With the continuous improvement of living standards, various unsafe factors have begun to appear in modern families, such as burglary, fire, electric shock, gas leakage, etc. Once these problems occur, the consequences will be unimaginable. Therefore, in modern intelligent communities and families, the role of security systems is extremely important. We can’t decide the security of the community. Today, Dasheng shares how to build your own security system and the equipment list involved. Usually, the smart home security system mainly includes three aspects: access control system, alarm system and monitoring system, and the following will also be expanded according to this structure.
A reliable entrance door is crucial. It is the first line of defense for family protection. While the access control system provides the owner with solid protection, it also provides more convenience for entering and exiting. Compared with changing the door, changing a reliable door lock is obviously simpler and more convenient. Have you ever forgotten to bring your key when going out and had the embarrassment of not being able to enter the door in the middle of the night? Have you ever been halfway to work and suddenly can’t remember whether the door is locked or not? After reading various reports of opening locks with tin foil in three seconds, is there a little worry? It’s time to change to a fingerprint lock! I started using fingerprint locks in 2016 and have used four so far.
Approach the door and automatically unlock with facial recognition, featuring a rapid, fully automatic lock mechanism for a seamless homecoming experience. For inward-opening doors, entry is as simple as pushing the door without even needing to extend your hand. Children don’t need to stand on tiptoes, adults don’t need to stoop, and the elderly don’t have to worry about worn fingerprints; this truly is a lock solution suitable for everyone.
If facial recognition is not preferred, Xiaomi X also employs 3D semiconductor fingerprint identification technology, supporting fingerprint unlocking with the module discreetly placed on the back of the handle. It aligns with usage habits, completing the unlocking and door-opening actions simultaneously. With support for 8 different unlocking methods, it’s ready for various scenarios. A 1.39-inch AMOLED retina-level screen is integrated into the panel, displaying the lock status clearly. When enrolling a face, following the screen’s display and voice guidance, the process . When visitors press the doorbell, remote video intercom can be initiated. Visitors can see sound wave animation prompts on the screen. Homeowners can engage in remote video intercom with visitors through Xiaoai touch screen speakers or the Mi Home app. With the ‘Live View’ feature enabled, one can monitor the outside in real-time, eliminating the need for a surveillance camera. Moreover, compared to surveillance cameras, this method is more discreet and reduces the likelihood of privacy invasion complaints from neighbors. If someone lingers at the door for an extended period, the system automatically records and pushes the video to the Mi Home app on your phone, allowing you to stay informed even when you’re far away. As a product of Xiaomi, it also has the advantage of integrating with the Mi Home smart home ecosystem. After connecting to the Mi Home app, it can with various smart switches, sensors, and home appliances, creating your personalized smart home. Regarding the Mi Home smart fingerprint lock, I wrote a feature article during the 618 shopping festival, comparing 6 popular models from Mi Home and providing my purchase recommendations. If interested, you can click on the avatar to view. Comparing 6 popular Mi Home smart fingerprint locks, which one to buy during 618? Xiaomi Smart Lock Face Recognition X, recommendation index: Xiaomi Smart Lock E, recommendation index: Xiaomi Smart Lock 1S, recommendation index: Xiaomi Smart Lock Pro, recommendation index: Xiaomi Smart Lock Fully Automatic, recommendation index: Xiaomi Smart Lock Fully Automatic Pro, recommendation index: It is evident that I have a particular preference for the Mi Home X, the only issue being its price, which is significantly higher compared to other models. Recently, Mi Home introduced a second, more affordable facial recognition smart lock, priced at only 1999 yuan during the Double 11 sale! Comparing the specs, the exterior differences are minimal, with the new model featuring the following changes: ① the material of the frame and panel; ② no support for HomeKit, only compatible with the Mi Home ecosystem; ③ reduced unlocking methods by eliminating NFC unlocking; ④ no longer comes with two lithium batteries, instead powered by 10 dry cell batteries; ⑤ the AMOLED screen and infrared camera are omitted, thus no longer supporting surveillance or live video intercom.Personally, the reduced features are all additional enhancements that do not affect the core functions and user experience. Moreover, with a substantial saving of over a thousand dollars, it’s truly a great value! If you insist on changing the lock, here is a suggestion: opt for the 6068 lock body, which has strong compatibility and can be matched with almost all brands and models of fingerprint locks.
