How to Set Up a House Alarm

Setting up a house alarm is largely a matter of determining where to put sensors and where to install a control panel. Much of this is based on your own preference and how sensitive you want the alarms to be.

Step 1

Mount the main control board in an area where it has access to power, cable and telephone lines. Make sure you place it somewhere with plenty of space so you can run cables from the sensors in the house back to the unit.

Step 2

Close your window. Place one of the window sensors on the window sash that opens when you open the window at the very edge of the sash next to the frame. Place the corresponding window sensor on the frame next to the first sensor on the sash. The sensors should be flush so that when the window opens, the sensor will notice and the alarm will sound. Make sure that the sensors are not overlapping or hanging over an edge. The sensors need to be flush with each other and the window, so opening and closing the window does not cause damage to the sensors or windows. Once placed, run the cable back to the main control board.

Step 3

Install the door sensors in the same fashion as the window sensors. These sensors need to be flush with each other and the threshold of the doors. Overlapping of either part may cause unwanted operation or damage to the doors.

Step 4

Find a place next to your most often used doors to install a control panel at which you can arm or disarm your alarm when you enter or leave your home. Mount the unit by driving the screws into the wall. This should be done on a stud inside your wall, so the screws are mounted into something solid.

Step 5

Finish mounting any sensors and control units you wish there to be in the house. Run all the cables for each of them back to the main control hub.

Skill: Moderately Easy

Ingredients:

  • Screwdriver

  • House alarm kit

Keyword: set up house alarms


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