Wired or wireless?

• Wired: suits new builds, commercial premises and any job where cable can go in before walls and floors are finished. Wired detectors need no batteries and can't go out of range.
• Wireless: such as Texecom Ricochet, Pyronix Enforcer, Visonic and Hikvision AX PRO. Suits lived-in homes, finished or listed buildings and outbuildings, where cabling means lifting floors. Each detector has a battery to replace every few years, which adds up on a large site.
• Hybrid: panels that take both wired and wireless devices. Handy for an extension or a phased upgrade.

How big a panel do I need?

• Count your zones, then add room. A zone is one detector, or group of detectors, that the panel reports on separately. A three-bedroom house often needs six to eight zones once doors, ground-floor rooms, the landing and a panic button are covered. You can add detectors and zone expanders later, but it's easier to start with enough capacity.
• Decide on monitoring early. A bells-only system and a monitored system need different communicators (the module that sends alerts out). We stock communicator modules, including Pyronix DIGI modules, and panels with built-in 4G. If an insurer or monitoring service may be involved later, pick a panel that supports the communicator you'll need.
• Check the grade. Insurers often set a security grade for commercial risks. Grade 2 covers most homes and small businesses. Higher grades add stricter tamper and signalling rules.
• Keypads and arming. Think about where people come and go. Proximity tags and app control cut false alarms from someone rushing a code on the way out.

What else do I need with the panel?

A working alarm is rarely one box. Plan for detectors (PIRs, dual-tech detectors for areas with pets or heat sources, and door contacts), an external sounder, a keypad, a standby battery sized to the panel's load, and cable. Mains-powered panels and expanders need a matched power supply. A system with an IP or Wi-Fi communicator needs a stable network connection.

For your own specification, start from the alarm panels and build outwards.

Common questions

Do you deliver alarm equipment across the UK?

We deliver to England, Scotland and Wales, normally within 1–2 working days for orders placed before 2:30pm. We don't ship to Northern Ireland.

Can you fit the alarm for me?

No, we're a supplier, not an installer. Depending on where you are and what you need, we can recommend a qualified trade installer.

Do you sell parts for monitored alarms?

Yes. We stock panels and communicator modules that can send alerts to an app or a monitoring service. The monitoring contract itself comes from a monitoring provider, not from us.

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