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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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Burglar Alarm
"Sanj" wrote in message
... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx Sanj Heard good things about the Maplin ones - have to install yourself though. hth Neil |
#2
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Burglar Alarm
I made the mistake of buying one!!!
After a catalogue of problems and failures I finally removed it; still trying to get the money back! "Neil" wrote in message ... "Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx Sanj Heard good things about the Maplin ones - have to install yourself though. hth Neil |
#3
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Burglar Alarm
"Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx You don't say if you are doing it yourself or spending that to have it installed. If it is the latter it is quite a tight budget, if it is the former that is quite a generous amount. You will always get differing opinions and experiences but (professionally) I'd advise hard wired systems (not radio linked sensors) with easy setting (for all the family not just techno bods) of zones or where you can store different configurations i.e. it is easy to set one way if you leave the house and another way if you go to bed at night. Wire it so you can use it overnight isolating downstairs and perhaps any vulnerable spare upstairs rooms if they have a flat roof etc. It is also a good idea to buy a system with more than enough zones in case you add the garage, shed another outbuilding (many get break-ins overnight). You may want or be able to add an autodialler so it can ring you on a mobile if it goes off, or you can get alarms monitored if it is professionally installed. Some insurance companies give discounts for alarms but look at the terms carefully - the saving is often only 20-30 quid and you may be uninsured if you forget to set it or aren't on a maintainance contract. Don't have too many PIR sensors, make sure the sensors aren't facing directly at heat/movement sources such as cookers and sunny windows, make sure the sensors aren't too sensitive(you can usually adjust). When you site sensors it is a good idea to spray and wipe with insect spray and put a piece of cotton wool concealed just behind previously soaked in insect spray. Most of the work for an alarm is done just by a burglar seeing the box on the front of the house so the ones with flashing LEDs show it is real. When you get it, it is important it has credability and you respect your neighbours. Make sure it doesn't keep going off and you properly shut internal doors, don't have curtains flapping etc. otherwise people don't take any notice. Many areas have by-laws saying alarms should only activate for around 5-20 minutes max. Make sure neighbours know where to get a keyholder if you are away. Test your alarm around once a month, the bell box batteries tend to last only 2-3 years. Many people don't realise their (bell box and panel) batteries have failed as they test on the mains and if switched off the alarm dies in seconds. |
#4
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Burglar Alarm
I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option
dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. "Brownie" wrote in message ... "Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx You don't say if you are doing it yourself or spending that to have it installed. If it is the latter it is quite a tight budget, if it is the former that is quite a generous amount. You will always get differing opinions and experiences but (professionally) I'd advise hard wired systems (not radio linked sensors) with easy setting (for all the family not just techno bods) of zones or where you can store different configurations i.e. it is easy to set one way if you leave the house and another way if you go to bed at night. Wire it so you can use it overnight isolating downstairs and perhaps any vulnerable spare upstairs rooms if they have a flat roof etc. It is also a good idea to buy a system with more than enough zones in case you add the garage, shed another outbuilding (many get break-ins overnight). You may want or be able to add an autodialler so it can ring you on a mobile if it goes off, or you can get alarms monitored if it is professionally installed. Some insurance companies give discounts for alarms but look at the terms carefully - the saving is often only 20-30 quid and you may be uninsured if you forget to set it or aren't on a maintainance contract. Don't have too many PIR sensors, make sure the sensors aren't facing directly at heat/movement sources such as cookers and sunny windows, make sure the sensors aren't too sensitive(you can usually adjust). When you site sensors it is a good idea to spray and wipe with insect spray and put a piece of cotton wool concealed just behind previously soaked in insect spray. Most of the work for an alarm is done just by a burglar seeing the box on the front of the house so the ones with flashing LEDs show it is real. When you get it, it is important it has credability and you respect your neighbours. Make sure it doesn't keep going off and you properly shut internal doors, don't have curtains flapping etc. otherwise people don't take any notice. Many areas have by-laws saying alarms should only activate for around 5-20 minutes max. Make sure neighbours know where to get a keyholder if you are away. Test your alarm around once a month, the bell box batteries tend to last only 2-3 years. Many people don't realise their (bell box and panel) batteries have failed as they test on the mains and if switched off the alarm dies in seconds. |
