dog. Known as “The Watch Dog Alarm” it plugs into your wall and requires no special installation. The unit produces a realistic sounding bark of a German Shepard when someone approaches your RV. It is fairly small and can sense intruders through walls, doors and glass. Its effective range is about 30 feet. Of interest with this alarm is that the closer the intruder gets the more frequent will the artificial dog bark.

I have merely touched the surface of the modifications that may be required to adapt an auto alarm system to use as an effective RV alarm. To obtain further knowledge and possible solutions be sure to contact a trusted alarm installer.

By: Joseph Parish

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This article is written for beginners with little electrical experience; however, some knowledge of electricity and mechanics are assumed. This information is provided by West Coast Cycle free of charge and on an “as is” basis, without any representation or warranty to the products being installed. It is your responsibility to insure proper installation. West Coast Cycle assumes no responsibility with regards to the accuracy or currency of this information. Proper installation in every case is and remains the responsibility of the installer.

We think you’ve made a good choice in deciding to use an alarm system to protect your motorcycle, after all, in 2005 over 70,000 motorcycles were stolen. Now the question is: “How in the world am I going to install this – there are so many wires.” What seems like a hard task is actually not too bad; however, you need to have a least some mechanical ability. You will need to know how to test the polarity of a wire using a digital multi-meter. So if you don’t have a clue as to what a multi-meter is, save yourself the headache and take it to a motorcycle shop. Lastly, you will need basic tools to remove some side panels and covers to access the motorcycles wiring.

Gathering Information and Reference Material.

Information is the backbone of your soon to be successful installation. You should gather documents with vehicle specific wiring colors, locations and polarities. These charts are available in a multitude of places, generally free of charge. You can locate this information in the bike’s shop manual, at the dealership of the motorcycle, or possibly online.

Planning the Alarm Install.

Your plan will be the difference between a finished product and a job left for next weekend. A few minutes of planning and prepping will yield at least an hour and a half less install time. It’s not fun, but it needs to be done! Begin by studying your motorcycle’s specific diagram side by side with your bike alarm installation diagram. Identify which features you plan to use on the alarm, not all features are necessary. (e.g., engine immobilizer, remote starting)

Preparing the Wiring.

Before installing, be sure to disconnect the (-) negative terminal of the motorcycle’s battery. This will eliminate the possibility of accidental electrical shorts and/or unnecessary battery drain.

Once you identify which features you will install, eliminate the unused wires, if any, to prevent clutter. It is common practice to twist the wires of a same plug together then secure them to each other with black electrical tape. Do not wrap the entire bundle, as different wires go to different locations. Once you finish wrapping all the harnesses, tape them to each other to create one large pigtail containing all of the used wires. This keeps the wires together, secure and free from frays and obstruction. You will now want to identify the locations of the wires which you will connect to on your bike. Here is a hint: the majority of your wires will run from the ignition of your motorcycle back toward the center of motorcycle where the fuse box is usually located. The easiest way to locate these wires is to open the ignition key switch, and test the wires at this point to verify it is the correct wire. You won’t want to tap into the wire right next to the ignition. Rather, trace the wire back toward the fuse box or center of the bike where it is closer to the mounting location of the alarm system. This way you won’t have to run wires as far. The further you have to run wires the greater chance for something to go wrong.

Execution: Removing the Panels.

The right tools are the difference between bloody knuckles or no sweat. We suggest you seriously consider the specialty items, as they will be handy in other wiring projects in your future. You will want to begin be removing the panels where your wires are located. Be sure to notate where all clips and screws go, there is nothing worse than leftovers – if you know what we mean.

Wiring the Alarm Unit.

Once the panels are removed, you will want to locate a good spot to mount the main alarm module. The harder to see, the better. This will make it much more difficult for a would-be-thief. You will generally tie strap or adhere (if adhesive pad is provided) the module to a support brace or flat surface. Be sure to mount the unit in a location that is not too close to the engine. As a general rule we suggest at least 12 inches from the engine. Also, if an adhesive strip is provided with your alarm system, be sure to prep the surface with rubbing alcohol or degreaser prior to mounting. One of the best locations to mount the alarm module is beneath the seat of the motorcycle. Another possible location is within the spare tool compartment, if you don’t mind giving this space up.

