The least expensive are about $20.00, cheaper than a pair of Levi's jeans. You will not be forgiven if fire breaks out because you forgo a $20 fire alarm system.

What is worse than burglary and theft in your property? The only candidate would be fire. If a robber enters your home, the most likely worst outcome is that your valuables will be stolen. Cases of fire will not only decimate your valuables, your property will be razed. That is the most horrific nightmare of households.

True enough, property owners (households and offices) invests more in fire security and prevention than in thievery, even banks and holdings of valuables. Why, because fire is now also an element that burglars and thieves use as an accompaniment for their sting. Of course, burglary is still an important factor.

In effect, most total security units now include burglary and fire alarm system. Such systems supervise doors, windows and large spaces that would require such devices, e.g. theft prone areas (entry areas) and high fire risk areas like the library and the living room, especially above the carpets. Some total security units also include a 24 hour monitoring service that charges monthly dues.

Due to their relatively high cost, these total alarm systems are only found on homes that clearly could afford such. Smaller conventional households will make do of a smoke detector and a tank of fire extinguisher. But do no tbe hasty to discredit smoke detectors. Though very cheap, they are very, very reliable and often would warn the earliest signs of fire.

Thus do not give up the possibility of safeguarding your residences. For just around $20.00 you can equip a single room with the ability to fully deal properly with fire accidents. (Actually, it only goes off, you still have to manually operate the fire extinguisher). Of course these type of fire alarm systems goes hand in hand with a fire extinguisher, which is yet another essential. Why, most fires can be extinguished with water (or cushion or mat, as long as it smothers the fire) but some fires DO get bigger with water, in fact grease fires are really dangerous if applied with water. Thus, fire extinguisher should it be.

There are two types of smoke fire alarm systems, and each one has a design specific to the area. Ionization smoke alarms are the least expensive ( the type I have discussed) and are simple to set up, require easy maintenance but may cause more false alarms because of their high tech sensitivity to smoke. Ideally, ionization detectors are to be installed on rooms having volatile materials and photoelectric for rooms having heavy furniture that smolders before bursting into flames.

While most fire alarm systems is use today are smoke detectors, other models make use of heat and temperature to detect the presence of fire. In some cases like gasoline and alcohol burning, these fires produce little smoke which may not trigger the smoke detectors immediately. Accordingly, these types are to be used.

Fire is one serious household accident that may or may not come during your lifetime. Just because there where no such incident before does not mean your home is immune. The cheapest is about $20.00 , way cheaper than your Nike. You will not be forgiven if fire breaks out because you forgo a $20 fire alarm system.

By: John A. Leo
John Leo has managed companies in the low voltage products industry. Home theater audio cable, fire alarm, coaxial, and security alarm cable have been the focus of his thirty year career. webmaster@worldwide-products.biz http://www.worldwide-products.biz.

Which house would a felon pick to burgle? A house with good outside security lighting without any dark places to screen his activities and where he would have a good chance of being spotted by anyone looking in his direction. Or a house without outside lighting with plenty of shadows that will shield him while he works on breaking in.

You know the answer. Lighting can play an important part making your home secure and outside security lights discourage nighttime burglary.

It is not necessarily the case that the more lights that you have around your home the better protection they give. You do need to cover every space that a burglar may conceal himself in but too powerful lights or too much lighting can be a nuisance to your neighbors and a danger to motorists and passers by. Efficient outside lighting requires some planning but is an inexpensive and easy to install home security measure.

High-powered floodlighting that throws a bright light can greatly illuminate large areas, it is a better to use several lower power lights rather than a few high power lights however.

The problem is any spaces that high power lights do not cover will be covered in shadow. With a greater number of smaller lamps arranged to cover all spaces around your home you will be better able to deny intruders dark hiding places.

You will not want your outside security lighting to be on all night, but prefer them only to spring into action on when somebody approaches your home. This can be achieved with the use of motion sensors and security lights are available with built in sensors. Suddenly finding himself bathed in bright light can give the burglar a nasty shock, give him the fear of being discovered and hopefully send him running away from your property.

