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UK diy (uk.d-i-y) For the discussion of all topics related to diy (do-it-yourself) in the UK. All levels of experience and proficency are welcome to join in to ask questions or offer solutions. |
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#1
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer.
They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? If not/so, then could someone recommend an alarm for a bungalow, 3 doors, plus maybe 2 movement sensors in the conservatory and garage? Thanks Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. |
#2
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
A.Lee wrote: I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer. They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Most sensors are standard and can be replaced? Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? If not/so, then could someone recommend an alarm for a bungalow, 3 doors, plus maybe 2 movement sensors in the conservatory and garage? If the wiring is good and suitable, surely it would be easy to replace like with like? By the nature of things. wireless is never going to be as reliable as wired - unless the wiring is so badly done it could suffer damage. -- *Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.* Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#3
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
On May 15, 9:45*am, (A.Lee) wrote:
I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer. They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? If not/so, then could someone recommend an alarm for a bungalow, 3 doors, plus maybe 2 movement sensors in the conservatory and garage? Thanks Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. If the existing wiring is sound and the sensors, panel and sounder are in the right places its a simple swap out job. Lots of similar models on the market now so ask at your local electrical wholesale suppliers which are readily available rather than getting a hard to source model. |
#4
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
cynic wrote:
On May 15, 9:45 am, (A.Lee) wrote: I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer. They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? If the existing wiring is sound and the sensors, panel and sounder are in the right places its a simple swap out job. Lots of similar models on the market now so ask at your local electrical wholesale suppliers which are readily available rather than getting a hard to source model. No, complete rewire, so best done while doing that. The old one is unreliable, with numerous wires going all over that cannot be traced, so I dont really want to work on it to try and fix it when new alarms are £100ish. Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. |
#5
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
A.Lee wrote: If the existing wiring is sound and the sensors, panel and sounder are in the right places its a simple swap out job. Lots of similar models on the market now so ask at your local electrical wholesale suppliers which are readily available rather than getting a hard to source model. No, complete rewire, so best done while doing that. The old one is unreliable, with numerous wires going all over that cannot be traced, so I dont really want to work on it to try and fix it when new alarms are £100ish. I'd point out the likely problems with wireless sensors (battery costs and the need for regular replacements) to the owner and let him decide. It's not difficult to trace wires with the correct equipment. Just needs a methodical approach. -- *Preserve wildlife - Go pickle a squirrel* Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#6
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
A.Lee wrote:
I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer. They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? If not/so, then could someone recommend an alarm for a bungalow, 3 doors, plus maybe 2 movement sensors in the conservatory and garage? It's a bungalow, what is the loft access like? If it is reasonable then do away with the door sensors (unless they want the alarm to chime when a door is opened) and just use PIRs everywhere. -- Adam |
#7
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
ARWadsworth wrote: It's a bungalow, what is the loft access like? If it is reasonable then do away with the door sensors (unless they want the alarm to chime when a door is opened) and just use PIRs everywhere. Not usual to have one the final exit/entrance these days? -- *Two many clicks spoil the browse * Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#8
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
On 15/05/2011 11:55, Dave Plowman (News) wrote:
I'd point out the likely problems with wireless sensors (battery costs and the need for regular replacements) to the owner and let him decide. I have a wireless system. The magnetic sensors take two CR2023 cells (around 10p each if you by in bulk from eBay) and PIR's take one PP3 (about 70p). In both types of sensor the batteries last over 2 years. They signal the control unit when the battery gets low so you get an alert message. The siren uses solar-charged lead/acid cells, so my running cost for 5 mag sensors + 5 PIRs is under £4 a year. That would rise if you wanted mag sensors on every window. It was an absolute doddle to install, and being wireless it's easy to protect the shed and a detached garage too. -- Reentrant |
#9
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
On Sun, 15 May 2011 11:34:46 +0100, A.Lee wrote:
If the existing wiring is sound and the sensors, panel and sounder are in the right places its a simple swap out job. No, complete rewire, so best done while doing that. I think the statement "existing wiring" was refering only to the alarm wiring not a what I think you are saying a complete mains rewire. The old one is unreliable, with numerous wires going all over that cannot be traced, so I dont really want to work on it to try and fix it when new alarms are £100ish. A tone cable tracer will make working out what cables go where a doddle. Hang the sender unit on the remote end and then see which one it is at the panel, label, move sender to another cable end repeat. A new panel and sensors would be far more reliable than wireless IMHO but then I don't trust wireless for "critical" applications without a hot spare backup... Not sure I trust something that could be jammed with a lowish power RF noise generator. -- Cheers Dave. |
