intruder alarm help please........?

Question

I have moved in to a 3 bedroom house and want to install a hard wired alarm,is it easy to do and what is the best control panel to buy, i'm in england i will need about 6 devices in total

Answer 1

I bought one from Wickes about 10 years ago and with the help of my 12 year old son we fitted it in about a day, full instructions in the box.
Ask your local DIY shop for advice about the type.

Answer 2

Simply the back up battery in the alarm is on the way out and needs replaced. You can buy replacements from Maplin's and just make sure you get the same Ah rating. I changed mine a few years back because of the same problem (which was highlighted by power cuts) and the one installed had a lower Ah rating than what the handbook recommended !! The battery cab be a different size to the old one, just as long the new one its in the alarm box. That's why when there are power cuts, various alarms go off because they've not been checked on a regular basis etc..

Answer 3

Does it have to be hard wired, we've installed a wireless system with little fuss and it's expandable. We even have our outbuildings protected under the same alarm system and it's easy to "zone". This is the second time we've fitted a wireless system and they're easy peasy. The outside alarm box is also solar powered and these systems have never let us down. The control panel is hard wired with a battery back up and took less than a day to do the whole house.Just a thought.

Answer 4

Buy from a local electrical wholesaler. They won't stock anything which isn't robust and reliable, unlike B&Q...
Take a quick sketch of the house layout with you.

If you can afford it, go for one with an LCD display. It'll make programming it a LOT easier. A cable tacker also makes installation a easier if you are surface-mounting.

Getting the 230V into the control panel will be the most difficult bit. I'd take it from lighting rather than sockets given the choice, but always through a 3A FCU. (Double-pole switched ones for preference).

Answer 5

The fact that you are asking if its hard to install hard wiring tells me that for you it really could be. you have to drill holes and fish wires through the cavities in the walls. there are tools to help with this and lots of tricks. I have to say that in theory Pulling the wires in not hard but once you start you could hit a fire break. duct work cement or block. the fish could take a bad turn. and on and on 6 devices seems like a lot to try for on your first pull.

I can't help @ all with the panel. don't think I helped much at all really

good luck

Answer 6

Try using an electrical wholesalers to purchase your alarm system.

When you get it home, use a large board (mdf or chipboard) as a test bed to wire it up . That way you'll know whether you've wired it up correctly.
You'll need to wear ear deafenders because of the noise the siren/strobe makes.
It will save you time and trouble in the long run though.

Answer 7

Call a professional security company...don't mess with electricity unless you know what you are doing. I had mine installed for about $300 U.S. + they monitor my home for about $51 per month (we get a nice discount for our homeowners insurance too!). They have been fantastic...when we went on vacation last summer, someone tried to get in and within 30 seconds all of the emergency contacts were phoned, police arrived...all was good. They also sent us a detailed report listing times, contacts they made, and everything they did that day.

Also, anytime a door or window in my home is opened, a pleasant voice tells me the location and what has been opened ("front door open") ~~~ this is especially nice having teenagers in the house (there is no sneaking out in the middle of the night!)!!!

Answer 8

Hi
Don't cut corners, if you intend to protect your loved ones and your property get a firm of professional to do it, there's nothing more annoying than ill fitted alarms going off at all hours of the day and night.
Ray.West York's. U.K.

Answer 9

Why do you want a hard wired alarm?
Go for the wire free type it's much simpler, no holes to drill through walls, no floorboards to lift and no ugly wires running round your skirting.
can easily be fitted in a day, have a look in B&Q or similar.

Answer 10

Check with neighbors for references to a legitimate dealer that sells them and then go to that store and purchase one and get instructions for installation. We have one here in Reno but it probably isn't available in England. Good luck.
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