Burglar and Fire Alarms...who has fitted them?

[il78]

I heard the same thing about PIR's and windows because of the solar radiation......

Load of b*ll*cks if you ak me.......

I aint no alarm installer, cables are just too small to play with (give me something with a bit of girth and I'll smile )

Alarms are there for you, not to discourage little sh*ts who fancy avin' your TV......The houses I've seen were they run in and rip the panel off the wall (I know this acheives nothing on newer installations, but they must think it does)

Mine was put in by the company, beacuse it needed to be installed by an approved company (SSAIB / NACOSS) to receive a couple of quid discount.......(whoopee)..

I got told by the security boys who fitted that it could be set / unset from the internet...I see that as problem not usefull.....

 

[breezer]

I heard the same thing about PIR's and windows because of the solar radiation......

Load of b*ll*cks if you ak me.......

.

'fraid its true, but to be fair pir's have improved imensley

 

[Deryck Tintagel]

I did have a spate of false alarms in one installation due to the sun. I used a detector with white light filtering and positioned it to face into the room and cover the keypad and access from another door. All well and good I thought until the sun came across the back of the house and reflected on a window with obscured glass. The movement of the reflected light was enough to set off the PIR!

I have now moved the detector and changed the type. So far so good

 

[breezer]

see, i said it was true

 

[il78]

Where's that pie......the humble one....

I did say I dont do alarms......

 

[breezer]

thank you for being honest, oh and would you like fries with that?

 

[securespark]

A slightly different tack to Deryck

Most PIR instructions say mount unit to look away from glass & heat, most windows have a rad undeneath. Double trouble!!

And, mag contacts are old hat now in domestics. They're a PITA when they go faulty & the wiring is horrendous. I used to fit them & PIRS and looking back it was a grand pigs ear!! & I agree that shock sensors r the thing to use . As has been said b4, they shout b4 an entry has been made. And, they have come a hell of a long way since the Mk1 which went off if the wind picked up.....

 

[Haggy]

Going back to the original question. There is a issue with wiring in domestic electrics and alarm systems in that the cables should not run closer than 10 cms (I think, anyway not next to each other) and should cross any mains cables at a right angle.

I have DIY installed a wired auto-dialler alarm/fire system at our place about 6 months ago. I have had no false alarms at all. Every ground floor window and door is perimeter protected as well as internal volumetric protection. In fact the only time it has gone off is when my in-laws used a key they should have given back to nip in and use the toilet - they forgot the code

I also found several magnetic contacts with dodgy resistances when I tested them before installing them (I took them back) so I can see the potential trouble they could cause.

 

[breezer]

i also did not mention that for external doors / widows you should install SURFACE mounted contacts. flush ones will corrode, rain gets blown in, wood soaks it up, keeps it damp, hih resistance follows, false alrms follow that.

no doubt some one will say they have flush contacts, but trust be 75% of flush contacts will corrode if in an an external window or door. trust me i have seen it.

and yes if the door or window has a "shelter" then you are one of the 25% who will be ok.

 

[Big_Spark]

I do like the way people fall into the trap of "OOOHH new technology..that's a must"

Vibration sensors...PAH..if someone trips it, and they are not inside when the plod arrive, the worst they can charge them with is trespass and they get a £50 fine and costs!!

I like the idea that magnetic sensors are "old hat now", Jesus, they are not a fashion accessory, they are a viable, useful and efficient means of detecting illegal entry to any premises.

I know they can be problematic, but these are not rocket science, nor are they expensive. If you have a dodgy one, file it under BIN and replace it..should cost no more than a few quid, including labour.

The idea that they cannot be installed on windows is laughable. I know that certain window types are harder than others, and certain ones do not lend themselves to magnetic contacts, but here is where you use alternative means, the majority can be protected by them though.

I certainly agree with Breezer that on external doors that are not protected from the weather it is wiser to use surface contacts as oppose to flush ones, but then it depends on the client and their desire for security and asthetics.

They do make water-proof flush contacts, and it is also possible to water-proof contacts yourself, with a literal lateral thinking.

This all goes back to my earlier comment, You need to design the system to the local conditions, view the property, see and understand how it is or will be used, then design your system around that.

 

[Scoby_Beasley]

I have already spoken to my Insurance company, and once they see a copy of the completion certificates, they will instantly provide a 23% discount.

Does the 23% discount cover the cost of the usually compliant annual service charge ? I tend to think not, but then ,,,, I am a cynical b*****d !

 

[ban-all-sheds]

Friends of ours got burgled once.

When they returned home, the burglar was very pleased to see them, as it meant that they could rescue him from the two Rhodesian Ridgebacks that had been keeping him at bay for 3 hours....

 

[Big_Spark]

I have already spoken to my Insurance company, and once they see a copy of the completion certificates, they will instantly provide a 23% discount.

Does the 23% discount cover the cost of the usually compliant annual service charge ? I tend to think not, but then ,,,, I am a cynical b*****d !

Yes it will as I can get my alarm specialist to service it, as he does for some of our clients.

 

[AdamW]

Friends of ours got burgled once.

When they returned home, the burglar was very pleased to see them, as it meant that they could rescue him from the two Rhodesian Ridgebacks that had been keeping him at bay for 3 hours....

Now THAT is a foolproof security system... unless you get burgled by someone who has just robbed a pile of steaks from the butchers

 

[Kimba]

Most systems are now iD systems which allow all the detectors to be wired in any configurate, which one contacting a small "biscuit". This makes the wiring very neat, as a four core (screened) cable can be used to simply daisy chain around the house.

There are very few false alarms from sunlight now, as most PIR will not react to a gradualy change, as they actualy work by detecting objects cutting though zones of detection and not just heat.

If you have a NACOSS approved system install or at least a decent system, you will also notice that no single dectector can triggle the alarm into a full panic state, if the alarm is connected to a monitoring station/police. (Since 2001) You can get DUAL detectors which are a pir and microwave detect in a single unit, or a glass break and PIR etc etc, which are usualy very compact.

Most insurance companies give 5-10% off for a non NACOSS alarm and 10-20% off for a NACOSS or "professionaly fitted" alarm which you can show that you have an annual service contract for. This obviously varies a lot from company to company, and some (especially on high value commercial properties) will actualy state you NEED an alarm, or they won't quote you at all.

There is no replacement for dogs/guard etc etc, but a burglar will always favour an unalarm property over a clearly alarmed property if they both appear vacent and of equal plundering value. Same with car alarm etc etc