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Burglar Alarm
On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 10:53:00 +0100, "Sanj" wrote:
I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. I'm curious - why bother covering the bedrooms? I wouldn't have thought it was the most likely point of entry, unless you've got some sort of accessibility which a burglar would use (low roof, substantial drain pipe, overhanging tree, etc). I'd have focussed on the main thoroughfares within the property, and for sure the doors and windows. Andrew Do you need a handyman service? Check out our web site at http://www.handymac.co.uk |
#6
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Burglar Alarm
"Andrew McKay" wrote in message ... On Sat, 19 Jul 2003 10:53:00 +0100, "Sanj" wrote: I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. I'm curious - why bother covering the bedrooms? I wouldn't have thought it was the most likely point of entry, unless you've got some sort of accessibility which a burglar would use (low roof, substantial drain pipe, overhanging tree, etc). It isn't necessary to alarm all the bedrooms unless they are vulnerable or you have a particular risk to protect. Some burglars have burgled each bedroom individually to avoid typically one sensor on a landing but it is usually a targeted premises with known valuables. In Sanj's example it sounds like overkill and a lot of hassle hiding all those wires under floorboards etc. Most three bed semi's would only have around 4 sensors - as I said, the fact that you are alarmed significantly reduces the risk with most (not all) burglars but doesn't prove such a deterrant to overnight burglars as lots of people don't set 'em. |
#7
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Burglar Alarm
If Maplin don't come back with a sensible refund offer, mine will be
advertised on ebay soon, with a full description of why I'm selling it! So if you want a bargain.... "Sanj" wrote in message ... I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. "Brownie" wrote in message ... "Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx You don't say if you are doing it yourself or spending that to have it installed. If it is the latter it is quite a tight budget, if it is the former that is quite a generous amount. You will always get differing opinions and experiences but (professionally) I'd advise hard wired systems (not radio linked sensors) with easy setting (for all the family not just techno bods) of zones or where you can store different configurations i.e. it is easy to set one way if you leave the house and another way if you go to bed at night. Wire it so you can use it overnight isolating downstairs and perhaps any vulnerable spare upstairs rooms if they have a flat roof etc. It is also a good idea to buy a system with more than enough zones in case you add the garage, shed another outbuilding (many get break-ins overnight). You may want or be able to add an autodialler so it can ring you on a mobile if it goes off, or you can get alarms monitored if it is professionally installed. Some insurance companies give discounts for alarms but look at the terms carefully - the saving is often only 20-30 quid and you may be uninsured if you forget to set it or aren't on a maintainance contract. Don't have too many PIR sensors, make sure the sensors aren't facing directly at heat/movement sources such as cookers and sunny windows, make sure the sensors aren't too sensitive(you can usually adjust). When you site sensors it is a good idea to spray and wipe with insect spray and put a piece of cotton wool concealed just behind previously soaked in insect spray. Most of the work for an alarm is done just by a burglar seeing the box on the front of the house so the ones with flashing LEDs show it is real. When you get it, it is important it has credability and you respect your neighbours. Make sure it doesn't keep going off and you properly shut internal doors, don't have curtains flapping etc. otherwise people don't take any notice. Many areas have by-laws saying alarms should only activate for around 5-20 minutes max. Make sure neighbours know where to get a keyholder if you are away. Test your alarm around once a month, the bell box batteries tend to last only 2-3 years. Many people don't realise their (bell box and panel) batteries have failed as they test on the mains and if switched off the alarm dies in seconds. |
