How to Make a Trigger for a Burglar Alarm

Enter the password in the burglar alarm's control panel keypad to disarm the system. Spray the vibration sensor on the window with glass cleaner. Soak the edges of the sensor with the spray to loosen the adhesive holding it to the window. Let the spray soak in for five minutes. Pull the sensor off the window. Wipe the window dry with a soft cloth.

Cut the two wires from the sensor with wire cutters. Strip a half inch of insulation off the ends of the two wires with a wire stripper. Dispose of the cut insulation.

Plug in a soldering iron and let it heat up for five minutes. Solder the exposed end of one of the two wires clipped off the sensor to one side of one of the two copper strips.

Solder the exposed end of the other wire to one side of the other copper strip. Let the solder set for five minutes as you unplug the soldering iron.

Open the window slightly. Hold one of the two copper strips with the wired end facing to the right. Place the other end of the strip against the bottom edge of the window at the extreme right side so that the strip overlaps onto the edge of the window frame. Screw a wood screw through the strip and into the wood of the window using a Phillips screwdriver.

Hold the other copper strip with the wired end facing right. Measure 2 inches up from the windowsill using a tape measure. Place the strip on the right side of the window frame so the left side overlaps onto the window. Screw a wood screw through the strip and into the wood of the window frame using a Phillips screwdriver.

Go to the control panel. Navigate through the menus until you come to the configuration menu. Select this menu. Change the setting for the sensor attached to the window from "Passive" to "Active." This will "trigger" the sensor when the two strips touch each other. Navigate back to the main menu. Enter the password to arm the system.