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Intruder alarms

How to install a DIY intruder alarm in under 30 minutes.

For many years, UK home-owners have left home security to the security professionals. While this may still hold true for some, a new breed of DIY minded folk are adopting smart technology, much of which is self-installed.

Smart home security is booming!

There's a whole range of DIY security systems available on the market. And we've tested many of them.

One which stands head and shoulders above the rest is Home8 (in our opinion).

Why?

Because it's an intruder alarm plus CCTV in one, comes in at around £300, has no monthly contracts attached, works really well and takes less than 30 minutes to install.

diy alarm kit unboxed

So, without further ado; here's a step by step guide to installing Home8.

diy alarm installed in under 30 minutes START THE CLOCK!


Prerequisite

On your smartphone, make sure you have auto-lock disabled.

To do this on iOS goto Settings > Display & Brightness > Auto Lock. Change this to "Never".

To do this on Android go to the Settings > Display. In this menu, you'll find a Screen timeout or Sleep setting.

switch off auto lock

STEP 1

Download the Home8 app from the App Store or Google Play.

Follow the on-screen instructions to set up your account.

Download home8 app

STEP 2

When you get to this screen (do not press 'Next' yet - skip to next step).

Home8 instructions

STEP 3

If you haven't already; plug the mains adapter and ethernet cable into the back of the main hub (referred to as OPU in manual and app).

Plug the other end of the mains adapter into a wall socket, close to your router, and switch on.

Plug the other end of the ethernet cable into a spare port on the back of your broadband router.

Plug in OPU

STEP 4

Wait for 1,2,3 LEDs to go green on OPU.

It may take a few minutes for LED 2 (Cloud symbol) to go green. Please be patient.

If LED 2 does not go green, switch off router, wait 30 seconds, then switch on again.

After a few minutes, if LED 2 still does not go green, it means that router is not allowing home8 to connect to internet. This is common with BT Infinity, BT Homehub 5 routers.

Please call BT, they will talk you through what needs to be done with router (or firewall) to allow this.

Power up

STEP 5

Plug siren into wall socket and pull plastic tag out from the side the engage battery. This is to ensure siren continues if mains is switched off.

Plug siren in

STEP 6

Connect the power lead into the back of the IP cube camera. Plug the other end into a wall socket and place close to the OPU.

plug camera in

STEP 7

Open the back of the PIR motion sensor and add the CR123A battery (supplied), put back together and place within 2ft of OPU.

open PIR, insert batteries

STEP 8

Do the same with the door contacts, remove back and insert battery. Put back together and place close to OPU.

open door contacts to insert CR123A batteries

STEP 9

Go back to the app (which should be exactly as you left it, as you disabled auto lock in step 1).

Click the orange next button and follow on screen instructions.

revert back to app

STEP 10

When you get to this screen the camera on your phone will automatically open. Simply focus it on the QR code, found on the bottom of the OPU.

Scan QR code

STEP 11

Activating System - usually take ~2 minutes.

activate Home8

STEP 12

System activated!

You have already added batteries to sensors.

Proceed by clicking next button through the system tutorial screens.

system activated

STEP 13

When you get to this screen, click OK then go fit your sensors in to position.

Before actually fixing the sensors(door contacts and PIRs), to desired fitting location, hold in position (roughly) and remove the back (as if accessing the battery). This will activate the tamper switch and, assuming the sensor is within range, will notifiy you on the app.

Assuming you do get the tamper notification, proceed and fit the sensor.

The range is ~90m, so this should be fine for most households, unless your property has lead lined walls.

If it's not within range, and you can't move the location of the OPU, there are range boosters available.

check range

STEP 14

Stick the double-sided 3M tape to the 45° angled sides of the PIR motion sensor.

The sensors come provided with both 3M tape and raw-plugs and screws.

For most surfaces tape should do the job. Surfaces like brick would require fixing with raw-plug and screw.

preparing PIR

STEP 15

Ensure the surface you're sticking to it clean from dust, grease, dirt and cobwebs.

Position the sensor in corner of the room, at ceiling height, ideally 1.7m - 2.2m high.

Once fitted, the PIR goes into 'test mode' for 1 hour where it learns its environment.

After 1 hour, the PIR goes into 'normal mode' where it can detect movement.

However, to conserve battery life, the PIRs have a 3 minute cool-down period, after each trigger meaning it will ignore movement until cool-down period has elapsed.

mount PIR

STEP 16

Using the alcohol wipe provided, clean the door frame and door before fitting the sensors.

Fit the contact to the door frame and the magnet to the door (if possible, although it will work both ways).

Before sticking in final position, offer the two parts up in desired location and see red LED light up so ensure your magnet is the correct side and end of the contact.

For door and window frames which have a significant difference in height to the door or window, there's a spacer provided, which clicks into the magnet housing to help reduce the difference.

 

fit door contact

STEP 17

Fitted the preferred way, with contact on the door frame and magnet on the door.

preferred position for door contact

STEP 18

Ensure the USB memory card is plugged into the side of the OPU.

insert USB flash drive

STEP 19

Use the keyfob to arm/disarm the system or, of course, the Home8 app.

using remote key chain

diy alarm installed in under 30 minutes STOP THE CLOCK!

There you have it... in under 30 minutes you can install a DIY alarm, which connects to a secure app, which alerts you if your alarm is triggered. Once triggered the IP camera(s) start recording 30 seconds of LIVE video, which is available to view on the app.