There are several different types of home security systems available on the market. The selling point of most of these systems is their modular setup, mobile integration, and ease of installation. However, these systems’ downside is that they are often battery-powered and subject to breaking down when we need them most.
Many models work to alert users of these outages, but for our money, a hard-wired security system is a valuable add-on when building or renovating a home. By connecting information and power cables directly to your home, not only are you eliminating the need for wireless backup, battery swaps, and constant checkups, you are also opening the door to remote door locking technologies, secure gates, and much more.
Wiring for home security comes down to two main principles—consistent power supply and the reach of your grid. Let’s get into what both of those considerations look like and how an experienced electrician can help.
Prepping for Outages
As mentioned, batteries are far from reliable. Ask anyone with a trail cam they forgot to back up, and they’ll add “low storage” to the list of concerns. Running wires directly to your security devices is helpful for a number of reasons.
Firstly, these low-voltage systems would be hard-pressed ever to trip your breaker, meaning you are virtually guaranteed 100% uptime on your devices. Secondly, discrete wiring (like that run behind walls or brickwork) laid by an electrician makes it harder for intruders to disrupt the power supply. With wireless tools, these can be simply removed with a sharp tug. A high-quality wired system is not so fragile.
By ensuring your lighting and camera system is operational at all times, you are better able to protect your loved ones and assets while at the same time preparing more effectively should camera footage be required for investigative or insurance purposes.
Designing More Complex Systems
It’s one thing to monitor an intruder after they’ve made it into your property—it’s another to prevent or discourage their entrance entirely.
Wireless gates, keypads, visitor cameras, and more benefit from hard-wiring. Like what we touched on above, a wireless system invites tampering and cannot withstand any serious intrusion attempt.
A reliable home gate system will only consume 100 watts of power but requires constant power to be useful. Hard-wiring your property to support these security features offers protection rather than a simple diversion—a key distinction when it comes to protecting your assets while you are away.
Designing complex home security systems based on hard-wiring also expands how far your system can stretch. This is especially important for larger properties, as the 1ghz wireless security system typically sold for family homes can only cover half an acre of distance before the signal degrades.
In short, if you want a robust system, you will have to pay for an installation. However, when this is stacked against the potential risk of theft, you can see the long-term value.
Wireless and wired security each have their advantages and disadvantages. When it comes to installing hard-wired systems, it pays to do the job right the first time—work with a professional.
Lakeview Electric has been designing, building, and maintaining complex electrical systems in the Reno area for over thirty years. Contact us to get started on your new home security solution and solve any connectivity problems your existing property may have.