#11
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
On 15/05/2011 09:45, A.Lee wrote:
I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer. They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? If not/so, then could someone recommend an alarm for a bungalow, 3 doors, plus maybe 2 movement sensors in the conservatory and garage? Thanks Alan. I've fitted a couple of Yale wireless ones lately without any problems. However, with alarms - and PIR lights, I always get the customer to buy them. That way any warranty on the actual unit isn't with me. -- Dave - The Medway Handyman www.medwayhandyman.co.uk |
#12
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... 8 Both conservatory and garage can be liable to false triggering from PIR sensors, due to significant sources of heat causing movement of hot air - conservatory from the sun, and garage from a parked car with hot exhaust/engine. In these cases, a dual tech sensor (PIR and microwave) may be necessary, although in a conservatory, careful adjustment of microwave power will be needed to avoid sensitivity from outside the glass. The PIR half wont work through the glass so it shouldn't matter. You probably want a PIR somewhere in the body of the house, such as the main room or hallway, as door sensors are only perimeter detection and don't cover the volume of the house accessed via other routes such as broken window access. When I worked at Chubb many many years ago we virtually never fitted stuff to external doors, it was always on the internal doors and safes. The exception being the exit route and shop windows where we fitted the lead strips or break glass detectors. the theory was that you wanted to catch burglars in the property not scare them away. I think CCTV to catch them and a perimeter alarm to scare them is probably the best these days. |
#13
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In message , "dennis@home"
wrote the theory was that you wanted to catch burglars in the property not scare them away. Isn't the aim to deter burglars from a domestic property hence the prominently displayed external bell box. -- Alan news2009 {at} admac {dot} myzen {dot} co {dot} uk |
#14
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
Alan writes: In message , "dennis@home" wrote the theory was that you wanted to catch burglars in the property not scare them away. Isn't the aim to deter burglars from a domestic property hence the prominently displayed external bell box. Yes - that's the first aim. Burglar alarms don't 'catch' burglars. Police used to temporarily supply silent alert systems where they wanted to catch someone, but if you aren't the police, you don't want to encounter a burglar, you just want them to scarper empty handed as fast as possible. -- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup] |
#15
Posted to uk.d-i-y
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
"dennis@home" writes: "Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... 8 Both conservatory and garage can be liable to false triggering from PIR sensors, due to significant sources of heat causing movement of hot air - conservatory from the sun, and garage from a parked car with hot exhaust/engine. In these cases, a dual tech sensor (PIR and microwave) may be necessary, although in a conservatory, careful adjustment of microwave power will be needed to avoid sensitivity from outside the glass. The PIR half wont work through the glass so it shouldn't matter. If someone walks past outside and is picked up by the microwave whilst there's heat movement inside, you get a false alarm. If someone walks past outside and is picked up by the microwave whilst there's no heat movement inside, and the dual-tech has anti-masking (most do), it will generate a masked alarm (which depending on model will generate either a movement or a tamper signal), and you also get a false alarm. On the other hand, if you set it up correctly, then it will work well. -- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup] |
#16
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... In article , Alan writes: In message , "dennis@home" wrote the theory was that you wanted to catch burglars in the property not scare them away. Isn't the aim to deter burglars from a domestic property hence the prominently displayed external bell box. Yes - that's the first aim. Burglar alarms don't 'catch' burglars. Police used to temporarily supply silent alert systems where they wanted to catch someone, but if you aren't the police, you don't want to encounter a burglar, you just want them to scarper empty handed as fast as possible. I think the real reason it was done the way it was was because if you alarm a locked door (i.e. the periphery) the alarm will never go off because the bugler will find a weaker spot. The sensors were always fitted to internal doors that were likely to be used by a burglar. Now PIRs are so cheap you don't need to protect the periphery at all. |
#17
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
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#18
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
Frank Erskine :
What's really needed is some sort of 'system' to _catch_ people _before_ they do damage breaking in, rather than after. Discuss. Seriously? What are you going to do when you've caught them? -- Mike Barnes |
#19
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
"Frank Erskine" wrote in message ... Even CCTV isn't really the answer. The resultant images usually merely portray some thick-looking yoof wearing a 'hoodie'. The only possible people who could recognise the individual are likely to be parents or accomplices, who aren't exactly likely to 'turn them in', innit :-) What's really needed is some sort of 'system' to _catch_ people _before_ they do damage breaking in, rather than after. There doesn't appear to be a law to allow arrest before they commit a crime. I suppose that once we all get head inserts and the thought police can really read minds there will be such a law. BTW CCTV is still in the dark ages, no HD unless you go IP cameras. The detail is far better on HD IP cameras than the normal ones. There is still the problem of finding them after the event. Maybe we could use smart water with a radioactive marker. Then you could have police checkpoints to arrest the survivors. Discuss. -- Frank Erskine |
#20
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
