Multi-function Alarms – Why You Need One
A multifunction alarm can help you alert yourself or others to theft or aggressors. Such an alarm can have tools such as a flashlight, sound alarm, or smoke detector.
One of the ways to keep yourself safe and secure is through having your own personal alarm system. It can be useful if you frequently walk home or travel home alone. You might also need this security system if you leave your house or property unattended for long periods of time. There are many ways for you to get into trouble, whether you are standing still in one place or moving from one place to another. You need to find the best ways to keep yourself safe, and one way is to get yourself a multifunction alarm.
A multifunction personal alarm comes in many shapes, sizes, and models, and it may include a variety of tools. One of them is a flashlight. A flashlight is not only useful for you to get around in the dark: it can also be used as a signaling device because of its special LED. With its help, you can signal to people far away that you are in trouble and is in need of assistance. Sometimes, this flashlight may be replaced by a strobe or a laser pointer-like LED device.
This multipurpose tool also comes with its own sound alarm. This emits a high decibel beep when you are attacked.
It can alert people in the vicinity that you are being attacked. This can be useful if you are working at night or walking around in an area where there are not too many people or whom are sleeping. You can always wake them up with a loud sound, but you might not be able to catch their attention by simply turning your flashlight on.
There are also multifunction alarms that might be helpful for frequent travelers. They usually have trigger pins that sets off an alarm when they are released. You can attach this type of alarm to your bag to avoid theft. This alarm system is usually equipped with a nifty smoke detector, which you can carry to places that do not have smoke detectors, such as hotels in secluded areas. This can protect you from succumbing to suffocation from a fire.
Other multifunction alarms mighy come with additional safety tools, such as a small knife or mace, which you can also use to protect yourself. As technology becomes more modernized, more alarm models will be available. For more information on multifunction alarms and how you can get one that will suit your needs, talk to your security items retailer or to a security.
Categories: Cool Gadgets, Home Security Tags: alarm, anti theft, home safety, multifunction alarm
PIR Sensor Alarm – the Technology Behind it
A PIR sensor can pick up infrared radiation from surrounding objects. Once temperatures change due to a moving intruder, the alarm connected to such a sensor can go off.
Safety is a big issue nowadays, whether you are talking about home or business. One way to ensure this is to install alarms, and one kind of alarm is the PIR Sensor Alarm, which is based on the technology of the Passive InfraRed sensor. The infrared sensor is an electronic gadget that measures the degree of infrared light radiated by objects that pass through or that are picked up by the sensor. Such sensors are used to build motion detectors, which are attached to alarms.
A PIR sensor can sense movement through changes in temperature. For instance, if a human passes in front of a source of infrared radiation that is of a different temperature, say a wall, safe, or display case then the sensor will detect the change in temperature and set off an alarm. This is because all objects emit black body radiation; IR radiation may be invisible to human eyes, but electronic devices such as the PIR sensor can spotthis radiation. While some infrared sensors will emit infrared light beams, a passive infrared sensor will simply accept and detect incoming radiation.
You can think of the PIR sensor as an infrared camera that remembers how much infrared energy is on its surface. When power is applied to the sensor, the electronics will control a set of circuits that are connected to and can activate the control panel of a security alarm. When a person enters the PIR sensor’s monitored area, the sensor picks up the infrared energy that the person’s body emits. This infrared energy is then focused by a segment of mirror or a Fresnel lens. This detected energy overlaps a certain part of the sensor chip that was measuring a cooler part of an area that the PIR is protecting. As the person moves, the hot spot on the sensor chip also moves, which can activate the alarm through input that is interpreted as detection.
In other words, differences in temperature can call the alarm up. The PIR sensor can be overrun with an intruder holding a thermal shield that would make him or her have the same radiation and temperature as the surrounding area. This is very difficult to achieve, however, so a PIR sensor can be useful in protecting houses, businesses, and other establishments that need security from intruders. For more information on the best PIR sensor for your home or business, talk to your local security retailer.
Categories: Cool Gadgets, Home Security Tags: alarm, business security, family safety, Home Security, personal alarm, PIR sensor
Stay Awake Devices for Sleepy Drivers
A driver alarm can keep you awake while driving. You attach it to your ear, and when your head nods below a certain angle, you will hear a loud sound and be awakened.
Driving can be exciting when you are taking short trips, say, out in the country, along the coast, or in a completely different culture altogether. But for longer trips, long-haul, cross-country trips, driving can be a dreaded task. For one, back roads can be extremely dangerous, and you could end up in a lot of trouble if you make a pit stop at a place that you know nothing about. You could also be too tired to drive, and when you fall asleep at the wheel, you can say goodbye to safety.