Although some fingerprint locks can be adapted to use with the Overlord or Wangli lock bodies, they both require additional charges. Additionally, there is the issue of the ‘heaven and earth hook’, originally designed to increase the difficulty of forced entry by adding more locking points. However, violent home invasions are likely rare nowadays, making this feature somewhat redundant. The most critical point is that few fingerprint locks on the market support the ‘heaven and earth hook’, and they must be removed during installation. Alarm systems can be broadly categorized into anti-theft alarm systems, fire alarm systems, gas leak alarm systems, and water overflow alarm systems. They serve as an effective and reliable means for households to avoid intrusions and disasters caused by natural factors. Primarily, they transmit signals from various sensors installed indoors and outdoors to the relevant personnel at the fastest speed. 01. Anti-theft Alarm Systems ① Smart Fingerprint Locks Fingerprint locks, as part of the access control system, are also a component of the anti-theft alarm system. Most fingerprint locks have security designs, such as dummy passwords, duress fingerprints, password error alarms, visitor records, door prying alarms, high-temperature alarms, false door closure alarms, and voice-controlled video monitoring, among other features. ② Door and Window Sensors One of the typical symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder: remembering to close doors and windows before leaving, but still not feeling reassured and having to check several times. In such cases, consider a door and window sensor! Composed of two parts, the sensor uses magnetic induction to determine the opening and closing status. When the two parts are too far apart, it records the status as ‘open’. Once connected to a Bluetooth gateway, you can check the device’s status anytime, anywhere through your mobile phone. There are many ways to use it, waiting for you to discover, such as attaching it to a pet cage to see if your dog has escaped again to wreak havoc; attaching it to the refrigerator door to see if mom forgot to close the door while cooking; attaching it to the toilet seat to record toilet information for health monitoring or to play music simultaneously. ③ Human Sensors These can detect human movement and changes in light (some models support), and can be placed in rooms, corridors, or bedsides. When movement of a person or pet is detected, they send notifications to the Mi Home app via a nearby Bluetooth gateway or interact with other smart devices, such as activating surveillance, remote alarms, or turning on lights. ④ Human Presence Sensors The human sensors mentioned above are mainly used to detect movement, but there is a bug: they cannot detect when you are stationary in one place.A more advanced type of sensor has emerged – the Human Presence Sensor. Utilizing millimeter wave technology, it achieves a horizontal angle of 120 degrees and can detect individual movements within a radial range of 5 meters. Compared to the PIR technology used in human sensors, the Human Presence Sensor can accurately detect and locate vital signs, monitor static human states, and accurately determine whether a scene is occupied or not. This enables the creation of the following smart scenarios:
The motion sensor, equipped with a high-precision accelerometer, perceives abnormal vibrations, inclinations, or falls of objects. After connecting to the gateway, it can push abnormal conditions to the app and the gateway to achieve local sound and light alarms and other smart device linkages. It can be paired with human and door/window sensors to achieve various scene monitorings.
02. Fire Alarm System: The smoke sensor, with its optical labyrinth design, can detect smoke particles produced by fires, sensing and discovering fire conditions at the earliest time. When danger is detected, it will send out a strong alarm reminder through various MIUI devices and emit an alarm sound of up to 80dB within 3 meters, even waking those who are asleep, to gain precious time for escape and self-rescue, guarding the safety of family and property.
03. Gas Leak Alarm System: The gas sensor, with dual air intake holes and an internal sensor, monitors the concentration of natural gas in real-time. The main component of natural gas is methane, and when the concentration of methane in the air reaches the alarm setting value of 10%LEL, the device will immediately emit an audible and visual alarm signal of no less than 70dB, strongly reminding family members to handle it in time.
04. Water Overflow Alarm System: The water immersion sensor uses the conductivity of water. When the water immersion height reaches 1mm, two metal probes form a circuit, thereby linking with other smart products to issue reminders and take countermeasures to avoid greater losses. If there is a condition to install an electromagnetic water valve, it can also automatically close the water supply at the first time.
