If you have a car and you’re worried about it being stolen you are probably in the market for a car alarm. But what kind of alarm do you need? Read on to discover the major features of car alarms and how these relate to your vehicle security needs.
There are two types of car alarms: those that come factory installed in the car and those that are installed after-market. If your vehicle comes pre-fitted with an alarm you may still need to consider a new one if the original malfunctions or if you decide the existing alarm doesn’t meet your requirements.
Key features:
Options – Keyless entry, keyless start, car alarm pager.
Sensor systems – Window, door, shock, pressure, motion, tilt; many of the sensors are incredibly precise and will cover events as specific as a window being broken or the attempted removal of a trailer hitched to the vehicle.
Notification – Visual (flashing lights), audio (siren or horn), silent (sends a signal to a remote); visual and audio alarms are intended to draw attention and scare waay thieves whereas silent alarms are more discreet.
Installation – Most car alarms require professional installation to ensure everything is wired up properly.
As thieves are often not after the whole car but rather parts, there are different sensor systems that can be purchased to prevent stripping of the car for parts, or from unhitching a car accessory such as a trailer. Electrical sensors monitor the overall voltage in a car; even when not running, a vehicle has a voltage that remains constant. Removing the electrical wires that connect the car to a trailer, or attempting to snip the alarm from the battery, will change the voltage sensed by the alarm and cause it to go off.
Car alarms are distinct from immobilizers. Although both are intended to prevent theft, alarms generally rely on audio and visual alerts to deter thieves. An immobilizer doesn’t usually announce itself but prevents the thief from stealing the vehicle by a number of methods, such as locking the steering, disabling the ignition or cutting off the fuel supply to the engine. Immobilizers can be used in conjunction with a car alarm, so that even a braze thief who is undeterred by sirens or flashing lights, will be unable to start the car or drive it very far.
Tip: Look for a remote that can be attached to the car keys. Separate remotes are much harder to keep track of, whereas those on a chain will be with you whenever your keys are.
For everything you need to know about buying the right Car Alarm go to Buyz123.com: Car Alarm Buying Guide
Richard Block is the webmaster for Buyz123.com and has written and edited hundreds of their buying guides.
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