A few years ago, the laser-based home security system was available only in some places. You probably have seen this in large factories, banks, museums, and high-security government offices. Very few rich people used it in their houses.
This laser alarm system is quite a mystery to some of us. But not anymore. The security system projects invisible laser beams into a detector that can send a specific voltage to the sensor. When someone crosses the beam, the voltage changes automatically to ring the alarm.
In this blog, I will reveal the mystery of laser alarms. So, stay with me till the end to know further.
A laser security alarm works by sending a laser beam across an area you want to monitor. If something or someone breaks the beam, it triggers the alarm and notifies you of the potential intrusion.
Types of Laser Security Systems
- Tripwire System: A tripwire system uses a series of laser beams and detectors placed along your property’s perimeter. When a person or object passes through the beam, it triggers an alarm.
- CCTV Camera System: CCTV camera systems use laser sensors to monitor your property. The laser sensors detect any motion within the monitored area, and an alarm is triggered if an intruder is detected.
- Infrared System: An infrared system uses a series of infrared lasers that detect motion in the monitored area. It can monitor and notify like a CCTV camera system. You can use it to detect movement in dark or low-light areas.
- Motion Sensor System: A motion sensor system uses two or more lasers that detect movement in the monitored area. This is a popular choice for businesses and homes because of its effectiveness and affordability.
- Laser Grid System: A laser grid system uses a series of laser beams that create a grid pattern across your property. If something or someone passes through one of the beams, it triggers an alarm.
Core Components Of A Laser Security Alarm
There are three parts of a laser security alarm;
- Infrared motion detector unit
- Laser unit, and
- Sensing unit.
Like before, today’s laser alarms do not need wired connections to arm and disarm them. They are wirelessly operated. You can operate the device from any smartphone with an integrated app.
The basic thing that does the main task in the motion detector is the Light Dependent Resistor known as LDR.
Now as you know the elements of a laser-operated alarm system, you can easily understand how it works. Let us move to the working procedure now.
Working Principles Of Laser Security Alarms
“Laser light” may sound difficult, and laser alarms sound even harder. But to be honest, the working principle of this home security system is pretty straightforward.
Laser beams are concentrated light sources that can create straight beams of light. The detector unit or the sensor unit is connected to the sensing electronics.
When you switch on all the units, the detector becomes light-sensitive and forms some sort of voltage. But before that, the laser pointer should send invisible beams of light to the detector unit.
As soon as the beams of light are interrupted, voltage changes, and the electronics sense this change. After that, the alarm starts to ring.
Now, let us move forward to understand more about laser light and how the whole system is arranged:
Lasers
Laser light is a lot different than other light sources. First, the laser never spreads out like other light sources and stays in a narrow shape like a pencil.
Though laser light is invisible, when any system makes it visible, it becomes a single color beam.
Laser lights can travel a long way; even after traveling that far, the energy remains the same in a narrow area. This is possible because laser light has a single wavelength. That is how a laser can start traveling from the laser unit and still trigger the detector.
Because of the single wavelength, it is possible to set a blocking filter on the detector to let the laser light go through. The laser unit gets power from electricity or DC batteries. DC power source is a better option as it is still in operation while there is a power cut.
System Arrangements Or Layout
The laser light travels in a straight direction. If you want to secure your lawn, set the laser in one corner and the detector in the other. That way, it will protect only one part of your house.
But the main purpose is to protect the whole perimeter. That is when the mirroring comes into operation. The laser pointer aims at a small mirror at the detector unit. That mirror is angled to reflect the laser to another small mirror in the other corner.
The same thing repeats to make a circle of laser beams around the perimeter. The final mirror directs the beam straight back to the detector unit.
Signal Unit or Alarm Unit
The signal unit of this security system is the final stage of the whole arrangement. When there is any interruption, the detector unit makes a sudden change in the voltage, which triggers the signal unit,
As soon as the signal unit senses something, it rings or sends a notification to the homeowner. You can integrate some systems with the dialer of your smartphone.
So that the dialer immediately contacts the nearest law enforcement department or monitoring company about the intervention.
Advantages Of Laser Alarms
The laser security alarm is getting popular for its extraordinary features and facilities. Here are some of the advantages of this security system:
Easy Installation
It is an easy-to-install security system that you can do yourself. All you need is just set the unit in the proper places. To install it correctly you should hire a professional.
Versatile Uses
Catching thieves or getting notifications about intruders is not the only task of a laser security alarm. If you have children in your house and also a swimming pool, you can set this around the pool. It will notify you if your children cross the laser surroundings.
Just like this, it can be useful in so many other ways.
Hard To Tamper
This security system is pretty hard to tamper with. If anyone finds it, instead, you hide it safely; they cannot tamper the system as it has solid advanced technology.
So, these were the advantages of this unique security system. It can provide you with the highest level of security without too much hassle.
10 Common Issues with Laser Security Systems & How to Fix Them
1. Poor Alignment: If your laser security system is not aligned correctly, it will not be able to detect a breach in time. To fix this, ensure the laser is properly aligned with the receiver.
2. Obstructions: If there are obstructions in the way of the laser beam, like a wall or window, it can cause issues with the security system. To fix this, ensure no obstructions between the laser and receiver.
3. Dust & Dirt: Dust and dirt can interfere with the laser beam, causing problems with your security system. Regularly clean your lasers and receivers to keep them working correctly.
4. Weather Conditions: Extreme weather conditions, such as heavy rain or snow, can cause interference with the laser beam and mess up your security system. Ensure your lasers are well protected from harsh weather conditions to prevent this.
5. Power Outages: A power outage in your area could also affect your laser security system since they rely on an electrical connection. To fix this issue, ensure a backup power source is ready in an emergency.
6. Improper Installation: If your laser security system is installed improperly, it can cause all sorts of issues down the line. Make sure you hire a professional to install it correctly. Also, check everything is working properly before you start using it.
7. Sensitivity Issues: If the sensitivity of your laser security system is not set correctly, it can cause false alarms or worse – not detect a breach at all! Make sure to adjust the sensitivity settings to suit your needs properly.
8. Broken Wiring: Wiring can become loose or damaged over time, affecting how well your security system works. So check the wiring regularly for signs of damage and replace any faulty wires as soon as possible to keep it working properly.
9. Interference from Other Electronics: Electronics like TVs or radios may interfere with the signal from your laser security system if they are too close together. That is why it can cause false alarms or missed breaches! So move any electronics away from your lasers to prevent this issue from happening.
10. Battery Issues: Your laser security system will require batteries for power, but if these are not replaced regularly, they can run out quickly and cause all sorts of issues. So make sure you check on them regularly and replace them when needed to keep everything running smoothly.
Conclusion
A laser security alarm is a nightmare for burglars. It is a very sophisticated and advanced security system. But the working procedure and layout are simple to understand.
First-time users may confuse about laser alarms, but it will not take a long time to fully understand. The system is simple and easily understandable. But it may cost you a good amount of money to cover the whole house with this laser security system as it is quite expensive.
FAQs
The laser security alarm system uses laser technology, which is a form of light energy that is focused on a beam that can detect movement. The laser beam is used to detect any intrusion and send an alert to the user.
A laser beam alarm is a security device that uses infrared laser beams to detect movement within a certain area. When the laser beam is broken, an alarm is triggered and either an alert or a response is sent out to notify the user of possible intruders or trespassers.
