Wireless Alarm Systems vs. Hardwired Alarm Systems
In a hardwire security system all of the keypads, power source, telephone connection, sirens, strobes, cellular backup radios and detection devices such as door/window contacts, motion detectors, smoke detectors are wired back to the control panel. The control Panel is the brains of the security system and is installed in a central location in the home. In a clean and professionally installed security system all wires will be hidden inside the walls and behind the door/ window mouldings. This can be very labor intensive and not all home owners want their mouldings removed. A hardwired alarm System is the most maintenance free system available and if maintained properly will last 20+ years.
Pros: maintenance free, very reliable
Cons: labor intensive
Wireless security systems are not completely wireless. Keypads, power source, telephone connection, sirens, strobes and cellular backup radios all need to be hardwired back to the control panel ( wireless keypads and sirens are available but I would not recommend them unless absolutely necessary). All door and window sensors, motion detectors, carbon monoxide detectors, flood sensors, and smoke detectors are wireless and communicate with the control panel through a wireless receiver.
Wireless security systems have been around for well over twenty years and have been very reliable. The main problem with early designs was the battery life. Early wireless alarm systems used standard 9 volt batteries which would only last for about six months. The other problem was that these devices were not supervised meaning that the control panel did not know if the batteries were dead, and in some cases if the device was completely missing.
Today wireless security systems use 3 volt lithium ion batteries which can last up to three to ten years. These devices are completely supervised sending status signals back to the control panel every two to four hours.
Pros: very reliable, easy to install
Cons: batteries need to be replaced every three to ten years