Next, run the LED display light, siren, and external antenna, if equipped. Be sure to mount your siren in an obscure location also. At this time, everything which will be plugged into the unit should be. Begin by wiring any necessary relays first, if any are necessary. Most motorcycle alarm systems do not require relays; however, remote starting applications will often require relays on motorcycles with electronic fuel ignition. If you don’t have a remote start feature chances are you won’t need any relays. Getting these relays out of the way now will save you from a rat’s nest of wires. After the relays are wired, begin connecting your wires to the proper locations. You may want to read West Coast Cycle’s article on testing wire polarity before making any connections; you can find it at http://www.wcc-tech.com. You should always test wires before you make a connection. Connecting the wires can be done in a number of fashions. You can splice the wires and tape them using electrical tape. You can solder then tape or heat shrink. You can use t-tap connectors, although we personally do not recommend them for long-term use. T-tap connectors work well for preliminary tests of wires, but once you know the alarm system is working correctly, go back and solder the connections. It is completely your preference, but we suggest soldering connections followed by heat shrinking. Just be sure the connection is solid and free of any tension.

Identifying the correct wires.

If you don’t know the correct wire color to look for, here is how you can determine the correct wire. We also have an article on the technical support page of our website that offers detailed information on using a multi-meter to locate the correct wires.

Most motorcycle alarm systems have 5 basic alarm system wires:

ACC / Interface Wire: The ACC wire of the Installation Harness connects to the IGN / ACC wire in the bike’s ignition key switch harness. The wire you need to find in the bike’s harness should be +12v only when the ignition key is switched to the ON position; and if the ignition key is switched off, this wire should not show any voltage. Two tips: This wire runs from the ignition to the fuse box. If the bike already has a factory immobilizer, you can use the ACC alarm wire to shut off the fuel pump or cut the starter line.

Engine Immobilizer Wires: This common alarm system feature always uses two wires. This feature is like connecting a second kill switch to your motorcycle which is housed in the alarm system module and can be shut of via remote. There are three ways to use this feature; we’ll address the easiest way here. If you want more information on alternative ways to install this feature see the FAQ section of our website. You need to cut the side of the Kill Switch wire that leads back to the main power of the bike. You then connect one end of the cut wire to one of the two immobilizer wires and the other end of the cut wire to the other immobilizer wire. Hint: it does not mater which end is connect to the immobilizer wires, the feature will work either way.

Power and Ground Wires: We saved the easiest wires for last; we thought you’d appreciate that after all your hard work. All alarm systems have a power and ground wire. It is recommended that you connect the power and ground wires directly to the battery terminals. You may need to purchase wrap-around clamps, terminal taps or extensions for making an easy connection to each battery post. Failure to use the proper connecting method is surefire way to have problems with your alarm system down the road.

Congratulations, your bike is now safer!

Your installation should now be complete. Before putting the panels back on the motorcycle, open your alarm manual. There should be a section which displays the functions of your alarm system; this is great for testing your installation. Go through this process thoroughly. You will want to address any issues immediately. If you are having problems, refer to troubleshooting the troubleshooting section of your alarm system and check all your connections. If not, congratulations!

By: Jesse Frey

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Alarm signs and decals are a simple, low-tech, and effective way to deter crime in and around your property.

Alarm Signs and Decals: What Would You Do?

A criminal creeps towards your back window, hidden by the cover of darkness and bushes. He raises his hammer to break the glass when suddenly he spots the alarm signs and decals affixed to all your ground-floor windows: “This property is monitored by a 24-hour security system.” He stops. He doesn’t want to risk setting off an alarm and alerting the police. Frustrated and loot-less, he moves on, looking for a house that is not armed.

Alarm Signs and Decals: An Inexpensive Sentry

Alarm signs and decals can warn criminals that you might have an alarm system. They can’t be sure if you really have one unless they ignore the alarm signs and decals and break into your house anyway, risking setting off an alarm. For many, the risk is too great, and they move on. Alarm signs and decals can be effective criminal deterrents even if you don’t have an actual alarm system to back them up. If you want something that is affordable and easy to install, alarm signs and decals are an excellent home security option.

1. Warn intruders that your home is protected.
2. Mount yard signs to a post, stake or wall.
3. Stick stickers on any glass surface.
4. Enjoy durability and high visibility.

Alarm Signs and Decals: Your First Line of Defense

If you do have an alarm system, alarm signs and decals still act as a powerful deterrent to potential criminals. If, for some reason, they do throw caution to the wind and ignore the alarm signs and decals, your alarm system will do its job to scare them off and alert you and the police. Alarm signs and decals give you the peace of mind of yet another layer of defense against burglars.

