Wired vs wireless burglar alarms: which is better?
Neither type is better in every case. Wired alarms carry signals over cables, so they need no sensor batteries but require chasing walls or lifting floors to install. Wireless alarms use radio links, install with little disruption and suit finished homes, but their sensors run on batteries. The right choice depends on the building, its wiring and how it is used.
How does installation differ?
A wired alarm connects every sensor to the control panel by cable. Installing one means running cables through walls, under floors or along skirting, so it causes more disruption and takes longer. A wireless alarm links sensors to the panel by radio, so each sensor is fixed in place with no cabling to route.
That difference matters most in a finished, decorated home, where cabling a wired system can mean lifting carpets and chasing plaster. In a property that is being rewired, extended or built, the cables can go in before the walls are closed up.
What about batteries and signal?
Wireless sensors run on batteries, which need checking and replacing over time. Wired sensors draw power from the panel, so there are no sensor batteries to change, though the control panel has a backup battery in both types. Wireless systems also depend on a clear radio link between each sensor and the panel.
Thick walls, foil-backed insulation and long distances can weaken a radio link, so sensor positions are checked at the quote visit. A cable is not affected by radio interference, but it can be damaged, and a fault in buried cabling takes longer to trace than a flat battery.
Which suits a retrofit and which a new build?
Wireless suits most retrofits because it avoids cabling work in a finished home. Wired suits new builds, extensions and rewires, where cables can be installed before decoration. Many homes would be served well by either, and the quote visit settles it against the building and how you use it.
Locks & Alarms Ltd installs wireless systems, and this work is Checkatrade-verified: one reviewed job in DA1 covered a new Ajax alarm with 15 glass-break protectors, PIRs and key fobs. The firm also services existing wired systems, so an older cabled alarm does not need replacing to be maintained.
Related service: Intruder Alarms