#8
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Burglar Alarm
Hello,
Providing you sell it honestly as "faulty" or "not working" ! "Martin" wrote in message ... If Maplin don't come back with a sensible refund offer, mine will be advertised on ebay soon, with a full description of why I'm selling it! So if you want a bargain.... "Sanj" wrote in message ... I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. "Brownie" wrote in message ... "Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx You don't say if you are doing it yourself or spending that to have it installed. If it is the latter it is quite a tight budget, if it is the former that is quite a generous amount. You will always get differing opinions and experiences but (professionally) I'd advise hard wired systems (not radio linked sensors) with easy setting (for all the family not just techno bods) of zones or where you can store different configurations i.e. it is easy to set one way if you leave the house and another way if you go to bed at night. Wire it so you can use it overnight isolating downstairs and perhaps any vulnerable spare upstairs rooms if they have a flat roof etc. It is also a good idea to buy a system with more than enough zones in case you add the garage, shed another outbuilding (many get break-ins overnight). You may want or be able to add an autodialler so it can ring you on a mobile if it goes off, or you can get alarms monitored if it is professionally installed. Some insurance companies give discounts for alarms but look at the terms carefully - the saving is often only 20-30 quid and you may be uninsured if you forget to set it or aren't on a maintainance contract. Don't have too many PIR sensors, make sure the sensors aren't facing directly at heat/movement sources such as cookers and sunny windows, make sure the sensors aren't too sensitive(you can usually adjust). When you site sensors it is a good idea to spray and wipe with insect spray and put a piece of cotton wool concealed just behind previously soaked in insect spray. Most of the work for an alarm is done just by a burglar seeing the box on the front of the house so the ones with flashing LEDs show it is real. When you get it, it is important it has credability and you respect your neighbours. Make sure it doesn't keep going off and you properly shut internal doors, don't have curtains flapping etc. otherwise people don't take any notice. Many areas have by-laws saying alarms should only activate for around 5-20 minutes max. Make sure neighbours know where to get a keyholder if you are away. Test your alarm around once a month, the bell box batteries tend to last only 2-3 years. Many people don't realise their (bell box and panel) batteries have failed as they test on the mains and if switched off the alarm dies in seconds. |
#9
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Burglar Alarm
if your in the west midlands and want an easy to use alarm system, i would
recommend the intellisence range, i have used these consistantly over many years with no problems, my supplier here in Redditch has a 8zone kit with 4 pirs, 2 door contacts, remote keypad, sounder, dummy box, cable, battery, and fused spur for around £120. it aint nothing fancy but can be programmed for full set, part set and at home. loz "Sanj" wrote in message ... I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. "Brownie" wrote in message ... "Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx You don't say if you are doing it yourself or spending that to have it installed. If it is the latter it is quite a tight budget, if it is the former that is quite a generous amount. You will always get differing opinions and experiences but (professionally) I'd advise hard wired systems (not radio linked sensors) with easy setting (for all the family not just techno bods) of zones or where you can store different configurations i.e. it is easy to set one way if you leave the house and another way if you go to bed at night. Wire it so you can use it overnight isolating downstairs and perhaps any vulnerable spare upstairs rooms if they have a flat roof etc. It is also a good idea to buy a system with more than enough zones in case you add the garage, shed another outbuilding (many get break-ins overnight). You may want or be able to add an autodialler so it can ring you on a mobile if it goes off, or you can get alarms monitored if it is professionally installed. Some insurance companies give discounts for alarms but look at the terms carefully - the saving is often only 20-30 quid and you may be uninsured if you forget to set it or aren't on a maintainance contract. Don't have too many PIR sensors, make sure the sensors aren't facing directly at heat/movement sources such as cookers and sunny windows, make sure the sensors aren't too sensitive(you can usually adjust). When you site sensors it is a good idea to spray and wipe with insect spray and put a piece of cotton wool concealed just behind previously