How to Install a Vehicle Security System & Car Alarm

They are the apples of our eye. Our pride and joy, the thing we have worked for for so long and now it is here you will want to ensure a safe home for your new arrival. Installing an alarm system is the first step to this, and some form of Immobiliser will come in useful as well. What do you mean, that is barbaric? No, I was talking about cars. Easy mistake to make, I suppose. Anyway, you do not want your car to get stolen even if you love your kids more than it or are still undecided, so if your new car is not a new car, and as a result comes without an alarm system, you will want to add as much security to it as possible.

The advantage of buying a car that does not have a pre-fitted alarm system – for yes, there is an advantage! – is that you can fit one of your choosing, one that is neither so sensitive that it goes off when a song thrush lands nearby, nor so numb that it only springs into action when the thieves are unscrewing the old licence plates and sealing it off for a respray. It may mean a bit of hard work, but who does not secretly love playing the mechanic on a Saturday afternoon? If you are planning to do it all on Saturday afternoon, though, make sure you start early on, because this is not a small job.

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Thatcham Car Alarm – Difference between Cat1 and Cat2 to 1

Thatcham car alarms are approved by UK motor insurance companies and by fitting a Thatcham approved security system you will enjoy cheaper car insurance and a high level of car security.

Thatcham car alarms for vehicles without a category2 immobiliser must be be fitted with a full cat1 alarm with integrated 2 or 3 circuit immobiliser all combined in one unit. These Thatcham car alarms tend to be fitted to older cars or unofficial imports where they are not designed to UK specification in terms of Thatcham security systems. Thatcham car alarm systems for cars with cat2 already installed are cheaper and quicker to install because they use the existing immobiliser so they are less complicated to manufacture and install. Cat 2:1 Thatcham car alarms are suitable for newer UK specification cars as most of them come factory fitted with a class 2 immobiliser

The Thatcham organisation is an independent body set up by the insurance industry to improve vehicle safety and security for cars, vans, HGVs, motor bikes, plant and other vehicles. Thatcham do not manufacture car alarms but they do set design standards for car alarm manufacturers to meet and each alarm is given an evaluation code if it passes and makes it onto the Thatcham list of car alarms. Some of the best know Thatcham car alarm manufacturers are; Avital, Clifford, Cobra, Gemini, GT, Toad and Viper. Specifications vary from each manufacturer and model range but they all have the following basics; door, bonnet and boot protection, ultrasonic or microwave interior protection, 2 or 3 circuit immobilisation, a self powered siren, remote control central locking, 2x high security remotes and battery backup siren.

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Choosing the Best Car Alarm System

It is not uncommon when you began shopping for a car alarm system to see the advertisements of different brands and models all claiming to be the best car alarm system you could buy. This is the nature of a competitive business environment and a smart consumer will take the time to investigate each car alarm system and how it works in application before making their choice.

Finding the best car alarm system begins with understanding the type of vehicle you own and what type of car alarm system is compatible with it. If you own a car that was manufactured in the year 2000 it may not be able to sustain the requirements of some of the sophisticated car alarm systems that have been developed in accordance with automobile production in 2005.

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