Setting up the components of a home security system can be either the easiest part of the installation process or the most dif? cult, depending on the type of system selected. In a wired system, pulling the necessary wiring is the labor-intensive part of the job and, once it is completed components can be mounted and connected quickly. In a wireless system, no wire pulling is necessary (except for power connections to some devices), but the sensors and other devices must be positioned, mounted, and tested with the security panel to be certain that reception is good from every location.

The variety of components provided and available as options with each type of security system make every installation a custom design job, although common elements will be present in all of them. The three examples discussed in the following sections give a clear idea of what is involved in installing security system components.

Installing Wired System Components

A basic security hardwired system, such as the one described in the following example and offered by a large offsite-monitoring security firm, includes some devices as standard requirements and offers others as options. The standard items include:One multizone security control panel (to which all sensors and response devices are wired),Three door sensors (to detect outside doors opening)One motion detector (for inside or outside use),Two emergency buttons (installed at convenient locations to summon emer-gency assistance),One digital keypad (to arm and disarm the system),One interior siren (to sound an alarm in case of a security breach),One backup battery One yard sign and several window decals (noting monitored protection),One telephone connection link to the monitoring service,An around-the-clock monitoring service

All of the sensors and emergency buttons are wired to the security panel to warn of an intruder. If a security breach is detected, the siren is directed to sound and the monitoring service is automatically contacted. The service, in turn, contacts the homeowner, sends its own personnel to check on the breach, or summons an emergency response from community services, according to the service contract instructions.

Note: The yard sign and window decals may seem minor pieces in the security .