Home Security
A modern home security system should use door/window sensors, PIR motion/presence detectors, and CCTV cameras. These devices together can keep your family and home safe should the unthinkable happen.
Securing your home – 3 ways of doing it:
- A Home Automation system that performs home security functions by design:
This approach doesn’t see home security as a totally separate function. Rather, standard door and window sensors together with motion/presence sensors are linked to the central HA controller. The HA controller then initiates security actions such as sounding a siren, turning on lights, or sending email alerts based on pre-defined rules. Examples of HA controllers are the MiCasaVerde Vera, Samsung SmartThings etc.
- Dedicated security systems that are linked to home automation system:
Here you have a standard off the shelf home security system that is hooked up to a home automation system. The security system can receive instructions from and send alerts to the HA system. This approach is great if you already have a burglar alarm or CCTV system that has the ability to interface with HA systems. But if you are starting from scratch this is not the most flexible approach. Examples are the Honeywell DSC based alarm systems, the Cytech Comfort Alarm system or other 433 MHz legacy systems.
At the moment, we are renting and so this was the only real option we had – read about our home surveillance system here. However we intend to make this part of a full Z-Wave based HA system when possible.
- Standalone security sub-systems with no home automation – Not recommended:
This is where a standalone burglar alarm or CCTV system is used and these separate systems do not interact with each other. They may or may not be able to interface with HA systems installed at a later date. Popular examples are cheap burglar alarm systems such as the Fortress alarm system that will not interface directly with any other manufacturer’s device.
Elements of Home Security
Break-in detection
- Door and window contact sensors.
- Glass breakage detector.
- Vibration sensors.
Motion detection
- PIR motion sensors, presence detection.
Surveillance systems (CCTV)
- Standalone IP cameras.
- Network Video Recorders.
Learn more:
- IP Camera Comparison Table
- NVR Comparison Table
- How to select an IP Camera – Coming soon
