How To Set Up Your Own Home Security System In 2022. You don’t want to pay for professional installation or ongoing monitoring? When it comes to protecting your property. You don’t have to spend a lot of money or commit. To a single brand of products if you do it yourself.
Smart home security systems are great for keeping an eye on what’s going on inside and outside your house. But not everyone needs or can afford a full-fledged professionally monitored system from ADT or Vivint. DIY systems like Ring Alarm Pro and SimpliSafe can save you money. But you can only use the components that the platform supports. A third approach is to design an à la carte home security system using the best available components. To assist you in getting started with your DIY home security system, we highlighted top-rated devices for each component.
Table of Contents
Begin By Installing A Surveillance camera
One or more security cameras to monitor activities both. Inside and outside your home included in any DIY home security system worth its salt. Depending on features like motion and sound alerts, local storage capabilities, and facial recognition. You may get an excellent interior camera for less than $100.
Look for a camera that can communicate with third-party smart home devices. Such as door locks, lights, and plugs and has a resolution of at least 1080p. Choose a camera that allows voice control and/or streams to a suitable smart display. If you use Alexa or Google Assistant to control your smart devices with voice commands. The Eufy Indoor Cam 2K Pan & Tilt P24 is one of our favourite low-cost models. Because it includes 2K footage, local and cloud video storage. Motion tracking, and mechanical pan and tilt controls. Apple’s HomeKit also supported.
The pricing of outside cameras varies greatly. The 1080p Wyze Cam V3, our Editors’ Choice winner for budget outdoor cameras, includes colour night vision. Sophisticated motion detection, voice control, a built-in siren, and local video storage, among other features. It can also control door locks, lighting, and outdoor sirens by integrating with various third-party smart devices. The Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight, on the other hand, delivers superb 2K video. Colour night vision, a brilliant light that turns on when motion detected, and a rechargeable battery that allows for a completely wireless design.
With A Floodlight Camera, You May Capture Outdoor Motion
Floodlight cameras are multi-purpose devices that can used to monitor outdoor activity as well as provide illumination at night. Most floodlight cameras have two powerful wide-beam LED lamps that illuminate broad areas like driveways and backyards, and they employ motion detection sensors to turn on the lights and the camera.
Although most of these gadgets require electrical connections for installation, there are some battery-powered models available. The Arlo Pro 3 Floodlight Camera, for example, is totally wireless and features 2K video, colour night vision, and compatibility with a wide range of other devices.
If you’re looking to replace an old wired fixture, the Ring Floodlight Cam Wired Pro is a great option that works with other Ring cameras as well as a variety of third-party devices and has 3D motion tracking, HDR video, colour night vision, and voice controls. The Wyze Cam Floodlight offers 1080p video, sound and motion detection, two brilliant LED lighting, and a built-in alarm for a more economical wired solution.
Smart Locks: A Practical Approach To Access Control
A smart door lock an important part of any linked home security system, and it should be able to communicate with the rest of your security systems. The Kwikset Halo Touch is a complete lock assembly that includes the deadbolt and strike hardware, interior and exterior escutcheons, and drill hole templates. Others, such as the August Wi-Fi Smart Lock, rely on the majority of your existing hardware and simply replace a few components.
Make sure the smart lock you desire has Wi-Fi connectivity so you can manage it remotely from your phone. Alexa, Google Assistant, and/or HomeKit-compatible locks allow you to lock and unlock your doors using voice commands, as well as interact with other Alexa, Google Assistant, and/or HomeKit-compatible devices like cameras and lights.
The Ultraloq U-Bolt Pro Wi-Fi, our Editors’ Choice winner, can unlocked using your voice, a fingerprint scanner, a touchpad, a mobile app, and a traditional key.
With A Video Doorbell, You Can See Who Is At The Door
Consider installing a video doorbell if you want to see who is at your door before opening it to a possible security danger. When motion detected or the doorbell buzzer is pressed, these multi-purpose gadgets record video and send a push notification. Other smart devices, such as indoor and outdoor security cameras, door locks, and lights, can triggered by the majority of models.
Wired doorbells, like the Ezviz DB1C, work with your current doorbell wire and are reasonably simple to set up. A battery-powered model, like the Arlo Essential Video Doorbell, is a preferable option if you don’t want to deal with wiring.
Look for a doorbell with a minimum of 1080p video, a built-in Wi-Fi radio, and a low-cost video storage plan or local storage option. Advanced capabilities like 2K HDR video, package identification, and intelligent motion alerts that distinguish between animals, people, and vehicles will set you back extra.
Protect Your Home From The Inside Out With Smart Sensors
After you’ve selected the perfect combination of cameras and locks, you’ll want to consider extra gadgets that can safeguard your home from threats both inside and out. You may, for example, install Eve Motion Sensors in various parts of your home to receive motion alerts while you’re away, or set them up to control other HomeKit devices like lights and plugs. Similarly, Kangaroo Motion + Entry Sensors notify you when someone opens or closes a window or door; if you subscribe to a professional monitoring plan, an agent notifies the appropriate authorities when the sensors triggered.
Finally, water and leak detectors like the D-Link DCH-S161 Wi-Fi Water Sensor can assist prevent serious damage to walls, floors, and cabinets by alerting you to any leaks. When paired with the Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff valve, our Editors’ Choice winner, the Flo By Moen Smart Water Detector, may even switch off your home’s water supply, preventing further damage.
Security Intelligence
Smart devices can make your home a little more livable…and a lot more automated…in addition to keeping you safe. We’ve put hundreds of smart home items through their paces across more than 20 categories to see which ones work best in each room (and out).