One disadvantage of motion activated security lighting is that it is prone to being set off by pets and wildlife that get within the range of the sensor, and that can mean your outside lighting turning on and off all night. Heat sensing sensors are available that only trigger when human body heat is detected within their range.

An alternative system is Hi/Lo control security lights that are permanently on set at twenty percent power until the motion sensor detects movement then they brighten to full power.

Remember to install your outside lights up high enough to be out of easy reach of intruders. It has been known for burglars to enter the grounds the of a house, disable the security lighting, then vamoose and return at another time before the homeowner has fixed the lights, and then break into the house. Lamps are available that are protected by a wire mesh guard or have high impact polycarbonate instead of glass.

Outside security lighting is security measure that is reasonably easy to set up that can do a first class job of denying would be burglars cover and is comparatively inexpensive. Keep in mind though that, like all other security precautions, outside lighting is at its most effective as part of an overall security system.

By: Martin Underwood
Martin Underwood writes about all aspects of home security. He is a regular contributor to http://www.surveillanceforsecurity.com, The site that presents reviews and information about the best in home security, personal security and vehicle security.

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If you are on the market for a surveillance system, your timing is impeccable because right now we are at the crossroads of this migration to a new, more efficient, and more cost-effective solution for home and business security requirements. In a world with increasing crime and criminals, wireless surveillance equipment has turned into an icon for security.

Like many people, I have been afraid of electronic products in the past. As soon as I started thinking of setting up my own surveillance system for business or home I realized that the Camera, is but one element of a multi part System.

Let’s explore the make-up of today’s complete wireless surveillance systems.

The 5 basic components of wireless video surveillance equipment are:
1. cameras
2. transmitters
3. receivers
4. Recorders (DVR/VCR) DVR=Digital Video Recorder. VCR=VideoCassette Recorder.
5. video displays(Monitors or Television)

All 5 of these components are fitted in some combination to create a complete video surveillance system.

How does a wireless Surveillance System Work? The wireless camera transmits a signal to a receiver that is connected to the DVR or VCR. Wireless cameras usually have a built-in transmitter that sends the video signal to a receiver. The receiver connects to your recording and/or viewing device. There the signal is either recorded or thereby saved or simply viewed.

Different Types of Wireless Cameras
 Dome Cameras are simply board cameras built into dome housing.

Day-night domes equipped with high-power INFRARED Leeds for use indoors, outdoors

and low-light conditions. The day/night feature makes the camera color in the day light and then automatically switch to black and white in low light conditions.
 Professional cameras can be mounted on walls, ceiling brackets, buildings,

indoors and outdoors. Professional security cameras can be weatherproof,

waterproof, day/night, low-light and even a snake camera that can access almost

any space. Professional security cameras are usually high resolution

resulting in a very sharp image with great detail. They come in color or black & white.
 Hidden Cameras are so small they are virtually invisible to the naked eye.

Hidden cameras are in disguise as common household items such as Baby Wipes,

dolls, clocks, teddy bears, smoke detectors and radios.

Transmitters
Wireless Cameras usually use 2.4GHz transmitter---Video and Audio whose standard range varies from 200' to 700' depending on environmental conditions. There are however more powerful transmitters on the market. You will find that most wireless cameras come equipped with transmitters.

Receivers
The receiver intercepts a signal transmitted by the wireless camera then feeds that signal into the DVR or VCR that it is connected to.

Recorders

VCRs - VCRs record to a video cassette tape which creates the need to change tapes. Recently released VCRs with time-lapse and video motion detection features allow the VCR to begin recording only while motion is detected. Time-lapse is a series of images taken in a set number of time intervals. This means that not every frame is recorded as it is with Real Time. Time-lapse and motion detection help space on your 9 hour videotapes.

