About Home Alarms and Security Systems

Evolution

• Security systems used to feature bells and other noisemakers that were attached to doors and windows to alert the building tenants if those entrances were breached. That method gave way to a loud, battery-powered bell enclosed in a metal housing connected via wires to the doors. When a door was opened when the system was on, the bell would go off in response. Next came alarm systems that could connect directly to the police station via the telephone. Wireless technology as of 2011 still enables this, even when there's no phone line.

How They Work

• Most security systems rely on a series of sensors to alert the main control panel about security breaches or problems and then the control panel will send a signal to the siren to activate the alarm itself and will also notify the monitoring company and emergency services if it is programmed to do so. A door or window sensor is composed of two parts: a transmitter and a magnet. The transmitter stays on the frame while the magnet is attached to the door or window itself so it is in range of the transmitter. When a door or window is opened with the alarm on, the magnet is pulled away from the transmitter, which then sends a signal to the control panel, resulting in alarm activation.

Major Companies

• ADT is one of the largest security companies in the world and it grew its client-base even more when parent company Tyco purchased Broadview, which was the home security branch of Brinks. ADT has its own alarm monitoring centers as well and supplies services to authorized ADT alarm dealers. General Electric manufactures a number of security system models, many of which are intended for do-it-yourself installation. Vivint is the new name for the home security company formerly known as APX Alarm, which has been in business since 1999 and whose call centers received the J.D. Power and Associates "Outstanding Customer Service Experience" certification in 2008.

Additional Peripherals

• Numerous devices can be added to a basic home alarm system to increase its effectiveness. Motion-sensor-controlled lighting is a useful tool for the exterior perimeter of a home because lighting that activates when someone approaches works as an effective deterrent at keeping people away. Security cameras are beneficial in corporate security where a larger number of people are going in and out of the building and the cameras help prevent theft and catch those responsible for it. Smoke detectors are a must in any building, but they can also be wired into a security system so the fire department is automatically notified when an alarm activates, which decreases response time in the event of an emergency.