Burglar alarm/security advice

Tefal · 12 Jan 2017 at 00:40

So moving into the house now, and rhinking of getting a burglar alarm/security system.

No dea where to start looking though really.

rubberduck · 12 Jan 2017 at 08:18

Think I saw you were moving in to a very nice looking new-build. Do these things not come as standard?

Deep · 12 Jan 2017 at 08:59

Get a Texecom Premier

Steampunk · 12 Jan 2017 at 09:15

Decide whether you want monitored or un-monitored, fully wired, or wireless (the latter is easier to self-install).

acake · 12 Jan 2017 at 09:28

a monitored alarm is better for insurance purposes better discount i think than a no monitored one.

For new builds its mostly a added extra when buying from plans as its all pre wired.

I have gone for a SL6 Response on my new build thats 3 years old now and also on my privious house with no problems.Theres probaly better out there now but was easy to fit and set up.

Steampunk · 12 Jan 2017 at 09:46

The problem I see with monitored is the monthly cost, plus the fact they would call the police (who aren't interested in alarms) or call you. There are a lot of newer unmonitored smart alarms that can call you direct without having to pay a monthly fee.

xrs · 12 Jan 2017 at 10:23

Deep said:
Get a Texecom Premier

With the ComiP module. Your alarm can then contact you directly. Or you can monitor it to double check that you have armed the system before leaving.

Felix · 12 Jan 2017 at 11:16

I found the annual cost of alarm monitoring is higher than the discount on your insurance.

I went for a Pyronix Enforcer for mine with an IP card which connects to my router. With an app on my phone I can control it remotely and see each sensor status, look at the recent history (setting alarm, unset, events etc) it also pings up if the intruder alarm or smoke alarms go off.

nutcase · 12 Jan 2017 at 13:26

xrs said:
With the ComiP module. Your alarm can then contact you directly. Or you can monitor it to double check that you have armed the system before leaving.

This - so self monitored as it were.

Steampunk · 12 Jan 2017 at 14:08

Anyone tried any of the newer self-install smart/wireless alarms from Yale? You can check/arm/monitor your system remotely, even check cameras, etc. They don't look too difficult to install and not that expensive.

Felix · 12 Jan 2017 at 14:17

Steampunk said:
Anyone tried any of the newer self-install smart/wireless alarms from Yale? You can check/arm/monitor your system remotely, even check cameras, etc. They don't look too difficult to install and not that expensive.

1 way wifi. Basically you could jam the sensor signal and the panel wouldn't know it is missing.

Steampunk · 12 Jan 2017 at 14:24

Felix said:
1 way wifi. Basically you could jam the sensor signal and the panel wouldn't know it is missing.

Is that the sort of thing that the average opportunistic burglar is going to do though? I want it for a 3-bed semi, not a bank vault!

wakadoo · 12 Jan 2017 at 15:08

Steampunk said:
Anyone tried any of the newer self-install smart/wireless alarms from Yale? You can check/arm/monitor your system remotely, even check cameras, etc. They don't look too difficult to install and not that expensive.

i have just installed the basic yale set in the garage.

1 x PIR
1 x door contact
1 x remote fob
1 x alarm box for outside wall.

oh boy was this a breeze, fasten components where you want them, pull
out the little plastic tabs, er... thats it, you have finished lol.

all works as it should and battery life is 2 years (easy to change them).

now i am going to get the better set for the house.

Tefal · 13 Jan 2017 at 02:00

rubberduck said:
Think I saw you were moving in to a very nice looking new-build. Do these things not come as standard?

Theres a cable for the box ourside but an alarm is an 800 quid optional extra

nutcase · 13 Jan 2017 at 08:25

That's lucky as the hardest part when I was doing mine was getting a wire to the right place for the external sounder.

Felix · 13 Jan 2017 at 08:32

nutcase_1uk said:
That's lucky as the hardest part when I was doing mine was getting a wire to the right place for the external sounder.

Or use a wireless box.

Psycho Sonny · 13 Jan 2017 at 11:20

Steampunk said:
Is that the sort of thing that the average opportunistic burglar is going to do though? I want it for a 3-bed semi, not a bank vault!

I'm not a burglar but if I was I think the first thing I would want to do when robbing a house would be to cut it's power using the main feed (usually outside) that way any alarm, sensors, PIR lighting or CCTV should be rendered useless. However I've not really looked into it as I'm not a burglar.

I think your best defense is lots of systems which don't all rely on 1 thing. So CCTV relying on network - wifi with some sort of UPS. Alarm relying on a sim card / mobile network to notify you through that again with a small UPS as backup.

I don't think the monthly fees for monitored systems are worth it. Having an alarm on it's own should be good enough unless of course you have lots of valuables which can be easily removed at home.

Steampunk · 13 Jan 2017 at 11:47

Psycho Sonny said:
I'm not a burglar but if I was I think the first thing I would want to do when robbing a house would be to cut it's power using the main feed (usually outside) that way any alarm, sensors, PIR lighting or CCTV should be rendered useless. However I've not really looked into it as I'm not a burglar.

Most smart alarms I am looking at have their own battery backup and will alert when the power cuts off. Plus to cut off my power you would have to dig a trench in the street outside, or already have broken in to get to the fusebox. Or destroy the local substation, which I doubt anyone is going to do so that they can climb over a side gate.

Psycho Sonny · 13 Jan 2017 at 12:12

Steampunk said:
Most smart alarms I am looking at have their own battery backup and will alert when the power cuts off. Plus to cut off my power you would have to dig a trench in the street outside, or already have broken in to get to the fusebox. Or destroy the local substation, which I doubt anyone is going to do so that they can climb over a side gate.

Could you not tamper with the feed at the meter? Most seem to be on the outside of houses in plastic casing which is usually broken. Like I said I'm not a burglar but my thinking would be to attack that as the easiest way to disable leccy.

I know everyone in my street has their meter outside their home usually at the front of their home too or the side.

Steampunk · 13 Jan 2017 at 12:16

Psycho Sonny said:
Could you not tamper with the feed at the meter? Most seem to be on the outside of houses in plastic casing which is usually broken. Like I said I'm not a burglar but my thinking would be to attack that as the easiest way to disable leccy.

I know everyone in my street has their meter outside their home usually at the front of their home too or the side.

My electricity meter is on the inside, old school style. They could climb a fence and break into a box to turn off my gas, but that's it.