How to Install a Wireless Burglar Alarm System

A wireless burglar alarm system has an advantage over other home burglar alarms--it's easier to install yourself. Not only does a wireless burglar alarm save the cost of hiring an electrician, it allows you to place the sensors on whatever doors and windows you want, without needing to worry how to run wires through the walls between them and the control panel.

Wireless burglar alarms come with specific installation instructions from the company, but most require similar steps. The instructions below give an overview of what you'll need to do.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Decide on the location of the main control panel, the door and window sensors, and any other features such as smoke or fire sensors. The control panel should be in an easily accessible place such as near the front door, but not easily visible or accessible by a burglar peaking in the front window. The control panel will need to be close to an electrical outlet, and near a telephone line also if it's a monitored burglar alarm system. Door and window sensors should be placed in areas a burglar would be most apt to use. Motion sensors should be placed so they won't be blocked by furniture accidentally or avoided by a burglar moving through the house.

2. Install the control panel on the wall with screws, and connect it to an outlet, either by plugging it in or wiring it. Wiring it directly to the outlet will prevent a burglar from easily tampering with it, but even if it's plugged in, it should have a battery back-up in case it's unplugged or the power is off. If you purchased a monitored burglar alarm, you'll also need to connect it to a telephone line.

3. Install and adjust the siren or lights in an area where they can be easily seen and heard, but not tampered with quickly by a burglar entering the house.

4. Program the control panel using the keypad, following the steps in the instruction manual.

5. Install the sensors on doors and windows. Each comes with a transmitter to signal the control panel, so they should be located away from large areas of metal or electronic equipment that might interfere with the signal. They can be installed with adhesive, but screws make the installation more durable. If your wireless burglar alarm system also includes smoke detectors, motion sensors, broken glass sensors or other features, they can be installed now also.

6. Program all the sensors to work with the control panel, following the manufacturer's instructions. If your control panel has a handheld remote or is designed to use the phone line, you can also program those features now.

7. Test your wireless burglar alarm system, to make sure it gives an alarm when doors or windows are opened or someone walks past the motion sensors. Also make sure you know how to arm and disarm it, recognize the signals to show that batteries are low, and understand other features described in the manual.