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I would like to plan for an intrusion detection system in a home that is currently under construction. The home has a walkout basement that is sloping, shown in the rear elevation picture shown below.

I've included an image outlining the major alarm system components to provide a clear reference when referring to different components.

I was planning on installing magnetic contacts (#7113) at each window on the basement, and first floor level. I was planning on installing a garage door contact (#7456) on each garage door. Also, recessed magnetic door contacts (not in component diagram) at each of the 3 first floor entry ways.

I'm planning on installing a keypad near the entry of the front door and the door coming in from the garage (#7508).

The security system itself will be installed in the basement, with 22/4 home-runs running from each window/door contact, and Cat6 from the keypads to the panel.

These are the main questions I have:

  • Should I install a keypad anywhere else?
  • Is it recommended to install window sensors on windows that are not accessible except by a ladder (2nd floor, and some windows on 1st floor)?
  • I need help on where, and how to install glass break sensors (#7356), if necessary and recommended.
  • Do you recommend motion detectors, and if so, where would you recommend them in the floor plan?
  • Where is the siren typically installed?
  • Any other considerations?

Note, that the elevation diagram is from the stock plan purchased from an architect, and the other floor plans are something I put together to show some modifications made to the stock plan/window placements.

Thanks.

Security Diagram

Basement

       Basement

Main Floor

       First Floor

Second Floor

       Second Floor

Rear Elevation Rear Elevation

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  • Best not to use cat6 or any other solid conductor cable. Use screened braided cable in alarm systems it can make a big difference. Aug 5, 2012 at 22:36
  • @RyanWalkowski Why does braided cable make a difference?
    – Steve
    Aug 5, 2012 at 23:22
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    @RyanWalkowski - your statement is confusing. Cat6 comes in both stranded and solid.
    – alx9r
    Aug 6, 2012 at 17:19
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    Motion detectors are your primary means of intrusion detection. Window and door contacts are primarily for ensuring your home in physically secured when you arm you alarm. Any room with a window or door that could conceivably be a route for intrusion should have a motion sensor trained on the door/window.
    – alx9r
    Aug 6, 2012 at 17:25
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    @user115232 This comment clears things up. This is how I see things based on all the excellent comments/answers.. While contacts provide some protection, they don't protect against entry by glass breaking, so then glass break sensors would be required, but these may produce many false-positives, or no alarm at all. However, motion detectors cover all bases (forced entry, etc). Therefore, motion detectors are the primary means of intrusion detection. The real value in contacts, are to provide a status that a home is physically secured.
    – Steve
    Aug 6, 2012 at 18:24

4 Answers 4

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Note, I'm not anywhere near an alarm professional, however I have installed a couple systems before and have just recently been researching again as I prepare to move into a new house where I'd like to install an alarm.

Keypads

You'll want a keypad anywhere you normally enter/exit the house, such as by the garage door or back door. As @bib points out, you may also want one in the master bedroom to be able to use panic, or see status of the system.


Window Contacts

Whether contacts on the windows are worthwhile depends on what you are trying to protect.

  • My opinion is it's better and easier to cover the areas with a motion sensor. If someone breaks the window, the alarm still goes off if they come in. If you want to leave a window open (normally you'd have to bypass the zone to arm) you're still covered.
  • The caveat to this is for "stay" arming. Typically when you're at home and arming the system, all the interior motion sensors are bypassed. If there is a window that is easily accessible from the ground floor, you may want a contact on it. For the second floor, it's probably not likely that someone is going to manage to get a ladder up to your house without either waking you up or making the neighbours suspicious so it's probably overkill there.

Glass breaks

Glass break sensors are another good way to cover likely intrusion points through windows where someone is going to smash it to get in. Patio doors and sidelights beside doors are good options. The sensor you quoted is actually an older style, most of the new ones are audio sensors that listen for the sound of breaking glass and work in anywhere from a 10 to 25' radius (depends on the glass, check specs). You can get these combined with motion sensors as well.

Glass break sensors are good for "stay" arming (when motion sensors are bypassed) or if you want early warning. In most cases, a motion sensor is going to alarm even if the glass break doesn't.


Motion Sensors

I would probably put motion sensors in:

  • top-right corner of family room - covers windows at the back
  • somewhere in entry way (a 360-degree ceiling-mounted would work well) - covers anyone moving through the main area of the house and using the basement stairs
  • top-right corner of basement - covers the basement windows

Of course you can put more if you want, but you need to think of what you're trying to protect from. If someone breaks in through, eg, the dining room, they are probably going to walk around and set off a motion somewhere. If you do have enough valuables in a room that someone may break in, steal everything from that room and leave, then you may want to put motion or some other sensor in there.


Siren

The siren should go somewhere it can be heard inside and out. Typically it's just installed in the basement near the alarm panel. You may also consider installing in the attic, or outside (you can get them with flashing lights too) so it's audible/visible to neighbours.


Panel protection

I am also a fan of installing protection around the alarm panel. Usually there is a 30-second delay to put in your code, and that may give someone enough time to get to the panel and disable/disconnect it. If the panel is in its own room, put a door contact on that room and otherwise put a motion sensor in there. Either way that zone should be set up as instant -- even if the system is in the delay entry mode, activating either of those zones should instantly alarm the system. Normally interior zones are bypassed while in delay entry.

This is also a consideration for motion sensor placement -- you can set up the motion sensors so if you were to walk into eg, the living room without disarming first, the alarm would go off. You just have to carefully consider placement here, and ensure that you don't set this up somewhere a person would normally walk before disarming.


