DIY Alarm system

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Gurminder

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Hi guys.

Would like some advice regarding intruder alarms. I am currently renovating a small 3 bed house and would like to install an alarm system.

I have boiled it down to either:
1)Yale Easyfit Telecommunicating system (£180)
2)Texecom Ricochet (£210)

I would have liked wired as apparently less to go wrong but I want the convenience of wireless keyfobs that can be used on leaving the property or before entering. Ideally would want a wired bell box.

The Yale seems the most diy friendly and has tech that rings a few numbers to alert of a break in but not sure about the systems 1way method of transferring information between components.

The Texecom seems to be the more secure and professional system but I've never installed an alarm before.

It also seems no one around Birmingham supply and fit the Texecom but to be honest I'd rather save the 200-300 installation costs which could be spent on another part of the renovation. I did however get a quote from a local company that offered a Honeywell wired system for 400 fitted and a Visonic wireless for 500 fitted. Both prices included vat.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
 
Texecom .....48w gives you 4 hardwired plus 2 on keypad , hardwired bell, various comms options , just add smart keys
 
DO NOT TOUCH Yale alarm !!
Look at the threads about Yale alarms and the problems people have.
Plenty of people on this forum that will help you with issues on Texecom control panels.
 
Also look at the thousands of posts from people who don't have problems with Yale alarms, so you can work out the proportion, and compare the problem rates.

Oops, my mistake, the people who don't have problems don't start threads.

Bit of a non-argument, then.
 
Why is the Yale considered rubbish? Almost the same price as the Texecom.

Is the Texecom a matter of hooking up all the sensors and the control panel detects them?
 
Texecom ricochet is a grade 2 product and insurance approved.
Yale smart home alarm is the only Yale product graded all other Yale alarm products are not graded.
If you what a reliable product use Texecom or other wireless products like risco, castle enforcer wireless systems.
 
Simple really. If you are happy to look after your own system fit the yale. Drawback is you are very unlikely to receive professional advice on a yale system because no professional installer fits or recommends them. They may be grade 2 but I would not use them as in my opinion they belong in they diy market. It's where they started and where they will always be.
 
The Yale packages are cheap to buy and (the ones I have used) can be installed by an amateur in half a day using only a stepladder and a screwdriver, with no wiring or disruption. The ones that can phone you or your keyholders are especially useful. There are people who appreciate those characteristics, especially if they live in a rented home, or are looking after an empty house or an elderly relative.

Better systems are available at higher cost, but as with everything, not everyone can, or wants to, pay more.
 
I haven't been able to find a single alarm specialist that fits Texecom Ricochet in Birmingham . I've been offered HKS, Honeywell and Visonic.
 
Gurminder, I'm writing this as a fellow DIYer, not a professional installer. I know a friend that's had the same wired Tunstall 500 system for 25 years. We put it in together. During that time, he's only had one fault and two replacement batteries. The conclusion one might draw is that most systems will probably work fine. Pick the one that has the features you feel most comfortable with. Just take the time and effort to wire it well, and plan your zones with the family.

Suggestion /hint:-

If you have the time and inclination, you can learn the system on the bench. Don't be afraid of it. Connect a battery to it, wire up a couple of zones on the table and add a 12V light bulb to simulate the bell box. This way you can experiment easily without annoying the neighbours or freaking out the dog.
 
Europlex said:
25yrs, should be on 5th/6th battery
Click to expand...

Honestly I would have thought so too. As the battery degrades over time, it must still have some residual capacity. They don't just die a total death and implode. If that residual capacity can support the alarm panel through very short power cuts (say 5s), the alarm might not go off during said power cut. It might act as an ersatz capacitor. Actually our area only really gets brown outs, rather than full power outages. His system isn't serviced particularly, so there's no other indicator of a weak battery. This is pure speculation of course. Maybe he lies :) That said, our car battery went eight years before replacement. That's a great deal harsher operating regime, both electrically and environmentally.
 
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