Alarm Signs and Decals: Double Duty

Alarms signs and decals can also help protect your family by alerting rescue personnel to which bedrooms are occupied, allowing them easier response time and making for a quick rescue. Alarm signs and decals can inform them of how many children are in the house, or if there are pets that need to be rescued in an emergency as well. Not only are alarm signs and decals criminal deterrents; they provide valuable information to rescuers.

Alarm Signs and Decals: Installation Is Easy

Installing alarm signs and decals is as simple as putting up a sicker or shoving a stake into the ground. With no wires or batteries, they can go anywhere. Put a decal on every ground floor window and post a sign prominently by every entryway. Criminals can’t miss the warning, and you’ll decrease the risk of having your alarm system tested. Alarm signs and decals tell the world your home is secure — and criminals will be disappointed. Protect your home and family with the convenient, effective help of alarm signs and decals.

By: Ralph Winn

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There are many different types of car alarm systems. However, they can be broken down into two main categories – passive and active. A passive alarm is active after the car ignition is turned off and all doors are shut. An active alarm has to be activated by pushing a button to arm or disarm it.

It is very important to have an alarm system for your car, especially if it is new and one that thieves like to steal. It should be the first thing you purchase after you purchase the car. A good alarm system will cost at least $100, but cost should not be a factor, since a stolen car is worth nothing.

You can either have the alarm installed where you purchased it (another $100 or so), or you can install it yourself. Alarms usually come with detailed instructions on installation, and some even come with a how-to video.

There are many features available on the different car alarm that is available on the market and new features are developed everyday. Some of the common features are an air horn that can be used on the interior or exterior of a vehicle to call attention to a thief. The anti-code grabbing is a method that changes the alarm code every time it is armed or disarmed. This makes it impossible for a thief to figure out your code to disable it. The active re-arm is a system that automatically sets the alarm to its on position after it has been disabled. Carjack protection is a feature that causes the engine to turn off and a siren to ring out if a vehicle is taken by anyone illegally, and the brain is the main box of an alarm that controls all of the sensors and equipment associated with the alarm system. There are many other features associated with car alarm systems, and it is wise to thoroughly read the manual that comes with the unit that you purchase.

By: Max Bellamy

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One of the more popular car alarms is the type that is armed with motion or impact sensors that give off a loud sound when somebody gets too near or tries to steal your car. This alarm has been very effective, especially in deterring thieves because the sound reaches anyone within a 120-decibel range and definitely attracts unwanted attention.

However, these types of car alarms were not designed to only give off the sound when a thief is trying to steal your car. They are only designed to go off if someone gets too close or if something comes in contact with your car, — all presumed to be ‘acts of stealing.’ Given this, there are times when your car alarm is activated by accident. This has led to annoying situations that can cause quite a stir in your neighborhood (especially if it happens in the middle of the night). It leaves you scrambling to turn off the alarm. However, turning off the alarm may not be as easy as it seems, because sometimes the alarm system has technical problems.

If your car’s alarm will not turn off when you flick the switch on your key, there may be an underlying problem with it. One of the best ways to find out is to get the user’s manual so that you will understand how you alarm system works and how to turn it off in case of a technical problem. In most cases, turning the ignition key to start the car is enough to shut it off. If not, look for the alarm fuse and try to remove it. Once you remove the fuse, you will probably have to take the car to a shop to see what the problem is and have it fixed. If removing the fuse does not work, and all else has failed, try disconnecting the car battery’s negative terminal, which should stop the alarm, but it could also prevent your car from starting.

Car alarms that are armed with motion and impact sensors are very effective in deterring thieves from stealing your car. However, these alarms are also prone to go off at the slightest disturbance to your car. This draws unwanted attention and can be annoying to the neighborhood, especially if it happens in the middle of the night. Fortunately, understanding how the alarm system works will make it possible for you to turn off the system if needed.

By: Max Bellamy

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There essentially a choice of two home system systems: hard wired and wireless. So which is the best home alarm system? A hard wired system is the traditional alarm system whose sensors are connected to the main control panel via cabling. Unfortunately the installation of such a system involves channelling walls, lifting floorboards and skirting to install the cabling. This will obviously incur high cost and upheaval during the period the work is taking place. With a wireless home alarm system however, installation is so straightforward, a DIY’er can install a system in less than an hour. If you can use a ***** driver and drill then you can install a wireless alarm system. It is so much cheaper and a lot less disruption installing a wireless system.