There are devices, however, that will allow you to stay awake at the wheel. These so-called driver alarms will emit loud sounds if you are detected to be falling asleep. One such driver alarm looks like a wireless phone device: you attach it to your ear, and when your neck and head fall below a certain allowable angle, it will start sounding and the sound will wake you up. This operates on the principle that when you start to fall asleep, then your head will nod and go below a certain angle that makes it difficult for you to see the road. You can avoid danger by getting yourself awakened, albeit rudely, by the driver alarm.
There are many people who now use and who could still benefit from the driver alarm. For one, truck drivers spend a lot of time on the road and are often the most tired from their long haul drives. If you are moving your things across the country, you will be driving at night, and you may also need such an alarm. In bad weather, you could find yourself stuck on the road late in the evenings, and you may be too tired to watch out for your safety. If you are on the graveyard shift at work, then you will also need your driver alarm to keep you awake. No matter how much coffee you drink, and no matter how well you think you have adapted your body to a new biological clock, you still need to stay awake at the wheel.
A driver alarm is only one tool that you can use in order to stay awake while driving. For more information on the different kinds of driver alarms, talk to a driving expert, or to safety experts who might know retailers that offer the driver alarm. Your safety, and the safety of other drivers on the road, can be ensured with a good driver alarm.
Categories: Cool Gadgets Tags: alarm, driver alarm, personal safety
Telespy Phone Security Device to Monitor Your Valuables
If you are in the market for a security monitoring device, you will be amazed by the telespy phone which is a very inexpensive and unassuming device. You would never believe that this slimline phone is also a sophisticated motion sensor activated alarm device which you can place in a vulnerable location and leave in the full knowledge that you are secure.
When we leave our home or office during the evenings or at weekends we often feel that it is vulnerable and should consider using a Telespy phone. This amazing device is set to trigger if anything larger than a typical 40 pound human being enters the room and just walks around. The device will automatically call a number that you have programmed in.
The Telespy phone will record any movement within the room up to a distance of 30 feet away. When you are setting it up, you need to monitor the green LED light which is provided for this purpose and when walking around the perimeter make sure that is still on. When you are done, the light will not alert anyone to its existence in future. One of the beauties of this device is that it is fully portable and you may carry it with you and use in your hotel room.
When an intruder enters your room he will not be alerted to the existence of the Telespy phone because it looks like a conventional unit. He will not realize that the phone will have called your number, allowing you to listen in to whatever is going on in the room for up to 30 seconds. Should this not be enough, the phone will re-arm itself and call you back with another 30 seconds of listening time. You should then decide whether to call the police or not.
The Telespy phone can be a great security device if you have a safe which you need to protect. Just place the phone near to the safe and should somebody enter the room it will automatically call your personal or cell phone. In this way, you may even be able to alert the authorities before somebody attempts to break into the safe.
For such a simple device, the Telespy phone is very sophisticated. It uses PIR, or “passive infrared technology” to sense any disruptions to a room’s unique heat signature through the use of radio wave technology. Should something be detected, it has a very sensitive microphone condenser to allow you to listen in.
Always consider the use of several layers of security if you have some significant valuables to protect, whether at home or at work. The Telespy phone could be a great and inexpensive option.
All you need to operate the Telespy phone is the availability of a conventional, landline telephone system. Just use the enclosed adapter and plug the device in and you should not arouse anyone’s suspicions.
Categories: Cool Gadgets, Home Security Tags: alarm, home alarm, Home Security, monitor
What to Look for in a Garage Door Alarm
Left open or not, the garage door is one of the commonly used entry points of burglars. Protect your home by installing a garage door alarm.
Important Features of Garage Door Alarms
When shopping for garage door alarms, make sure that your product of choice comes with the features listed below.
Multiple Zone Monitoring
Since you’re buying an alarm in the first place, make the most out of it by choosing a device that’s capable of monitoring multiple zones. The more, the better, but if you have a budget to consider, make sure that at least your front and back doors are secured as well.
Visible and Audio Alerts
Alerts must be loud and immediately distinguishable if it monitors multiple zones. Alerts must also be visual especially if you have hearing-impaired individuals living with you.
The range of your alarm’s receiver is sure to affect the audio volume of its alert. Look for the widest range possible as this will allow you to install the receiver at any part of your home.
Interoperability with Other Security Devices
Even if you don’t think you need additional security devices, there’s no way to be certain that you won’t have any such need in the future. Thus, it’s best to choose a garage door alarm that can work with other security devices. If and when you do add a motion sensor or a water alert, you won’t have to replace your garage door alarm as they can be configured to work together.
Audio Options
Volume of your garage door alarm may be modified or completely switched off. It may also be temporarily muted if you need to leave your garage door open for any reason.
Adjustable Delay Timers
Many garage door alarms allow you to make use of delay timers. This is ideal if you don’t want to go to the trouble of having to switch the alarm on and off every time you leave or enter the garage. Length of delay may be adjusted from a few seconds to several minutes.
Power
The best garage door alarms are those that can be plugged to an electrical socket but are also equipped with backup battery power. When batteries are used, indicator lights will flash to let users know if the alarm is running low on power.
