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InstallAlarm.com |
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Alarm Panels Alarm Panels vary widely in features, functions and usability. Physically installing and wiring the alarm may be the easy part in some cases. Commercial grade alarms from the big manufacturers are designed to be installed by trained professional installers. These panels can be very difficult to program correctly and many are designed to be "monitored" by professional monitoring companies. Programming these panels can be difficult to learn and may take more time than the physical installation. Companies like DSC, Honeywell, Ademco, and GE build commercial panels as well as panels designed for installation by individuals. Panels designed for individual installation can be MUCH easier to program. Some panels from the big residential installers like Brinks and ADT can only be programmed by the installer. These panels are controlled exclusively by the installing company and finding information in them can be virtually impossible. Of course this is part of their business plan! That $99 or $199 alarm system typically does not include the monthly monitoring cost that MUST be paid as part of your contract. Even after your contract expires you may find that the panel is useless (disabled by the co.). If you read the fine print, you will find that you don't even own the panel! Specific panel questions should be covered in the forums section. There are to many to cover completely here. We will cover a couple of basic examples. On the low end of the scale is a system from Radio Shack. The model 49-451 is a 2 zone panel designed for small installations. The package includes the panel (alarm center), 1 keypad, and AC power supply. You still need to supply a siren, backup battery, wire, and at least one sensor. Features include delayed entry/exit (zone 1), Panic/tamper zone (actually a 3rd zone), pre-alarm, and multiple outputs. This system contains no inherit ability to communicate with a central monitor or include any sort of dialer. It does include no and nc connections for each of the first two zones. I have used this system with as many as 14 sensors and there is no reason that you could not use more. Zone 1 is the delay zone and there are manual adjustments (knobs) to set the amount of entry/exit delay. Zone 2 is an instant zone. Multiple keypads can be installed (up to 4). The included manual is fairly comprehensive covering many of the subjects on this site. Programming does not get any simpler, you only need to setup the arm/disarm code. Two LEDs on the keypad help with programming and give system status. This panel can be used with a dialer to provide a usable self-monitored system. A popular commercial panel from DSC is the Power832 or PC5010.
This is a fully programmable panel that comes standard with 8 zones and can be
expanded to 32 zones through hardware upgrades. It supports 38 access
codes, wireless expansion, smoke detector connections, and a host of other
programmable features. It can also be expanded to support additional
outputs to control lights or other electrical devices. It is designed to
work with a central monitor and can simultaneously support personal paging.
There are also add-on modules for cellular backup (to central station) and a
variety of keypad types. Some keypads even have additional zone
connections for expansion and ease of wiring. Other add-ons include
modules that allow telephone control of the system, intercom capabilities,
printer output connection, and PC control. This is a very capable panel.
As you might expect, programming this panel requires experience or LOT's of
patience. The panel and manual are designed for experienced installers.
Inexperienced installers could spend days just figuring out where to start.
But if your willing, all of the information you need is supplied. This
panel by itself is not great for self-monitored
systems unless used in conjunction with commercial monitoring services and then
it only provides basic paging. It can be successfully used with a dialer
however and provides programmable outputs that help in this configuration.
The programmable zones allow for different entry and exit delays by zone and
different arming modes for arming while at home or arming when leaving. All in one alarms All in one alarm units are getting more popular for self installers. These units offer the convenience of easy installation and less wiring to run, especially the wireless units. The only drawback is that they are fairly easy to disable. Since they also contain the keypad, they must be mounted in an easily accessible location. That of course is the problem! Want to disable one of these? Simply rip it off the wall and pull the wires out. Not exactly my idea of security! Of course they are better than nothing. Mounting location You should mount the alarm panel in a hidden location! If intruders can easily find the panel they won't hesitate to rip it down in an attempt to disable it. If properly located, the system will dial before the intruder locates the system. Closets are the best locations. It should not be mounted outside, in a hot attic or garage. You should also consider that a lot of wiring will be run to the panel. Wires for sensors, power, keypads, sirens, and phone all need to be routed inside the panel. Typically it is mounted in a closet onto a sheetrock wall where wiring can be routed through the wall to the inside through the rear of the enclosure. This will require a lot of wiring into the wall to and from the attic. Power can be obtained from any non-switchable ac outlet. It may even be desirable to get power from another room to make the system more secure. My advice is NOT to show your friends, neighbors, or even kids, where the system components are (except keypad). Not that they are the ones to be concerned with, but you don't know who else they will "show off" to. The fewer that know the lower your exposure.
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