Dummy Alarm Box - any point?
Discussion
You should be able to buy a dummy box that is absolutely identical to a real one. Many manufacturers supply dummies to match their real boxes, because in some installations you might need to install the real box on the back of the house and want to have something on the front as a deterrent.
Is it worth it? Well, it can't do any harm. And even if all it does is make you feel better, then it's probably £10 well spent.
Is it worth it? Well, it can't do any harm. And even if all it does is make you feel better, then it's probably £10 well spent.
Dr Mike Oxgreen said:
You should be able to buy a dummy box that is absolutely identical to a real one. Many manufacturers supply dummies to match their real boxes, because in some installations you might need to install the real box on the back of the house and want to have something on the front as a deterrent.
Is it worth it? Well, it can't do any harm. And even if all it does is make you feel better, then it's probably £10 well spent.
No decent alarm company will do that. They're not making money selling alarms that way and more importantly scrotes will start to know some of their boxes are fake so the deterrent factor is diminished, for all of their customers!Is it worth it? Well, it can't do any harm. And even if all it does is make you feel better, then it's probably £10 well spent.
Our alarm supplier will do a dummy box as part of an install, but there's no chance of them just selling you a dummy box.
richie99 said:
About as much use as a real alarm IMO. Only one house in our street has an alarm. It goes off every month or so and everyone ignores it. That's the house to break in to.
On a side note, it always seems to be our neighbours with the expensive monitored alarms that have endless false alarms. Those with cheap, DIY or electrician fitted ones never seem to have any issues.Crumpet said:
On a side note, it always seems to be our neighbours with the expensive monitored alarms that have endless false alarms. Those with cheap, DIY or electrician fitted ones never seem to have any issues.
I'm currently trialling a new system which comes with an IP camera and can all be controlled via your smart phone, tablet or laptop. If it goes off I'll receive a call from the monitoring team and can then check the camera to see if it is a real threat or not and then disable it and then activate it again all via the app. Also came with a smart plug so you can turn a light on or off and set up scenarios for when your away. So far so good. Edited by jogon on Tuesday 30th June 16:48
Not much marketing gumpf available yet as not yet on sale to public we are doing the testing to make sure it works ok and no hiccups. Will be sold via ADT and called Interactive Security. Already available in the USA called ADT Pulse but that has some features not yet available here.
You can add multiple IP cameras and magic plugs and can all be viewed and controlled via the app.
Had it just over a month so far and it's nice to be able to check if you forgot to set the alarm and then set it remotely if you have done. Other than that It is a standard alarm with 2 PIRs, door contact, keypad and internal sounder. Uses both your internet and then mobile network as a backup for the monitoring.
Not sure on cost yet as we get it free plus 3 years free monitoring.
You can add multiple IP cameras and magic plugs and can all be viewed and controlled via the app.
Had it just over a month so far and it's nice to be able to check if you forgot to set the alarm and then set it remotely if you have done. Other than that It is a standard alarm with 2 PIRs, door contact, keypad and internal sounder. Uses both your internet and then mobile network as a backup for the monitoring.
Not sure on cost yet as we get it free plus 3 years free monitoring.
theres a similar system already available that used ip cctv and can take snapshots or video when a motion sensor is triggered.
why not buy a standard bell and replace the old one, then you already have one fitted should you ever wish to fit a intruder alarm.
http://www.hunters-wholesalers.co.uk/pyronix-delta...
why not buy a standard bell and replace the old one, then you already have one fitted should you ever wish to fit a intruder alarm.
http://www.hunters-wholesalers.co.uk/pyronix-delta...
Morningside said:
I always think they look what they are...fake.
Its the absence of the sounder that makes it a "dummy" alarm box, so they look identical. I've fitted a few and in each case I simply bought the alarm box from a component based alarm system. even if you went to a company that just sold empty cases, it would still function as a "real" alarm box if you put the sounder in it.
I've got two dummy boxes at work, with the blue LEDs in.
Our alarm system doesn't have an external sounder, as we're in a residential area, and I wouldn't want members of the public getting involved in dealing with intruders! There is a loud internal sounder (ear piercingly so), and it's monitored.
I think the dummy boxes work as a deterrent, it's just something visual.
Our alarm system doesn't have an external sounder, as we're in a residential area, and I wouldn't want members of the public getting involved in dealing with intruders! There is a loud internal sounder (ear piercingly so), and it's monitored.
I think the dummy boxes work as a deterrent, it's just something visual.
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