DIY Home Security Equipment

So, before we start talking about fancy gadgets and monitoring systems, let’s talk about the basic DIY measures you can take to put up the first line of defense. These measures may scare or deter an average criminal trying to get into your home.

1. Your first priority is to make sure you have good gates and locks for windows and doors in place.
2. Think of having a guard/watch dog
3. Put up bright lights above your drive way or major entry ways
4. Never forget the wireless security cameras you can put up

These measures make up your ‘first line of defense’ in home security equipment, already discouraging the criminal from ever stepping foot on your property. And what’s great about it? You can easily do it yourself!

Wired/Wireless Home Security Equipment

Now, let’s talk about what I call the second line of defense, otherwise known as an actual electronic home security system. This is, obviously, for when a burglar decides to tamper with your doors or windows in order to get inside. A basic home security equipment package for this ‘second line of defense’ is made up of 3 basic components:

• Control panel
• Sensors
• Alarm siren

These components can be bought separately and set up on your own, or you can choose to have them installed by a local home security company, who will monitor your system and send alarms to relevant parties like police, fire, or EMT.

The equipment works somewhat like the following. You put in sensors, usually by putting a magnetic strip on your door or window, and a transmitter on the frame. When contact is broken between these two elements (by opening the window or door), a signal is sent to your control panel, and it in turn will set off the alarm. Your control panel is really the ‘brains’ beyond the whole operation, and via a keypad with code, you get to control the control panel. You can tell it when to be turned on or off (or ‘armed) to any breaks in security, if it should send out a 911 signal when the alarm goes off,  to reset itself, or you can even manual set off the alarm via a panic button.

Hopefully this gives you a basic understanding of how home security systems work and how you can take steps to protect your home!

Giving us the power to turn our houses into “greener” homes is Lutron Electronics and its innovative, RadioRA 2 technology. RadioRA 2 is a wireless, home control system that boasts of energy-saving technology – giving homeowners the ability to adjust the amount of electric light and daylight let into the home, as well as temperature settings for the home. In addition, the system turns off the standby power of small appliances when not in use.

Think of the RadioRA 2 as an invisible watchdog whose primary mission is to make sure no current of energy goes to waste and that every single room in the house is energy efficient. RadioRA 2 features include one-button control for lights, small appliances, temperatures, and shades, thereby resulting in energy savings around the home. For instance, hitting the Goodnight Button feature will automatically lower all shades, turn off the interior lights, and turn off devices such as fans, monitors, and AV equipment.

Conveniently, RadioRA 2 is scalable to up to 200 devices. Operating via Lutron’s Clear Connect™ wireless RF technology, the system can be installed easily in any type of home. And contributing to its user-friendly features, the RadioRA2 can be controlled using mobile devices and keypads, including Android devices and the Apple® iPad™

Just recently, Lutron Electronics proudly unveiled several enhanced features to its home control system including:

New, 4.2.10 version of Radio RA2 Home Automation System

This supports the new, seeTemp thermostat feature. Home temperature settings can now be adjusted using keypads via the system’s occupancy sensors and contact closure inputs.

More scalable and flexible system – Homeowners can customize their systems by choosing from a variety of wireless components that can be applied to a single room, or the entire home.

Sivoia® QS Wireless shades and drapes – The Intelligent Tilt Alignment™ expands shade offerings with its functionality. Shades can automatically be adjusted to preset the slat tilt angle and blind height with just one touch of a button.

With RadioRA 2 you can entertain and relax with ease. Use the light control for showcasing the design features of your home or, dim the lights and lower the shades to enjoy your private sanctuary. Have perfect control of your home’s lighting system while maximizing your savings. Bright idea, right?

Frankel Building Group designs and builds homes in accordance to (LEED Leadership in Energy and Efficiency) standards. To differentiate themselves from competition, Frankel regularly utilizes home automation technologies in their builds. Among the home automation technologies used by Frankel, Crestron home control solutions are common place in their builds.

The system being used is called the Crestron Mobile Pro G which allows homeowners to efficiently control all amenities within the home; including garage, gate, lighting systems, pool, and HVAC, by simply using the Crestron iPad app. The Crestron system helps uphold LEED standards by allowing homeowners to conveniently monitor their HVAC status in real time, leading to reduced energy consumption.

Frankel applies this energy-saving solution by employing a hands-on approach with this piece of technology. They set up wireless networks which are customized according to the needs of the homeowner. Working collaboratively with the system integrator has allowed both parties to offer packages that are suitable for each home, while still generating financial success for Frankel.

As the leader of home automation as well as controlling environmental and entertainment systems, Crestron has maximized the use of remotes, keypads, and mobile devices even further. Their product range includes a wide variety of touch panels and keypads, with an assortment of colors and finishes to choose from. With their custom programming services, light settings are easily controlled with a single touch of a button. No need to personally visit each room to adjust the lighting or to close the blinds. Allow this genius technology to do it for you. With one touch on the Crestron interface, you can instantly set your bedtime scene –with the curtains drawn, blinds closed, and the lights dimmed.

Homeowners can now easily take advantage of the FREE Crestron Mobile™ app, available at iTunes®. Turn your home into a green one by transforming your iPad into a home automation and energy-saving touch panel.

Photo of Suspect - Released by Minneapolis Police Department

Over the past few months, home owners have been terrorized throughout the metro area due to a string of “sophisticated high-end burglaries”. If you weren’t aware of the burglaries, here is a recent story from StarTribune.com: http://www.startribune.com/local/west/122663344.html

In summary, a burglar is targeting high-end homes around the lakes and in western suburbs – such as Edina, Wayzata, and Minnetonka. These frightening events are forcing residents to reconsider basic home security systems and explore additional options for stepping up protection.

First, let’s look at what is happening during these burglaries and explore ideas for protecting your home and family.

The burglar follows a similar process with each invasion:

• Homes are being hit in the day-time (the majority of break-ins happen between 9AM and 3PM)
• The burglar rings the door bell and waits for an answer. With no response, the burglar leaves and returns within an hour, ringing the doorbell again
• Confident the home is empty, the burglar attempts to disarm the home’s security system. In one case, two surveillance cameras were disabled. In most cases, the burglar cuts the phone lines in an attempt to disable the home security system’s connection to the outside world.

So how can you protect your home? Our home security team offers some ideas to step-up your home security using the latest technologies:

• Take advantage of wireless home security systems. Wireless systems continue protecting your home even when phone lines are cut – a common tactic among burglars
• Add wireless sirens throughout the home – this is a great deterent as the burglars can not stop the sirens from sounding
• Add cellular communication to your security system, ensuring your central monitoring station receives the call for help. This alleviates vulnerable home phone lines burglars target.
• Add integrated lighting control to the security system – flash inside and outside lights to gain attention and help deter the burglar. Advanced systems turn on inside and outside lights at the same time as the garage door opens – ensuring you never enter a dark home again.
• While in this case, the burglar disabled surveillance cameras – he did so after the cameras snapped a clear shot of his face, bringing Minneapolis police one-step closer to capturing the suspect
• Use remote home security monitoring technologies to check-in while you’re away. For example, our Honeywell security systems can be monitored via an iPad app. IP video recording storage allows for real-time viewing from smart phones and PCS along with the ability to view pre and post alarm video.
• Collaborate with neighbors to contact one-another and the police when unusual vehicles or activity arises

Along with the picture above, the burglar is seen driving a red pickup with a black topper and a brown sedan. Anyone with information about the Minneapolis break-ins is asked to contact Sgt. James Jensen at 612-673-5587. Edina residents may contact police at 952-826-1600.