What Is a Security Alarm System?

Perimeter Detection Sensors

• The simplest perimeter sensor is a small switch and a magnet. The switch is placed on the frame of a door or window and a magnet is placed on the door or window adjacent to the switch. When the window or door is opened, the magnet moves away from the switch and the switch opens, which sets off an alarm.

At Home Mode

• Security-alarm systems are designed to operate in two basic modes, at home and away. When the alarm is in the at home mode, the perimeter sensors are all active. This is the mode your system should be set in when you are at home and you want to monitor the perimeter.

Away Mode

• When everyone leaves the house, place your system in the away mode. The away mode activates all of the perimeter sensors plus the motion detectors.

Motion Detectors

• Motion detectors monitor heat. If someone enters the room the sensor detects their body heat and sends a signal to the system, setting off an alarm. Motion detectors are activated only when the system is set in the away mode.

Monitoring

• You can have your system monitored by a company that will call the police or fire department should your system alarm go off. Some of the most widely used companies are ADT, GE Security and Brinks.