Door lock sensor

I am considering my own system, and one neat thing I thought of (though apparently I'm not the first) was to put a plunge sensor in the back of the deadbolt channel, so that it can detect if the deadbolt on the door is locked or not. This may not be part of the alarm, but it can at least let you check the door is locked without getting out of bed or after you're already at work (assuming you have internet connectivity on the system). Unfortunately in my house there is a sidelight integrated into the door that prevents me from doing this.


Garage

You should consider how you use the garage. There are several ways to alarm it.

If you're not trying to protect the garage, it's pretty simple, though you may still want contacts on the doors to at least let you see if they're closed or not.

If you're using a wireless system with remotes, you can arm/disarm the system with those allowing you to exit from the alarm. If not, you need to ensure you have enough time to arm the system from a keypad, and get out of and close the garage doors before the system is done its arming countdown. This may mean putting a keypad in the garage, but again it depends on your use.


Fire

You should also put in some smoke/heat detectors. They can be wired into the alarm and thus monitored as well as setting of the siren (usually it does a different noise) in case of fire.


Monitoring

If you're going to have a company monitor the system, you need to ensure there is connectivity. At least this means a telephone line or internet connection. For telephone lines, a special jack (RJ31X) is used that allows the alarm to disconnect and take over the line, and so you need to route the main telephone line to the alarm panel before it goes to any other jacks in the house.

However you should also consider that someone may cut the line, and in that case communications is down. You can get GSM cellular options for communication that work around this.

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    Great answer, here are a few more thoughts. Add a second sensor point on windows you may want to leave cracked open for fresh air. I wouldn't use a glass break sensor on "stay" because they can detect sounds like keys shaking. I'd put the siren out of reach since so it can't be disabled. For motion sensors, focus on where people cross side to side and aim high to avoid triggering on pets.
    – BMitch
    Aug 6, 2012 at 0:38
  • Side rant: I haven't seen major alarm companies adopting the internet. They could integrate heartbeat monitoring, remote access, etc. If you have VOIP, you often have to get a second VOIP adapter for the alarm system to plug into the control panel's modem. It's enough to make any techie cringe.
    – BMitch
    Aug 6, 2012 at 0:41
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    Door and window contacts are primarily for ensuring doors and windows are closed when you arm. They should not be relied upon for intrusion detection - use motions for that purpose. Contacts should be installed on every door and window that must be closed to physically secure your home or prevent false alarms.
    – alx9r
    Aug 6, 2012 at 17:03
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    I have never seen a glass-break detect an intrusion that a motion did not. I would rather have another motion sensor than a glass break detector.
    – alx9r
    Aug 6, 2012 at 17:06
  • @user115232 Very good points. It all makes perfect sense now. Thanks.
    – Steve
    Aug 6, 2012 at 18:29
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Ok, too many questions, but i will hack at a couple points.

  1. On new construction, I would go with the recessed round contacts on the lower sash. completely hidden

  2. The thief that comes in a gutter repair truck probably has ladders. My general rule is all windows get sensors unless they are visible from road and require more that a 15' ladder, or hidden and need a 25' ladder. It's OK to daisy chain a few windows together if they are likely to be open at once to reduce the number of runs, just make sure the wiring is good and accessible from the sensor hole with slack.

  3. glass break detectors are great for detecting broken windows, but for intrusion the window and door sensors and motion sensors are better. They always seem to be either too sensitive (thunder,) or not sensitive enough.

  4. keypads at entry's and M/B
  5. Motion sensors are the best. Garage, two on main floor (maybe mounted on walls of central closet pointing out. cover the entire floor), and one 2nd floor hall.
  6. I mount sirens up high, pointed at the neighbors, and safe from tampering. Some people point them to make the most noise in the house to rattle a theif, but you will soon regret that since everytime you forget to turn off the alarm you will jump.
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    The down side of daisy chaining windows is that you end up going to multiple rooms to figure out which one is preventing you from arming and causing you to be late for your appointment.
    – alx9r
    Aug 6, 2012 at 17:16
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Keypads are typically also installed in the master bedroom to allow setting, disarming and panic activation.

I will leave the rest of the questions for someone whose installation experience is more recent than mine of 40 years ago.

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  • I think that on some systems, you may be able to use a wireless remote in the bedroom (or elsewhere) or even a smartphone or tablet, but that is system specific and not as bulletproof as a wired keypad.
    – bib
    Aug 5, 2012 at 18:52
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I am new to the alarm installation world, however I just completed installing mine after much extensive, intensive research- thinking like a thief & more importantly a desperate thug! I Have incorporated both wireless & wired detection with a vista21ip panel & 6160rf keypad. I recommend motion in all rooms doubled if you can afford it- also all entry points windows doors garage contact sensors followed by motions- on sliding glass door entry points contact & shock sensors. The use of gsm comm module is as they say the best, most reliable method of sending signal to the alarm monitoring co. Basically a 3 or 4g cellular mounted to your alarm panels board. I suggest having an interior alarm siren as close to the sleeping quarters as possible along with a strobe beacon mounted visible to the neighbors on the exterior, having an alarm is great confidence in safety but comes with !responsibility! & knowing/understanding operation with all capabilities of the system. Try not to false your system at all- but test it frequently. I use 3 arming modes- Away, Stay & Night Stay which I have pre-programmed selected zones to arm in Night Stay- Awesome feature. As for wiring 22awg for comm & 18-20 for carrying the power to sensors that require it (motion). All windows use wireless contact with tamper. I suggest going with Honeywell Products & the "Total Connect" system.

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