So you're thinking of buying a driveway alarm and don't know which ones to choose? The amount of different types and brands of driveway entry alerts can definitely be daunting if you've never had one before! Here we'll look at the basics of choosing the right system for you and your application.
Driveway alarms can be broken down into three types; infrared, magnetic probe and pressurized hose.
Each of these driveway monitor has its own particular detection method.
Infrared systems detect moving heat, so both cars and people/animals will be detected.
Magnetic probe systems only detect moving metal, so only vehicles will be detected.
Pressurized hose is the type of driveway alarm most people associate with gas stations, and these systems only send an alarm condition signal when something heavy moves over the hose portion.
All three of these types of driveway monitor can be wireless or wired.
Wireless driveway alarms are generally the easier of the two to install.
Installing a wired driveway alarm, while not rocket science can be a little more labor intensive when trying to conceal and/or protect the wire running to the receiver.
So, now that we've gone through the basics, you may still be asking - which driveway monitor system is right for me? The first question you should always ask yourself when purchasing a driveway alarm system is 'what do I want to detect'? Some people would think that getting the driveway alerting system that detects everything is your best bet - but you should consider all the things you do not want to detect and go from there instead! For example, if you live in a heavily wooded area and wildlife is frequenting your property, while pedestrians are not, installing an infrared driveway entry alert is going to cause you more grief than worth the while! Installing a magnetic probe system that won't cause false alarms in these conditions will ultimately leave you enjoying your new property security addition.
It should also be noted that many of these alarms are not used in driveways at all! Infrared systems are commonly used in store fronts as customer alerting systems.
Placing an infrared system in the doorway of your business can alert you if a customer enters.
This is particularly handy for store owners who are frequently in back store rooms or delivery areas.
Infrared systems are also useful for caregivers to ensure that doorways are secure and loved ones are safe.
Infrared driveway alarms are also useful for pool owners who wish to be aware of their pool's perimeter.
There are many uses for driveway entry systems including the one they were originally intended for! If you're still unsure about which system is right for you, there are a great many companies online that provide customer support via chat and/or telephone.
Remember, these people are there to help you and want you to make the best choice possible for your application.
Don't be afraid to ask them for assistance.