Are you looking for ways to enhance your car’s security system? If so, you’re in the right place. Having an alarm system is essential for any car owner. Of course, most cars have basic, factory alarm systems. However, they are very limited in their capabilities and reliability. So if you’re serious about security, then you should definitely invest in a car alarm system.
In this article, we’ll explore the benefits of car alarm systems, explain how they work, and offer guidance on choosing the right one for your vehicle.
Why Consider Having a New Alarm System?
While factory keyless alarm systems provide basic security by integrating seamlessly with a vehicle’s existing systems, aftermarket car alarm systems are always superior due to their enhanced security features.
These systems usually include advanced sensors, such as shock, motion, and tilt sensors, that ensure more comprehensive protection. They also offer customizable features like, GPS tracking, and smartphone notifications, which are usually not available in factory systems.
Their flexibility, advanced technology, and increased security make aftermarket car alarm systems a much better choice if you’re looking to maximize your vehicle’s protection.
Key Reasons to Have a Car Alarm System
Now let’s dive deeper into why you should get a car alarm system. As mentioned above they offer several advanced features lacking in factory alarm systems. As mentioned, they offer advanced sensors such as motion, shock, and tilt sensors, which detect unauthorized access and trigger alarms. Many systems also include immobilizers and kill switches, which stop the vehicle from starting if someone tries to tamper with it.
Another key feature that makes car alarm systems a great choice is the remote start system, which allows car owners to start their vehicles from a distance using a remote or smartphone app. This feature not only adds convenience, especially in extreme weather conditions by pre-warming or cooling the car, but it also enhances security.
Remote starters can be integrated with car alarm systems to ensure the vehicle remains locked while running, reducing the risk of theft. The ability to start the vehicle remotely without needing to be physically present adds a significant layer of safety and convenience, making remote start systems a valuable addition to modern car alarm systems.
The Ins & Outs of a Security System
Before getting into the details of how car security works, a basic introduction to the mechanisms of a car alarm system is in order. Basically, a security system requires some sort of sensors, a siren/signal device, and a control unit. The sensors receive a signal that indicates some form of disturbance, then it sends a signal to the control unit which, in turn, makes the siren go off, alerting about the attempted theft.
Now, these are the most fundamental components required in a car alarm system. In the following sections, we’ll go over the types of alarm systems, their various features, and nuances.
Car Alarm Types and Features
There are many additional features that car alarm systems can offer for advanced security. Depending on your preferences, the model, and the brand you have, you may be able to get one or more of the following functionalities:
Starter Kill/Vehicle Immobilizer
This feature acts like a kill switch, preventing thieves from driving your car. If someone tries to hot-wire your vehicle, the immobilizer cuts the power automatically preventing them from stealing your car.
Motion & Proximity Sensors
While many alarms have shock sensors to detect physical contact, high-end models come with motion and proximity sensors. These detect movement around your car and signal a warning if someone gets too close. The alarm can alert you via an LCD key fob or smartphone. Some sensors have preset distances, while others let you customize how close someone can get before the alarm goes off. While this is an excellent feature, it can also sometimes be misleading, causing many false alarms.
Glass-Break Sensors
As most car alarms are connected to the doorlock, many thieves might try to get in unnoticed by breaking the car window and avoiding the alarm going off. To stop them from bypassing the alarm, glass-break sensors are designed to trigger the alarm as soon as they “hear” the glass breaking.
Driver’s Side Priority Unlock
When you unlock your car, there is a possibility of people trying to get in from the passenger side which is out of your reach and vulnerable. To avoid this scenario, the driver’s side priority unlock feature allows you to unlock only the driver’s door without unlocking the others, reducing the risk of someone entering from the opposite side when you get into your car.
Tilt Sensors
Even when people cannot get into your car, there can still be other types of threats. This is where tilt sensors come in: If your car is being towed or someone tries to jack it up to remove the tires, tilt sensors will detect the movement and raise the alarm.
Impact Sensors
Your car can still be under a possible threat even if no one is trying to steal it. To account for this, impact sensors are designed to detect hits or bumps and sound an alarm, helping prevent hit-and-run situations. With that said, keep in mind that they can be overly sensitive to loud noises or weather conditions, so choose carefully.
GPS Tracking
Another security feature worth investing in is the GPS tracking system. Car alarms with GPS tracking will help you locate your car in crowded parking lots or unfamiliar areas. This feature is also useful for recovering a stolen vehicle.
