How to Build Your Own Burglar Alarm Pressure Mat

Place the battery pack on the work surface with the side that has the two contacts facing you. Heat up the soldering iron for five minutes.

Cut three 4-foot lengths of electric wire from the electric wire spool, using wire cutters. Strip 1/2 inch of insulation from both ends of each wire, using wire strippers. Dispose of the cut insulation in the trash.

Solder an end of one of the wires to the positive (+) contact on the battery pack. Let the solder cool for a minute. Solder an end of another wire to the negative (-) contact on the battery pack. Let the solder cool for a minute.

Solder the free end of the electric wire connected to the positive (+) contact to the positive (+) contact on the DC-powered buzzer. Let the solder cool for a minute. Solder an end of another electric wire to the negative (-) contact on the buzzer. Let the solder cool for a minute.

Place the clothespin on the work surface with the open ends facing to the right. Strip an additional 3 inches from the end of the electric wire connected to the negative (-) contact on the buzzer and from the end of the electric wire connected to the negative (-) contact on the battery pack.

Wrap the exposed end of one of the two wires around the top end of the clothespin. Apply a drop of solder to the wire. Let the solder cool for a minute. Wrap the exposed end of the other wire around the bottom end of the clothespin and apply a drop of solder. Let the solder cool for a minute.

Place the doormat in front of the door that will be protected by the pressure mat burglar alarm you are making. Place the clothespin beneath the mat, closest to the edge facing the door.

Place the buzzer against the baseboard of the door. Insert batteries into the battery pack to power your pressure mat burglar alarm, which will sound when someone walks on the mat and pushes the ends of the clothespin together.