Bob Dolph Answers Questions on Alarm Siren Output, False Alarms From Shock Sensors

Q: I am concerned about some cutting my alarm siren output and thereby silencing my alarm system. Any suggestions?
A: A couple of things you can do to secure your alarm output. If you have a basic siren without a tamper resistant box you can run 4-conductor out to the siren instead of two conductor. Secure an end of line resistor on the extra pair out at the siren and seal up the connections at the siren. Anyone cutting the siren cable will activate the 24-hour tamper loop you have created in the siren cable.
Another is obvious, but convince your customer to let you install a good rust resistant siren box such as those you can get from Elk. Another basic step is to make sure you have a redundant interior siren to cover the external one being tampered with. Hide the siren so it is not obvious but can be heard when the exterior siren cable is cut.

Q: A customer has requested that they want security to detect if a person breaks through an older wooden door. I am concerned about false alarms from shock sensors on the door. Can you suggest any other technology that will work?
A: An old technique that I still use once in a while might work here. It is called lacing a door. You take a fine solid wire (28 gauge) and make a circuit by stapling the wire it in a rectangular zigzag pattern to the back of the door. Keep the wire continuous as it will become the alarm circuit protecting the complete door. Then cover the door with a thin plywood or laminate to conceal and protect the wire from accidental breakage.
You can even place tamper sensors on this covering as well and make it part of the circuit in case somebody removes the covering. Anyone breaking through the door will break the wire and trip the alarm. This is a simple, low-cost method that has worked well over the years.

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