Home Security DIY

By installing a home security system yourself, you could save around 50% of the cost of a professional installing it for you. DIY installations are popular as there are many home security DIY kits now available from home improvement stores. Installation is not as difficult as you would think as detailed instructions are provided.

As there is a choice of hard wired or wireless security systems, deciding which one will influence the installation.

There are a few simple steps to bear in mind before carrying out a home security DIY installation.

Planning the Layout

Before you think about purchasing and installing your DIY home alarm system, the most important step to consider is to think about and plan the layout of the various components of the system. You should draw up a floor plan layout of your property and this will help decide where to position sensors and the control panel. Pay particular attention to entry points such as doors and windows. Also note the weaker areas of the property that could be susceptible to a break-in. This detail will help you decide the sorts of sensors that are required for your installation together with what sort of control panel are necessary to control the different zones.

Alarm Control Panel

It would be wise to choose an alarm control panel with expansion capability, if funds allow. This will provide additional zones which could be utilized in the future. Next decide on the best position of the control panel. You would usually want this close to your main entry/exit door for convenience however, if you have a remote keypad you may want to consider putting the control panel well out of sight. Either way, it is best to hide the panel inside a cupboard so that a burglar would have to waste valuable seconds trying to locate it in the event of a break-in. Make sure anyone that may have genuine reason to enter your house know the location of the control panel.

Security Sensors

It will need to be decided how and where to mount the sensors within your property and in the case of a hard wired security system, you need to decide the neatest and easiest way to run the cables back to the control panel. A hard wired system may present limitations on where sensors can go and it may not be practicably possible to always put them exactly where you like. For a wireless system you have far more flexibility and freedom to install sensors where you like provided the sensors can communicate back to the control panel.

Siren/Alarm Box

You will need to decide if you would like the siren/alarm box to be visible externally. Obviously, making it visible acts as a deterrent to would be burglars. However, you may not want an intrusive alarm box screwed to the side of your property, especially if it is an older property as it may not be in character with the building. If you do have a siren/alarm box then plan the installation of the alarm box as high up as is possible so that it is out of easy reach.

Security System Cable Installation

Make sure that when drilling holes through joists and walls that the diameter of the hole is large enough to fit many cables through it and keep the cable runs away from power cables and plumbing. Don’t be tempted to use existing holes that have power cables running through them – always drill new holes. Only once the cables are all in place then only consider mounting and installing the control panel, additional keypad, sensors and siren.

Always leave a few feet of cable spare when running cables to each sensor position. The slack can be pushed back into the ceiling. Use 6 or 8 core alarm cable as most PIR sensors require 6 wires: two for power, two for the 24 hour tamper loop and two for the alarm loop.

In contrast the magnetic door switches doesn’t need power to 4 core cable will do. Two for the alarm loop and two for the 24 hour tamper loop. But, it’s still worth using the higher core cable as you may want the extra cores in the future.

The siren generally uses six cores: two for power, one for the strobe, one for the siren trigger and two for the 24 hour tamper loop.

As door contacts can only detect a door or window being opened you may want to consider installing shock sensors. These will need to be fitted to an area of your property that can be accessed through forced entry like a window frame or door. If you think force entry can be gained through kicking a panel or breaking a window it is worth installing shock sensors instead of door/window contacts. Door contacts are typically fitted to external doors but could be fitted to any vulnerable door or window.

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