Control
Lastly, controls for garage door alarms must be secured with a password or security key switch.
If not, burglars with inside help can have the alarm switched off with no one the wiser.
Categories: Cool Gadgets, Home Security Tags: alarm, Home Security, personal alarm, security device
Magnetic Door Alarm – Keep Your Home Safe without Turning It into a Prison
Barbed wire and electric fences are simple but effective ways to deter burglars and other wrongdoers, but they aren’t exactly easy on the eye. If you want to retain the beauty of your home but without sacrificing the safety of your loved ones, consider using magnetic door alarms.
How Magnetic Door Alarms Work
When you install a magnetic door alarm to any door in your home, it will emit a shrill sound every time the specified door is open and it will only cease ringing when the door is closed. Burglars and vandals are sure to flee your home immediately when they realize that the alarm has alerted home occupants to their presence.
Quick and Easy Installation
All you need is double stick tape and your magnetic door alarm is ready to act as your 24/7 bodyguard. Make sure, however, that the distance between the sensor and the magnetic door alarm is no greater than half an inch.
Benefits of Magnetic Door Alarms
Here are several reasons why magnetic door alarms make an ideal home security device.
Affordable
Why spend so much money on other home security devices when you can get the same result from magnetic door alarms?
User-Friendly
They are very easy to operate. It comes with a on-off switch for instant activation and deactivation.
Discreet Design
Unlike other home security devices, magnetic door alarms do not stand out like eyesores in an otherwise beautifully decorated room. They are not that much different from wall-mounted switches in terms of appearance.
When you install them on top of the door, they might as well be unnoticeable. They’ll also be out of your children’s reach, which is a good thing because they won’t be able to accidentally deactivate the alarm.
How Magnetic Door Alarms Can Help You
Besides deterring potential intruders, magnetic door alarms can also protect your loved ones – especially if you have children at home – from other dangers.
Prevent Entry through Windows
Magnetic door alarms may also be used on windows, another commonly used entry point by intruders. You can place them on top of the window and cover them partially with blinds or curtains to hide them from view.
Protect Individuals with Special Needs or Disabilities
Elderly loved ones suffering from Alzheimer’s, children with special needs, and other similar cases require constant supervision. There may be times, however, when your attention strays even for the shortest moment. Unfortunately, that’s long enough for them to go missing.
Don’t wait for this to happen. Use magnetic door alarms to alert you when your loved one attempts to leave the safety of your home.
Categories: Cool Gadgets, Home Security Tags: alarm, family safety, home safety, home security alarm
What are the Pitfalls of Using a Home Alarm System
There are many factors that contribute to making the home safe to live in – the neighborhood, the location and the vigilance of the homeowners and their neighbors. A good home alarm system really is just a backup to ensure security and is an excellent way to boost safety. Most people rely on their home alarm security to keep them safe, discourage an attack, prevent a burglary and generally deter crime. But did you know there are limitations to this system? Here are the most common pitfalls of using a home alarm system that you should know about:
Frequently, home alarm systems need some sort of power backup
Probably the most reliable home alarm system is one that is run by electricity. This is because the homeowner will always be assured that the system is running and that their home is protected. Unfortunately, there are certain pitfalls associated with this feature. These include:
- Sudden loss of power, which could occur during a blackout or power outage
- Tampering of the power line by a potential burglar
- Mechanical failure in the system itself due to power surges
To correct this, most home alarm systems may come with an alternative source of power, such as batteries so the system will continue to run. The only drawback is that if the homeowner is too careless or unmindful of his home alarm system, batteries could run out of power and the system will simply not work. Should a burglar come around at this time, the home will be very vulnerable to an intrusion.
There is a gap between the trigger and the reaction
There are monitored home alarm systems in which the homeowner’s system is connected to a third party, usually a company that provides an alert service. In case the alarm is tripped due to a burglary, the company will call the homeowner, wait for a confirmation that it is not a false alarm and then alert the nearest security personnel (usually a police department) to check on the premises.
In this system, there are pitfalls that homeowners should be aware about. First, the third party usually waits for up to 45 seconds before calling the homeowner for confirmation after the alarm is tripped. That’s usually enough time for a burglar to steal a few things and leave before the homeowner confirms the integrity of the alarm.
Second, it could take the police several minutes to arrive – enough time for a skillful burglar to make off with some of the valuables he finds in the house.
Third, if the third party does make that call, there is no guarantee that it will be answered 100% of the time. The homeowner may be sound asleep, unable to come to the phone or the phone may be defective due to mechanical or electrical failure.
To avoid this pitfall, the homeowner should ask about an option such as using a mobile phone or even a radio to confirm with the third party. This will ensure that his home and valuables are safe, the occupants are protected against physical harm and that his home alarm system is working properly.
Categories: Cool Gadgets, Home Security Tags: alarm, family safety, home alarm system, security