Depending on how much activity is detected one 9 hour tape could last you weeks. Because it only records when motion is detected...cuts off after 30 seconds, resets itself and waits for the next movement.

Digital Video Recorder (DVR) Unlike VCRs, DVRs record video to a computer hard drive or other media such as a CD or DVD. This makes a DVR easy to maintain because there are no bulky tapes to change or the risk of losing video quality when recording over previous footage. Many DVRs can be operated and monitored remotely from anywhere in the world using the Internet.

By selecting to implement this fairly simple solution for your business and home surveillance, you fulfill a clear need while gaining security and comfort.

Shopping malls, schools, hospitals, parking garages, office buildings, airports, casinos, government services, warehouses, estates and financial institutions all now commonly use video based surveillance equipment in order to protect their wares and limit costly losses.

In conclusion, for a business or home surveillance system it would be advisable to select a complete system. Being a simple system does not deduct from its importance, or its surveillance function. The expenses incurred from buying wireless video surveillance equipment is worth the effort and cost, because this equipment not only reduces the costs of security, but also helps in curbing crime and vandalism.

By: Jerry Tarrer
The Author Jerry Tarrer was born in a small coal mining town in West Virginia. At the end of World War II his father returned from the war and moved the entire family to Chicago Illinois. He was educated in the inner city completing high school and 2 years of college. After joining an apprentice-printing program, Jerry became a Master Printer and worked in his field for 37 years. Jerry is the father of 5 adult children and 13 grandchildren. The author’s website is http://www.securityspy4u.com.

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Local code requirements for smoke detectors vary greatly in different areas of the country, so it would be unrealistic to know each and every one. In many areas the building code only requires one smoke detector per floor usually placed in a hallway.

Only one smoke detector per floor should be considered the bare minimum and is really not sufficient to protect your family in the event of a fire. If a fire would start in a room with the door closed it would take too long for the smoke to reach a smoke detector placed in a hallway and would greatly reduce the amount of time you and your family have to escape. You should have a smoke detector in your hallway but you should have them in many other places also.

The NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) states that for proper smoke detection you should have a smoke detector in each smoke chamber. Simply put a smoke chamber is an area where smoke can accumulate in quantity before it can travel to the next area. Each and every room is a smoke chamber, and if any room has a partial wall coming down from the ceiling that is at least 24 inches, that room has two smoke chambers in it.

Smoke detectors also have an effective range of detection; most are rated to cover a 30’ x 30’ area. If the room is larger than that two detectors will be needed and spaced properly.

The bottom line is that for fast fire detection with the best chance to escape you should have a smoke detector in every room including the attic and basement, but excluding the bathroom and kitchen. You should try to get one as close to the kitchen as possible but it should be in a area not effected by the smoke generated from cooking.

Placing your detectors or optimal detection smoke detectors should be placed on the ceiling as close to the center of the room as possible, and no closer than 12 inches from a wall. If the detector must be placed on a wall the top of the detector should be 6 inches down from the ceiling. On a sloped ceiling they should be 3 feet from the highest point measured horizontally.

Now that you know how many smoke detectors you need and where to place them, what type of smoke detector offers you the best protection? There are two types of detection methods that smoke detectors use.

The ionization type smoke detector responds fastest to burning fires with hot open flame and small or invisible smoke particles, which is why it sounds during cooking. The second type is the photoelectric smoke detector, it responds best to slow burning visible smoke caused by smoldering fires.

Which one do you choose? Since you want to be alerted to invisible smoke and visible smoke you should choose both. In the past it was one or the other or you would have to install two detectors at each location, but today they make combination detectors that have both detection methods, they are the best choice. It is also important that your smoke detectors be interconnected, this means that if one sounds they all sound. This is critical to wake everyone in the event of a fire.

Following the above smoke detection methods will help ensure that you and your family have the best chance to escape a fire in your home.

By: John Pielecka
John has been in the electrical industry for over 20 years and is currently running http://www.wireityourself.com an online do it yourself home wiring site.

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