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Should I have the alarm keypad installed in the coat closet?

Hi everyone,

I'm going to have a fairly basic hardwired residential alarm system installed in my home. I'm thinking of having the installer mount it inside the coat closet by the outside door, instead of out in the open on the wall by the door, for two reasons: (1) This should prevent our young children from playing with it. With its buttons and lights, Im sure they'll want to play with it. If we mount it a bit out of their reach, they'll get a chair. If we mount it higher than they can reach with a chair, then my wife won't easily be able to reach it, and it will probably look strange anyway. (2) I've read that sometimes uneducated burglars, upon breaking in, immediately destroy the keypad or rip it off the wall, because they think it will prevent a call to the police. That would cost me money. If it's in the closet, I suppose they're less likely to find it or bother with it. What are your thoughts? Thanks for your time.

Reply to
anonymous
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I have a 3 year-old and a 9 year-old at home and haven't had a problem with them playing with the keypad. Maybe if you spend some time to explain what it is they won't think of it as a toy.

The cost of replacing/reinstalling a keypad would probably be minor compared to the other costs associated with a break-in (compromised locks/doors/windows, stolen items, etc.).

Don't put the control panel in the closet. I'm sure that where the semi-educated burglars would go to try and shut things down.

Reply to
R-Guy

There several reasons why this is not a good idea. Perhaps the biggest problem this will create on a day to day operational basis, is that people entering the home will not hear the entry delay, and this will often cause false trips of the alarm. I can almost guarantee this will be one of the end results of hiding the keypad. Now depending upon the setup with your monitoring station, this could cause false police dispatches.

I would strongly suggest you NOT do this, based on my own experiences with takeover systems where this was done. I have had to move several keypads because of this

R.H.Campbell Home Security Metal Products

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Reply to
tourman

My 3 & 7 year old grandsons understand all about security. The 3 year old knows how to lock the doors & windows. The 7 year old has had his own security code for a couple of years now. He has a habit of arming the system after dark and making sure all doors & windows are secure.

Though we live in a relatively good neighborhood, crime is everywhere and doesn't discriminate.

Jim Rojas

Reply to
Jim Rojas

That said, most keypads also have a door or cover of some sort you can close over the keys, which should help reduce the temptation.

Reply to
Matt Ion

If you cannot hear it warning you to disarm the system, then like the other poster said, it might result in flase alarms when you fail to disarm. If the walls ar thin enough, and the sounder builtinto the keypad are loud enough, then why shouldn't you mount it out of view? No reason not to. besides you can instruct the central to call you to confirm an alarm b4 dispatching. good luck

Reply to
timO'

i would suggest you ask the installer when he arrives... and before all the wiring has been planned out... he'll have a good idea of whether or not the keypad could be heard without having to try it out first... this will vary greatly depending on the system being installed

i have a couple customers with their keypads in the closet by their entry door... haven't heard of any false alarm problems from either of them

however, if you can't hear the entry delay beeps from the keypad, you will very likely have problems with forgetting to turn it off when you come in

the other consideration is that it may be a pain to get to the keypad... having to get into the closet and move coats out of the way every time you use it

Reply to
shady

Have them mount the keypad at 7 feet off the floor but not in the closet, and keep a ladder in the closet instead.

Reply to
Crash Gordon

Reply to
anonymous

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