Are you looking to improve home security? Do you want to safeguard your driveway and prevent unwanted access? To stop intruders before they even make it to your home, and you need to know how to secure your driveway.
One way to do this is with driveway sensors. Below, we present a must-read guide on how to locate and install the best driveway sensor system.
1. Use Electromagnetic Sensors to Detect Vehicles
Electromagnetic sensors are also known as probe sensors. They are excellent for detecting vehicles entering and leaving the property. They work by picking up anything made from metal passing over them, in much the same way an overground metal detector would do.
If you have a long driveway or lots of land, they can be extremely useful for monitoring multiple entrances and exit points. They are also great for high-security commercial buildings that have a number of vehicles and visitors entering and exiting the property.
Electromagnetic sensors are best placed underground, at the beginning of a driveway, or just on the threshold. All they require is an outer transceiver to send the alert to a monitor inside your home. Once this monitor is hooked up to a clear, reliable chime, then you will be alerted by anyone coming on your property.
2. Use Infrared Sensors to Detect Movement
Active Infrared Sensors (IR sensors) have the advantage over electromagnetic ones in that they can detect movement. They work by having a direct line of sight between two sensors. If anything passes between them and breaks the infrared beam they are transmitting; then an alarm is triggered.
Installing an IR sensor can be troublesome. This is because the line between them needs to be perfect. They are best applied in narrow passageways or gaps. Over longer distances, it can be hard to get the line straight during installation, and there are also more chances of an error occurring.
Passive Infrared Sensors work in a very different way. They pick up the natural radiation given off by animals and humans. Passive sensors monitor the heat this radiation provides, sending an alert whenever the heat in the field spikes.
The plus point about passive sensors is that they do not need two sensors, and can be placed anywhere. The downside is that as well as notifying you of intruders on your property, they will also set off an alert if children, animals, or guests pass through them as well.
3. Pricing the Best Driveway Sensor System
One of the main factors that will determine the driveway sensor system you choose will be your budget. If you buy the alarm system off the shelf, you will have to install it yourself. If you purchase it from a security company, then they will probably have a specialist who will come and install it for you.
A decent system should cost a few hundred dollars. You can get budget options, some of which may be around the $50 mark. With these driveway sensor systems, you are risking reliability, which is crucial in a sensor system.
Factor in the cost of monitored sensor systems. If they have a security company that is in charge of sensors, alarms, and cameras, they may charge a subscription cost. This can add to the overall price of the sensor in the long term.
4. Check Your Power Source
All driveway sensor alarms will need to be powered. Although it is not the most vital aspect of the operation, it is important. This is because it must be able to fit into your schedule of maintenance, or you may need to pay someone to do it, increasing the cost.
The most common method of power is a battery. On average, systems powered by batteries tend to have the shortest lifespan. You will have to replace the batteries, and you may find that system with a battery on the wane can behave a little erratically.
A very popular method of powering your driveway sensor alarm is with solar power. The beauty of solar power is that once you have set that system up, you can more or less forget about it, and it will run itself. The downside is that you need to have the panels set up in areas that are getting enough sunlight, and avoid overcast or shaded areas.
The final option is power from the home's electricity supply. The plus side is that the power source will be extremely reliable. However, installation may be tougher, and sensors may be too far away from your home to do this.
5. Check on the Sensitivity
When you are buying any system, check on the sensitivity and if this can be adjusted. A more sensitive system is not always a good thing. If it is too sensitive, you may find the sensor triggering during inclement weather or when wildlife arrives in your garden.
6. Detection and Transmission Ranges
Detection ranges and transmission ranges are two very different things, and it pays to know the difference when selecting a driveway sensor alarm. The detection range is a measure of the range of the sensor itself, and you should aim for long or medium ranges.
The transmission range denotes how far the transceiver can send a signal. This is usually from the sensor to the home. They can come in a wide variety of ranges, some reaching over half a mile.
7. Add A Door Chime
A commercial door chime is the final stage in your security set up. Once people have entered the property, you need a clear signal to let you know they are ready to enter the property. By combining with a camera, you can vet the person before allowing them into your home.
Do Not Delay
Every day without the best driveway sensor system is another day that an intruder could make it onto your property. This makes it imperative that you do not delay, and that you install the best driveway sensor system as quickly as possible.
Your first stop when securing your home should be Reliable Chimes and Security. We have a range of options to protect your home, from driveway sensors to security chimes. Click here to view our full range of low-cost security items and start securing your property today!