Burglar Alarms Liverpool
Burglar Alarm Installation Liverpool 

Are Wired or Wireless Home Security Systems Better?

 

A traditional wired alarm system connects security devices such as sensors and cameras to a central control panel via wires. These devices use the wiring of your landline telephone system to communicate. On the other hand, wireless alarms use radio frequencies to link your devices, eliminating the need for wires. Intelligent WiFi alarm systems like Ajax utilize your home WiFi to connect your devices, allowing you to control everything through an app on your smartphone. There is no one-size-fits-all answer to which system is better, as wired security systems offer more reliable signals. In contrast, wireless systems provide a more streamlined installation and can be used in places where wired systems cannot.

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Whats the difference between Wireless alarms and Wired alarms ?

Wifi Burglar Alarms Liverpool

Reliable alarm systems, whether they be wired or wireless, are designed to detect the presence of intruders and can be a visible and practical deterrent to break ins and burglaries. Sophisticated and user-friendly systems are available for installation by Ideal Electrical Solutions and are an affirmative measure to protecting your home, premises and possessions.

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How much does it cost?

Wireless alarms, wireless PIRs, door contacts etc, are more expensive to buy than wired versions. However they are also much easier to install which reduces the installation time and overall cost.

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Hard wired alarm panels and devices are typically cheaper to buy compared to wireless, but there's also the additional cost of the cable, cable clips, trunking etc. Wired systems are usually more expensive in a domestic property due to the complexities and time involved routing and hiding the alarm cables.

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How long does it take to install?

Wireless alarms - Based on a 4 bed detached house – approx 5 hours

Hard wired alarm - Based on a 4 bed detached house – approx 2 days

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What are the running costs?

Batteries in wireless devices (PIRs, Door contacts, keypads, sirens etc) need replacing approximately every 2 years and the main control panel requires a back-up battery change approximately once every 5 years, therefore you will incur slightly higher running costs with wireless.

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Since the devices in a hard wired alarm system do not run on batteries there's no battery replacement cost. However the back-up battery in main control panel and the external siren battery will require changing approximately every 5 years, just like wireless.

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Which system looks the best?

Wireless systems are cleaner and less disruptive to install so typically look a neater job once finished. However the actual aesthetics of the system will look very similar to the hard wired.

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Since hard wired systems require cables connecting the main control hub to each device, there may be unsightly trunking and/or cables clipped around door frames and skirting boards.

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Which system is less likely to false alarm?

Back in the 90's wireless intruder alarms used to false alarm more than hard wired. Technology has moved on a long way since. Opt for one which operates on the 868MHz frequency band, rather than 433MHz, as it's a quieter frequency for alarm systems. Spiders and insects crawling over the PIR lens can also cause false alarms but this is not related to the type of alarm system.

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Hard wired alarms are very reliable. Although most false alarms are caused by mains failures where back-up batteries in the main control panel have not been replaced and no longer hold enough charge to temporarily power the system during a power cut. Like insects crawling across the lens of a PIR, this can happen on both systems. Another good reason for a maintained contract.

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Which is more secure?

Lots of people used to be concerned by the potential to jam RF signals, however since wireless systems now conform to BS EN 50131, they have to have in-built anti-jamming detection, eliminating this concern. Also, like hard wired systems, todays wireless intruder alarm systems have anti-masking technology to ensure motion detectors are not intentionally obstructed.

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If a cable is cut, accidentally damaged or even gnawed through by mice in the loft, the system should alert you via the tamper circuit if installed correctly. However, this will require an alarm engineer liverpool to visit to repair the alarm before the system is usable again, unless you're able to programmatically omit the damaged zones, potentially leaving areas of the property insecure.

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Are they both pet friendly?

Yes, a wireless alarm system can be installed with pet friendly motion sensors.

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Yes, a hard wired system can be installed with pet friendly motion sensors.

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Can I temporarily remove the devices?

Need to remove the motion detector to wallpaper or take off the door contact to paint a door frame? No problem with a wireless system. A tamper warning should alert you when you do this but entering your master code will silence any internal sirens. Once the decorating is done, simply fix the device back in place.

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We do not recommend removing hard wired alarm sensors as things can often go wrong. You could easily reconnect a wire into the wrong terminal when re-fitting the device, disabling this zone from the system, or worse shorting the 12v pair blowing an auxiliary fuse in the main alarm control panel (Bad times. Do not touch!).

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