How Burglar Alarms Work

Burglar alarms are common in modern homes today. Unfortunately, only few people care enough to know how these actually work. Once they know how burglar alarms work, they will know how to utilize them to their fullest potential as well as know which systems would suit them best.

They will also know how to maintain their own systems and prevent or lessen false alarms. Usually, people just install them and they don't know how to use them. This might cause more harm and losses than gains for people who are ignorant.

The operation of a burglar alarm is the same that of an electric circuit. In order to know about burglar alarms and how they work, one has to compare them to a simple electric circuit or appliance. For example, one has to turn on a switch to turn of the lights or any other appliance. This principle works in the same way with burglar alarms. The only difference is that the movements of an intruder will be detected by the switch. If an intruder breaks in a house through a door or window, his movements will be detected by a switch which will trigger the burglar alarm.

There are 2 categories of circuits:the closed-circuit as well as the open-circuit system. In a closed circuit system, when a door or window is shut, the electric circuit is closed. This means that electricity can flow from one end to another in the circuit. But when the door or window is opened by an intruder, the circuit will be open, thus the alarm will be triggered. This works opposite in an open-circuit system. The alarm will instead be triggered when the door or window is closed. The alarm will sound once the circuit is closed.

In knowing about burglar alarms and how they work, one should recognize the magnetic sensor and know how it works. The magnetic sensor is composed of:

1. A battery that is powering the circuit 2. A spring-driven switch made of metal that is built onto a door or window frame 3. A magnet that is embedded in the door or window, also lined up with the switch 4. A buzzer that is powered separately with a relay-driven switch

When magnetic sensor will detect the movements in the door or window, it would send signals to the control box which would in turn send a signal to the alarm device, such as a bell. The bell will sound the alarm, which will frighten the intruder or make him go away. The control box also can send a signal to the police department so that they can come and apprehend the intruder. This is located in a safe place so that the intruder cannot find and disengage it.

This is the basic concept of burglar alarms and how they work. Once somebody can get the basic idea, he can then use this knowledge to find better ways to maintain and develop his security system.