There are many companies that provide home security alarm systems. But which home security companies are the best? Among the popular well known ones are Brinks, ADT and GE Security. GE Security is a long established player in the security sector whilst Brinks and ADT both provide excellent monitoring security services. When choosing a security company, invite several around to your house to evaluate what they have to offer. Ask each the same questions and note any special offers and certainly don’t go for the first good deal – shop around. Ask for proof that their installers have the correct certifications. Chat with your friends, family and neighbors to get recommendations. Above all, go with your gut feeling who you trust the most to protect your home and family.

By: Andy J Jones

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Wireless alarm systems are proving extremely popular in recent years due to their low cost, features and functionality as well as their ease of installation. Homeowners with average DIY skills can easily install a wireless alarm system. One of the best alarm systems currently on the market is the Skylink complete alarm system. A fantastic feature of this system is that it offers monitoring capabilities – but without the monthly costs. When the Skylink alarm system is triggered it will dial up to 9 different pre-programmed phone numbers in turn and will play your 40 second pre-recorded message. You choose which 9 numbers to store and these can be your cell phone, friends, relatives or neighbors numbers.

Burglar alarms are a tremendous way to offer you peace of mind and reassurance that your home is safe from burglar intrusion and wireless alarm systems are a cost effective and highly successful method of burglary prevention. Do not wait until it’s too late – by fitting an alarm system you will significantly reduce your chances of a break-in. Skylink wireless alarm systems are one fantastic alarm system that is great value for money with fantastic functionality. The Skylink SC-1000 wireless alarm offers monitoring but without the monthly costs! You simply store several telephone numbers and record a message. If the alarm triggers it will dial each number in turn until someone picks up. It will then play your recorded message. You could get it to dial your cell phone, works number, friends, family or neighbors. It is a fantastic piece of kit and well worth the investment.

By: Andy J Jones

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An astounding and unexpected number of people are dropping their (POTS) plain old telephone system, for the latest trends in phone service, VoIP. According to Frost & Sullivan there were 100,000 VoIP users at the end of 2003. Just halfway through 2004 the number jumped to more than 500,000.

The draw to such a change is most often cost related. Traditional phone companies charge use fees and by the minute charges, coupled with long distance fees. VoIP companies are charging a flat fee somewhere between $15.00 to $30.00 US per month, for unlimited calls to anywhere in the US and Canada.

VoIP works by digitizing voice signals from your phone and sending them over the Internet via your home or business computer. While people are scrambling to make the switch and begin to count the money they are saving, they may not realize that there is a good possibility that they are cutting the link between their alarm system and the monitoring station. Another link that is lost in most cases is traditional 911 services, as VoIP does not capture data for emergency response.

When your alarm goes off due to an attempted break in, is no time to find out that the monitoring response that you have been faithfully paying for is not available for you. The Alarm Company has no way of knowing that you switched services. You should be sending a test signal monthly, to assure yourself that the system is working properly, no matter who you are connected through. Be advised that if you are using VoIP and the signal goes through, it does not mean that it will always be as clear. The volume of traffic on the Internet can and will vary the quality of the digitized signal it sends.

If you find yourself intrigued by this revolution in phone services and are dependent on alarm system dispatch as part of your security plan, you should consider the pitfalls and options.

* If power fails to the premise it is likely that your VoIP will fail also, unless your PC has a backup power source.

* You may not be able to use 911 services.

* Your signal may go through giving you a false sense of security, as it may not work next time.

* You may have already switched to VoIP and not realize that your alarm is not being monitored.

I myself have elected to utilize VoIP to save money on long distance. I also maintain a standard limited use phone line to take care of my security communications, 911 and phone backup should power fail. The (limited use) phone line, cost me less than $15.00 per month and is offset by the savings on my long distance bill.

Cellular communicators are available that will make your alarm call over any available cellular network. The device will have to be purchased for about $200.00 to $500.00, and an additional fee of approximately $10.00 per month is added to your monitoring bill.

Some alarm companies offer radio signal transmitted monitoring services, which do not depend on phone lines of any sort to transmit your alarm signal. The availability of such services is limited and depends where you live.

Alarm companies of all sizes are working with manufactures and providers of VoIP services to find ways to properly integrate Alarm Systems with these phone communications industry changes. I would expect many changes in the near future as this does not seem to be a passing fad. Be on the lookout for information on these changes, so that you can always make an informed decision.

By: Matthew F. Lombardi

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