"dennis@home" writes: "Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message ... In article , Alan writes: In message , "dennis@home" wrote the theory was that you wanted to catch burglars in the property not scare them away. Isn't the aim to deter burglars from a domestic property hence the prominently displayed external bell box. Yes - that's the first aim. Burglar alarms don't 'catch' burglars. Police used to temporarily supply silent alert systems where they wanted to catch someone, but if you aren't the police, you don't want to encounter a burglar, you just want them to scarper empty handed as fast as possible. I think the real reason it was done the way it was was because if you alarm a locked door (i.e. the periphery) the alarm will never go off because the bugler will find a weaker spot. The sensors were always fitted to internal doors that were likely to be used by a burglar. Now PIRs are so cheap you don't need to protect the periphery at all. All external doors are always protected. They are the most common form of burglary entry/exit. This also enables alerting when attempting to set the alarm that an external door isn't closed (sometimes it includes a check that the door isn't only closed, but also locked, although that's unlikely to be added in a domestic installation). If you don't protect the perimeter, the alarm can't trigger until the burglar is inside, which is already later than you want. -- Andrew Gabriel [email address is not usable -- followup in the newsgroup] |
#21
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
On May 17, 12:04*am, Frank Erskine
wrote: Even CCTV isn't really the answer. The resultant images usually merely portray some thick-looking yoof wearing a 'hoodie'. The only possible people who could recognise the individual are likely to be parents or accomplices, who aren't exactly likely to 'turn them in', innit :-) On the contrary - may miscreants are well known to the local police and whilst CCTV footage may not be admissable as evidence in court it is often sufficient grounds for further investigation of the person where they may end up finding the right evidence - your goods. Mathew |
#22
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
Mathew Newton wrote:
On May 17, 12:04 am, Frank Erskine wrote: Even CCTV isn't really the answer. The resultant images usually merely portray some thick-looking yoof wearing a 'hoodie'. The only possible people who could recognise the individual are likely to be parents or accomplices, who aren't exactly likely to 'turn them in', innit :-) On the contrary - may miscreants are well known to the local police and whilst CCTV footage may not be admissable as evidence in court it is often sufficient grounds for further investigation of the person where they may end up finding the right evidence - your goods. This is extremely true. Round here, neighbourhood watch reports and surveillance may not be admissible evidence, but the majority of reports of vehicle numbers 'are of interest to the police' and more than a few arrests have been made.. From our local co-ordinator "Well done to the alert citizen who spotted the X-reg yellow Transit pinching the cement mixer and tools in XXXXXXXXX (and to our cops for turning out promptly and persisting until they found the thieves). Two other NWatchers had spotted the same vehicle earlier but their suspicions and registration details were not enough to justify reporting. But goes to show that if you think it looks suspicious, it probably is!" The key thing about this, is that three people saw the perps 'behaving oddly' but the coup de grace was seeing them actually nicking, getting the details to the police and then catching them in possession of the goods. And that is a real problem. The goods and the hard evidence are usually gone within hours.. The police know who they are, know where they live. But that wont stand up in court. BUT reports that 'Trotter and Son' were beebling around area X, followed by a crime in area X, can sometimes result in the people being 'interviewed' while still being in possession. Mathew |
#23
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
In article ,
Andrew Gabriel wrote: I think the real reason it was done the way it was was because if you alarm a locked door (i.e. the periphery) the alarm will never go off because the bugler will find a weaker spot. The sensors were always fitted to internal doors that were likely to be used by a burglar. Now PIRs are so cheap you don't need to protect the periphery at all. All external doors are always protected. They are the most common form of burglary entry/exit. This also enables alerting when attempting to set the alarm that an external door isn't closed (sometimes it includes a check that the door isn't only closed, but also locked, although that's unlikely to be added in a domestic installation). If you don't protect the perimeter, the alarm can't trigger until the burglar is inside, which is already later than you want. My thoughts too. When DIYing where time isn't a problem it is perfectly possible to fit sensors to doors and windows that don't show at all. Wired ones that is - dunno about wireless types. All my ground floor external doors and windows are so protected. -- *Husband and cat lost -- reward for cat Dave Plowman London SW To e-mail, change noise into sound. |
#24
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Intruder alarms - wired or wireless?
Andrew Gabriel wrote:
In article , (A.Lee) writes: I've been asked to fit an alarm for a customer. They currently have a wired one that is 20 years old, so needs replacing as it is falling apart, especially the door sensors. Fitting a wireless one would be far easier for me, but are they reliable enough? What are you protecting it against? A clueless stoned druggie looking for something to sell quick, Thanks for the replies. I went to my electrcal dealer yesterday, and got one of these: http://www.security.honeywell.com/uk.../ac/291426.htm l Recommended by them, the main box can be fitted anywhere, you then only have the keypad(s) on show, there'll be 2 of those, front and back doors. The sensors and bell boxes are all sold separately, as well as the window/door detectors, which I dont think will be bought. Sensors are fitted (generally) at the wall/ceiling join, so no problem with decoration to fit them afterwards, or move position. The house certainly needs an alarm, as the recently fitted front door can be forced open in 10 seconds (guess how I found that out!). Thanks Alan. -- To reply by e-mail, change the ' + ' to 'plus'. |
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