To sum up, these features, each in their own way, boost your car’s security and add convenience and peace of mind, ensuring your vehicle is well-protected in various scenarios.
Car Alarm Categories
There are four main categories that car alarms fall into active, passive, two-way, and audible. Below, we will go over each category briefly to help you find your preferred one.
Active Car Alarm Systems
Active car alarm systems are the most common. Drivers must press a button to lock the doors and activate the alarm. Some can be switched to passive mode if preferred.
Passive Car Alarm Systems
Passive car alarm systems automatically lock the doors and the alarm when the driver turns off the ignition and closes the doors, which is helpful for those who often forget to lock their car. Both active and passive alarms are one-way systems, sending commands only from the remote to the car.
Two-Way Car Alarm Systems
Two-way car alarm systems are more advanced. They can send information from the car back to the remote, notifying you of issues from up to a mile away via a key fob with an LCD screen or flashing LED light. The fob can alert you if someone is near your car, the alarm is sounding, or if you forgot to lock the doors, often by displaying a message, vibrating, or chirping.
Audible Car Alarm Systems
Lastly, audible car alarm systems are the basic type usually built into newer cars with keyless entry. They emit a sound when the alarm is triggered, providing a basic level of security.
How Do Car Alarms Work?
We briefly went over the basic mechanism of car alarms at the beginning of the article. Now, we can look at each one of the components that make these security features possible and briefly discuss them.
Remote Control Module
You can think of the remote control module as the brain of the car alarm system. It receives signals from the remote control or key fob and activates or deactivates the alarm. It also processes input from various sensors and triggers the alarm response.
Antenna
The antenna improves the communication range between the remote control and the alarm system, ensuring reliable activation and deactivation from a distance.
Siren
As mentioned earlier, the siren produces a loud noise when the alarm is triggered, deterring potential thieves and alerting nearby individuals to the attempted theft. Also, in some alarm systems, you can choose and customize the sound that comes from the sirens.
Wiring
Of course, without connecting all the components, no car alarm can work. This is where wiring comes in, connecting all the components of the car alarm system to the vehicle’s electrical system, and ensuring proper power supply and communication between parts.
Functionality of Remote Control
We have previously mentioned the remote control, or key fob which is used to arm and disarm the alarm system. It can also perform additional functions like remote start or trunk release, depending on the system’s capabilities.
In short, all of these components work together and communicate with each other to ensure the security of your car.
Integration With Your Smartphone
Additionally, many modern alarm systems connect to your smartphone, letting you control and monitor your car’s security through an app. This means you can arm and disarm the alarm, get real-time alerts if it’s triggered, and even track your car’s location, making it super convenient to manage your vehicle’s safety.
Which One Works Best for Your Vehicle? Find Your Perfect Match
As you can see there are so many things to consider and be aware of before choosing the car alarm system. Things like operating range, security needs, smartphone integration, and other factors are all features that you need to be aware of.
This is why, it is a much safer choice to leave these considerations to the professionals. Our specialists at Santa Clarita Auto Sound can help you find the right security system for your vehicle.
Our experts can help you throughout the entire process from choosing the best car alarm system that meets your vehicle’s needs to installing it in an efficient and accurate manner. Note, that the installation phase is essential because if it’s not done professionally, it might cause problems later and drain your car battery.
How to Shop for Car Alarm Systems
Nowadays, there are so many options and possibilities out there that everything may seem very overwhelming at first. However, you don’t need to worry about this as we have the ideal recommendations for you already.
Where to Buy
Before getting to our recommendation, remember that there are two main options: purchasing from physical stores or getting it at online retailers. While physical shops allow you to see the products in person, online stores, on the other hand, have a wider variety of products offered. Both are great options, and your choice comes down to your shopping preferences.
Visit Santa Clarita Auto Sound’s shop to choose from some of the most reliable brands and a wide variety of options. And if you happen to be in Santa Clarita then Santa Clarita Auto Sound’s professionals can help you install the alarm in an efficient and smooth manner.
Find Compatible Alarm Systems for Your Car
Lastly, do remember that compatibility is one of the most important aspects of any car alarm system. The alarm system may be excellent but if it does not match your car, then it becomes pointless.
Do Your Research
With all this said, you should always do your own research before proceeding with a purchase. Despite the common features, it’s always a good idea to understand the specifics of your car and get a car alarm system that matches it best.
Conclusion
As you can see, an aftermarket car alarm system is a must for anyone serious about their vehicle’s security. It not only ensures safety by offering a wide range of protection types but also has other functionalities that are very handy for any car owner.