soaked in insect spray. Most of the work for an alarm is done just by a burglar seeing the box on the front of the house so the ones with flashing LEDs show it is real. When you get it, it is important it has credability and you respect your neighbours. Make sure it doesn't keep going off and you properly shut internal doors, don't have curtains flapping etc. otherwise people don't take any notice. Many areas have by-laws saying alarms should only activate for around 5-20 minutes max. Make sure neighbours know where to get a keyholder if you are away. Test your alarm around once a month, the bell box batteries tend to last only 2-3 years. Many people don't realise their (bell box and panel) batteries have failed as they test on the mains and if switched off the alarm dies in seconds. |
#10
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Burglar Alarm
That will be the C&K 800L panel. Very good system for a house. Although it doesn't have the outputs, you can
still connect it to a autodialer. www.alertelectrical.com -- SantaUK Mail me at: arjf (ng) zzvyyne (qbg) pb (qbg) hx === ROT13 Use http://andrewu.co.uk/tools/rot13/ to convert to readable format "LOZ34" wrote in message ... if your in the west midlands and want an easy to use alarm system, i would recommend the intellisence range, i have used these consistantly over many years with no problems, my supplier here in Redditch has a 8zone kit with 4 pirs, 2 door contacts, remote keypad, sounder, dummy box, cable, battery, and fused spur for around £120. it aint nothing fancy but can be programmed for full set, part set and at home. loz "Sanj" wrote in message ... I am planning to install myself but have not ruled the professional option dependant on price. I live in the west midlands region and have a big 3 bed semi, I would like to cover all 3 bedrooms, upstairs and downstairs landing/hallway, and 3 rooms downstairs. An auto dialler would be desirable but not essential. "Brownie" wrote in message ... "Sanj" wrote in message ... Hi I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx You don't say if you are doing it yourself or spending that to have it installed. If it is the latter it is quite a tight budget, if it is the former that is quite a generous amount. You will always get differing opinions and experiences but (professionally) I'd advise hard wired systems (not radio linked sensors) with easy setting (for all the family not just techno bods) of zones or where you can store different configurations i.e. it is easy to set one way if you leave the house and another way if you go to bed at night. Wire it so you can use it overnight isolating downstairs and perhaps any vulnerable spare upstairs rooms if they have a flat roof etc. It is also a good idea to buy a system with more than enough zones in case you add the garage, shed another outbuilding (many get break-ins overnight). You may want or be able to add an autodialler so it can ring you on a mobile if it goes off, or you can get alarms monitored if it is professionally installed. Some insurance companies give discounts for alarms but look at the terms carefully - the saving is often only 20-30 quid and you may be uninsured if you forget to set it or aren't on a maintainance contract. Don't have too many PIR sensors, make sure the sensors aren't facing directly at heat/movement sources such as cookers and sunny windows, make sure the sensors aren't too sensitive(you can usually adjust). When you site sensors it is a good idea to spray and wipe with insect spray and put a piece of cotton wool concealed just behind previously soaked in insect spray. Most of the work for an alarm is done just by a burglar seeing the box on the front of the house so the ones with flashing LEDs show it is real. When you get it, it is important it has credability and you respect your neighbours. Make sure it doesn't keep going off and you properly shut internal doors, don't have curtains flapping etc. otherwise people don't take any notice. Many areas have by-laws saying alarms should only activate for around 5-20 minutes max. Make sure neighbours know where to get a keyholder if you are away. Test your alarm around once a month, the bell box batteries tend to last only 2-3 years. Many people don't realise their (bell box and panel) batteries have failed as they test on the mains and if switched off the alarm dies in seconds. |
#11
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Burglar Alarm-an actual answer to the posters question!!
"Sanj" wrote in message m
I am in the process of buying a burglar alarm for a 3 bedroom semi-detached house. Has anyone bought any good (wired) alarms recently I have a budget of £200-250 Advice needed....thanx From what I have read you are in the Midlands. For a DIY kit I would recommend www.securitysupermarket.co.uk , they are Midlands based, have a wide range of gear, an easy to fill in "survey" sheet to make sure you buy the right kit and a 24 hour help line. £250.00 will buy you a lot of gear. Regards Scott |
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