Selecting an Alarm System

Wired systems are, generally speaking, less expensive to install since they use less hardware. Wireless systems, while costing somewhat more, are easier and faster to install. If your building has easy access to the attic or a basement with exposed joists above, it can be easy for someone with basic handiman skills to wire the system. If not, you may want to consider using a wireless system. Combined wired / wireless systems (called "hybrids") can offer the best of both worlds -- inexpensive sensors for most of the system and a few wireless devices in locations that may be more difficult to run a wire.

The best way to wire an alarm system is with each sensor in a separate sensing circuit (calloed a "zone"). That way, if a sensor is tripped you can tell exactly where the problem is. If you only plan to wire three or four doors and install a few motion detectors, an 8-zone system will be fine. But if you plan to wire the windows, add smoke detectors or other sensors, consider a larger control panel with 16, 32 or even 96 zones. Systems generally come with 8 zones on the alarm control panel (the "brain" of the system) and most can be expanded using EZM's (Expansion Zone Modules). Some of our keypads also have built-in zone expanders allowing you to connect nearby sensors directly to the keypad. Finally, wireless devices can be part of the total number of zones in a system.

In many offices and small stores a single keypad will be sufficient. Everyone comes and goes through the same door. In a private home, it's usually convenient to have one keypad near the door leading to the garage or driveway and another inside the master bedroom. If there's a separate area, such as an inlaw apartment, consider putting a keypad there as well. In a commercial location with office and warehouse space it may be necessary to arm and disarm these "partitions" separately, so install a keypad next to the main exit doors for each area.

Smaller systems typically offer from 4 to 8 user codes. In most homes the parents use one code, the children another and that's about it. But in an office environment it's often useful to give each empoloyee a unique code. We offer systems with anywhere from 8 to over 200 codes.

Some systems can be separated into different partitions (called "areas"). For example, a home with an in-law apartment or a separate garage can be protected with a single alarm system but with each area being armed and disarmed independantly. The house miight be disarmed while the family is home but the garage system is armed. We carry systems with from 1 to 8 partitions.