Home Safety

Window contacts are an important part of your home security system. If you have a window that you would like to install a contact on, you can do it yourself. The most difficult part of installing...

With a few tools and some easily acquired skills, you can wire 12V DC security cameras. CCTV (closed circuit television) cameras are being sold at record rates and many people are realizing they...

An alarm system will only prevent entry if every door and window is equipped with an alarm. But alarms can keep a home safe by deterring strangers or thieves.

Wiring smoke alarms is slightly different depending on whether you are installing one alarm or interconnecting more than one alarm. Your electrical code will likely say that you have to be a...

Human beings roamed the land quite freely in our early history; however, these nomadic ways were left behind over the past few thousand years as people settled in specific areas throughout the...

The pumps, jets and heaters in a hot tub all run off electric current, and where there is electricity and water in close proximity, there is also the potential for disaster. A small leak in any of...

Privacy and security have become major concerns to homeowners, especially those who live on a large amount of property. The options available to keep unwanted visitors out of a specific area...

High-tech burglar alarms can be extremely intimidating, but most of them operate based on a very simple principle. All you need to make a burglar alarm is a loud noise such as a buzzer and a means...

Wiring a security camera does not require a professional; if you are handy with some basic tools, you can learn how to wire a security camera. A security camera uses three connections; the camera...

As an electric smoke detector gets older, it become less precise in detecting smoke, and can easily fail. According to the National Fire Protection Agency, if you have an electric smoke detector...

A violent storm has just gone through your area and your neighborhood is a mess. You walk outside and notice that one end of an electrical wire has disconnected from the pole and is hanging from...

Homemade noise alarms are actually remarkably simple to produce. You need only two significant items---a buzzer (such as the 75dB Piezo) and a battery holder to power it---both of which can be...

An alarm system will only prevent entry if every door and window is equipped with an alarm. But alarms can keep a home safe by preventing strangers or thieves from entering it.

Intercom systems are used in many applications and settings, usually to facilitate communication or monitoring between different parts of a building or site. Problems that typically arise with the...

Wire tags usually consist of both the actual label or write-on surface and a loop that attaches around the wire or cable the label pertains to. Wire tags may be used to mark store inventory for...

Chain-link fences are sturdy, durable and capable of keeping the kids and pets from running wild in the neighborhood. If you live in an area where storms are the norm, or where your fence will...

If you have rabbits in your garden, rodents outside your house or are stranded somewhere in the wilderness and need to catch a small animal to eat for your own survival, knowledge of easy-to-make...

Adding motion detector sensors to exterior light fixtures creates another level of security to discourage potential intruders from coming onto your property. When the sensor detects movement, a...

Store-bought animal traps can be expensive. Save money by making your own simple yet effective traps. You can make traps to catch animals of varying sizes and types. Best of all, these traps are...

A Light bulb is lit by a power source entering the bulb’s filament through terminals at the base of the bulb. At the centre of the bulb base is one terminal which can be the entry point of the...

A trip wire mounted across a doorway to alert you to a stranger's presence can be a life-saving safety precaution. A homemade trip wire can be installed in a few minutes.

In your home, you just can't have eyes everywhere. Or can you? Many consumers are increasingly relying on motion-activated cameras to be their eyes when they can't. Whether it's a nannycam to...

A ground-fault circuit-interrupter receptacle is designed to guard against electrical shocks produced by a faulty appliance or a worn or wet cord or plug. In the event of an electrical short, the...

There are three types of "wired" smoke detectors in homes. Two types tie into an alarm system and the third ties into the house wiring system for power. 120-volt smoke detectors have batteries so...

Safety officials recommend replacing the batteries every time the clocks are changed for daylight saving time or standard time. Replacing the batteries at least once a year is strongly...

You can protect your home cheaply by doig some simple things. Protecting your home is important in today's economy as even though the market is down your home is always your biggest assest. ...

Wiring your home alarm system can be challenging and you must use caution. You must know where to install the control panel so that the wiring can be routed from each door and window to the...

Would you like to install outdoor motion lights? Are you tired of stumbling around in the dark, trying to find your way to the Car or the Shed? Are you concerned about safety, and want to install...

In this time of economic distress, it is more important than ever that you protect yourself and your loved ones. However, hiring a home alarm installer can be expensive! Why not do it...

A GFCI, or ground fault circuit interrupter, is a device designed to prevent accidental electrocutions, particularly in high-risk areas with flowing water such as bathrooms or kitchens. Normal...

A circuit breaker is a mechanical device that controls the flow of electrical current through a wire. True to its name, it "breaks" the connection if the current running through the wire is more...

When the electricity in the whole house shuts down and everything stops, you have just experienced a blown fuse. At night when a fuse blows, it can be frustrating. The fuse might seem too small to...

Installing your outdoor flood lights is a task that can be completed in less then an hour. They are essential for outdoor security at night time or for those dark areas that you need light in...

Security lights work on the same principle that alarms do. A motion detector picks up movement in a given part of your house or yard. Instead of activating a siren, it simply turns on a light;...

Safety should be a priority in any home. Adding GFCI outlets to bathrooms, kitchens and other places that are near water will greatly improve the safety in your home. Also, GFCI outlets can...

Purchasing and installing an arc welder for home use can save a lot of cash for the homeowner. The arc welder can join many types of metal together, and the skill required is generally easy to...

Adding GFCI outlets to your home's electrical system is easy to do, and by doing so, you are adding important safety features to your home that in many jurisdictions are required by code. Consult...

You just got done painting and everything looks great except that old worn out outlet on the wall well after reading this article you could change it out for a new one.

Exactly what it says. If there is not a recepticle there or no ground I'll cover that also.

Stairs can be rigged with an alarm the same way a door or a window can be protected. You can use tripwires or a laser light stretched across a stair to trigger an alarm whenever anyone passes by....

Alarm circuits are based on one of two models, differentiated by how they activate their siren or buzzer. A closed circuit alarm normally has electricity running through it, which prevents the...

Would you like to know how to make a pressure mat alarm that you can hide under a rug? Then whenever someone steps on the alarm, it will buzz, notifying you. Place your pressure mat alarms...

The best part of having a burglar alarm installed in your home is not that it will scare robbers away before they take your stuff, but that it will often keep them from attempting to enter your...

Knowing your house wiring is getting too hot is one thing, knowing how to correct it is something else. Being aware of exactly how much heat, or wattage, you can use without overloading a circuit...

Wiring a shed from a house can turn the shed into a small workshop, studio or a getaway from hectic life. Follow these simple safety tips when adding lighting and electrical outlets to your shed.

Having alarms hidden around the house can make a person who lives alone feel a little more secure. Alarms can also be a big help to the parents of toddlers. Toddlers are always getting into...

Do you have toddlers who wake up at night while you are sleeping and wander through the house? It would be great if you could make a simple alarm to alert you whenever they do. After all, you...

According to the National Fire Protection Association, smoke alarms should be installed in every bedroom, outside of each sleeping area and on every level in the home. In addition, if you have a...

Building an alarm circuit is one of the easiest circuits to make. There are two type types of alarm circuits: a closed-circuit system and an open-circuit system. Here are the steps to construct a...

Smoke detectors without batteries, or with dead ones, are the main reasons why people do not escape burning homes. A properly working smoke detector should be able to give ample warning (in most...