How to make a DIY burglar alarm
Practical tips and useful information for creating a DIY burglar alarm. The best solution for a simple and safe job. And if you want certified protection for your home, contact the best specialized professional with Instapro.
When to start your DIY burglar alarm?
It’s always the right time to protect your home from intruders. Statistics confirm that there’s no specific season when burglars are at their most active. Obviously, summer, when city apartment buildings empty out, makes our homes particularly vulnerable. But it’s equally true that the same applies, when the seasons are reversed, to second homes by the sea or in the mountains. Furthermore, since it’s a quick job and doesn’t involve any invasive work inside the home, at least with the solution we suggest in this guide, you can start your home defense project now .
DIY burglar alarm: the materials you need
The components of an alarm are based on a few essential elements:
- Motion sensors : with infrared operation, or with microwave heat detection and volumetric displacement.
- Cameras : indoor or outdoor, with IP or GSM operation.
- Control unit : this is the brain of the alarm system, it receives notifications from sensors and cameras and issues the set commands by sending the signal to the mobile phone or security service to which it is connected.
- Siren : to notify of attempted break-ins.
There are practical wireless burglar alarm kits on the market, which are the ones we’ll discuss in this guide. They’re the simplest way to install a DIY burglar alarm , requiring no masonry work or electrical work, and are suitable for small to medium-sized apartments.
DIY burglar alarm: the tools you need
Here’s what you need to get started and create a DIY alarm system:
- Pen and paper for the initial design: carefully study the access and passage points of your home. Depending on the layout, it may be more appropriate to choose one type of sensor or camera rather than another.
- Drill and flat and Phillips screwdriver for assembly: you will have to make holes in the walls corresponding to the points where you have decided to fix the sensors, or the video cameras.
DIY burglar alarm: easy and ready, but on one condition
What are the prerequisites for a functional and cost-effective DIY alarm system? First and foremost, you need to understand the legal limitations. For this reason, you won’t find any instructions on how to install a wired DIY burglar alarm in this guide . This isn’t just because it’s a more complicated manual job, involving work on the walls and knowing how to connect the cables from each detector to the control unit. It’s also because, in most cases, completing these steps requires modifying or intervening on the existing electrical system . This operation is prohibited—according to current legislation, and in particular Ministerial Decree 37/2008—for non-specialized and unauthorized personnel. None of these issues arise, however, with a wireless burglar alarm kit, for which we’ll provide the installation steps. Please note: each manufacturer provides specific installation instructions.
- First, position the PIR detectors , i.e. the sensors, and then mount the control unit.
- Connect the power adapter and turn on the control panel . At this stage, you can also program the alarm system and synchronize the various components.
- Set the system to test mode and disable the tamper control panel so you don’t activate the siren while you’re working on the various devices.
- Mount the alarm siren high up on an exterior wall, where it’s clearly visible. Secure the motion sensors , and once they’re fully installed, re-enable the system’s tamper detection function.
- Perform the setup to test the correct functioning of the alarm system.
How much does a professional burglar alarm cost?
It’s a valid question, because a DIY burglar alarm system is a valid aid in emergency situations and allows for considerable short-term savings in time and money, but it doesn’t guarantee the results of a professional alarm system . Why? First of all, the system is more likely to generate errors and trigger false alarms. Furthermore, installation isn’t always intuitive, and you need to carefully choose the different brands of kits available. So why not learn more about the different options available? This pricing guide may be helpful in determining the cost of a home burglar alarm .
A trusted professional? Find them on Instapro and save money.
Finding a professional who meets your budget and quality requirements has never been easier. With just one click, you can contact— free and with no obligation —the companies specializing in burglar alarm installation in your area. Fill out the online request now, specifying the type of service you’re interested in. As quickly as possible, we at Instapro will get to work identifying the most qualified professionals among our team for your needs. You’ll receive their responses within 24-48 hours , and you’ll be able to choose the best offer and the most suitable professional profile. To do this, you can take advantage of reviews from other customers who have already tested their services. Finally, you’ll decide who to contact for one or more customized quotes.
Instapro: Who we are and what we do
Our mission is ” keep it simple .” What? Your home improvement projects. From 2015—when the online quote platform Instapro was launched—to today, our goal has always been the same: to effectively and reliably connect professionals and clients. How do we do it? With a team of over 120 employees constantly committed to finding a simple and reliable solution for those like you who need qualified professionals for small home maintenance and modernization jobs, as well as for major renovations. A mission that unites us with the network of international companies to which we belong, all dedicated to the world of home improvement professionals.