The monitoring system has real-time monitoring capabilities. Through the distribution of monitors and other equipment, it can monitor real-time conditions in key areas such as around the house, at the entrance, and in various rooms. Users can check changes at home anytime, anywhere through their mobile phones, and the system will automatically record real-time monitoring images through hard disk/cloud disk recording functions. In case of an accident, it can be reviewed and used as evidence. Considering indoor environmental safety issues, environmental detection systems are also included in security, such as formaldehyde detectors, PM2.5 detectors, temperature and humidity sensors, etc.01. Home Smart Camera: With the development of the times and the progress of technology, cameras have gradually expanded from commercial to home use. Whether for security considerations or for the care of the elderly/children/pets, home smart cameras are your best choice.
The prices are now very affordable, with a decent 4K camera available for around 200 yuan. Due to the varying installation environments in different households, it is best to offer multiple installation methods. Common installation options available on the market include wall mounting,, and placing upright.
Since it is called a ‘smart camera’, where exactly is the intelligence? ① Human detection and tracking refers to the camera’s ability to automatically distinguish between moving objects and humans through algorithms, effectively reducing false alarms and improving recognition accuracy. For instance, when you are not at home, you can activate the human detection feature. If a stranger enters the room, the machine can detect this immediately and push the information to your mobile phone. You can then use the app to check the camera and see who it is. For a more advanced feature, once a person is recognized, you can activate human tracking. The camera will automatically lock onto the position and adjust the lens position following the person’s movement, ensuring no moment is missed. ② Facial recognition is an upgrade from human detection, allowing for precise identification down to the facial level. We can pre-identify the facial information of family members, and the camera will automatically match individuals through algorithms and support video filtering by person, efficiently locating useful information. ③ The telephone/intercom voice feature is also a major selling point of smart cameras. For example, parents can not only remotely monitor their children’s status but also communicate with them at any time. Additionally, they can remotely interact with their pets. Concerns about video privacy leaks are a primary reason many families hesitate to purchase smart cameras. Therefore, when selecting, we should first look for well-known brands and avoid off-brand products. These brands lack the financial and human resources to maintain their servers and firewalls, making them vulnerable to hacking and potential privacy breaches. It is also recommended to place cameras in common areas like living rooms rather than bedrooms. 02. Video doorbells/peephole surveillance cameras are a great choice but require pre-wired power. What if there is no power available? For this use case, some manufacturers have seized the opportunity and precisely developed the ‘smart video doorbell’ category, integrating ‘peephole + doorbell + surveillance’ functions and equipped with a large-capacity lithium battery, eliminating the need for pre-wired power. Considering the worries of many friends who wonder ‘What if the doorbell is stolen after being installed outside?’, smart video doorbells have been specifically designed for this concern. Once installed, whether it is standard disassembly or destructive removal, the machine will trigger an alarm mechanism. You can monitor and zoom the image in real-time on the app interface. When a visitor presses the doorbell, it will directly send a call request to your bound mobile phone, and you can accept it to engage in real-time two-way voice communication.Even when you are not at home, you can communicate in time. For example, receiving takeout or express deliveries is very practical. Moreover, if the elderly are taking care of children at home and bind the doorbell to your mobile phone, you can clearly know every movement at the doorstep and when the elderly take the children out for a walk. Even if you are not at home, you can feel much more at ease.
Another commonly used device in every family is the temperature and humidity sensor. In fact, it is just a thermometer for temperature and humidity. However, this kind can be connected to an app for remote viewing and linkage with other smart devices. The air detector can monitor indicators such as PM2.5/TVOC/CO2 according to different added sensors in addition to temperature and humidity. It can also be connected to the Mi Home app and linked with other smart devices. In conclusion, these devices/sensors will become an extension of your body. Even if you are thousands of miles away, you can still control every move at home anytime and anywhere. And everyone can create their own smart scenes and usage methods according to their actual situations. This may be the significance of the existence of smart homes and smart home security systems.
