Lesson 1Door/window contact types (reed, surface, recessed) and placement best practicesExplores reed, surface, and recessed contacts for doors and windows, covering wiring, gap allowances, and magnet positioning. Focuses on placing them to prevent false triggers, interference, and wear from everyday door and window use in local settings.
Reed switch operation and ratingsSurface vs recessed contact selectionGap spacing, alignment, and tolerancesWiring methods and EOL resistor usePlacement to reduce damage and tamperingTesting contacts during door operationLesson 2Siren/strobe types, decibel ratings, indoor vs outdoor placementExamines siren and strobe varieties, sound levels in decibels, and tone features. Covers indoor versus outdoor positioning, cabling, power planning, plus local regulations and neighbour concerns for noise and duration in Namibian contexts.
Piezo vs mechanical siren designsDecibel ratings and tone frequencyIndoor siren placement strategiesOutdoor siren and strobe positioningCurrent draw and power calculationsCode limits on sound level and durationLesson 3Keypad and mobile app interfaces, indicators, and user feedbackOutlines keypad and mobile app designs, including screen types, status lights, and sound cues. Discusses user codes, arming options, and how interfaces enhance ease of use, training, and fewer mistakes for homeowners.
Fixed vs alphanumeric keypad displaysLED indicators and status meaningsAudible beeps, chimes, and voice promptsMobile app control and notificationsUser codes, authority levels, and duressDesigning simple user flows and promptsLesson 4Glass-break sensors: acoustic vs shock, mounting and sensitivity settingsCovers acoustic and shock glass-break tech, detection ranges, and installation guidelines. Explains adjusting sensitivity, site limitations, and testing to catch breaks while cutting down on unnecessary alerts in varied environments.
Acoustic sensor principles and rangesShock sensor operation and mountingSelecting locations by glass typeSensitivity levels and dip switch setupEnvironmental noise and false alarm controlFunctional testing with glass-break testersLesson 5Environmental sensors and optional devices (smoke, CO, freeze, garage, panic)Reviews smoke, carbon monoxide, heat, freeze, water, garage, and panic units linked to alarms. Details positioning, wiring or setup, alert types, and ties to safety standards and insurance needs in Namibian residences.
Smoke and heat detector integrationCarbon monoxide detector placementFreeze and water leak sensor usesGarage door and tilt sensor optionsPanic, medical, and hold-up devicesLabeling and priority of life-safety zonesLesson 6Control panel features and processor/firmware basicsIntroduces control panel build, processors, and firmware functions in system running. Covers storage, zone limits, data links, and updates, stressing reliability, protection, and planning for features in home setups.
Main board layout and terminal functionsProcessor, memory, and speed basicsZone capacity and expansion modulesKeypad and device bus architecturesFirmware versions and change logsSafe firmware update proceduresLesson 7Wiring vs wireless tradeoffs, zones per loop, supervised vs non‑supervised devicesContrasts wired and wireless options, weighing dependability, effort, and expense. Explains zones per circuit, addressing, and monitored versus unmonitored lines, with advice on suitable choices for different home layouts.
Advantages of wired device circuitsWireless sensors, batteries, and rangeZones per loop and point identificationSeries, parallel, and EOL supervisionNon-supervised circuits and risksChoosing wiring vs wireless by projectLesson 8Power architecture: AC power, backup battery sizing, battery chemistry and maintenanceOutlines AC sources, transformer capacity, and cabling methods. Covers backup battery types, size needs, and care, including checks, swap times, and factors like heat affecting battery life in local climates.
AC source, transformer, and voltage dropAuxiliary power outputs and limitsBattery chemistry types and pros/consBattery capacity, load, and deratingRoutine battery testing proceduresStorage temperature and lifespan effectsLesson 9Motion detectors: PIR, dual-tech, pet immunity, mounting heights and coverageInvestigates PIR and dual-tech motion units, detection areas, and height placements. Addresses pet tolerance, site influences, and path testing to optimise spotting while lowering false alerts in homes with animals.
PIR sensing principles and opticsDual-tech PIR and microwave operationMounting heights and angle selectionPet immunity ratings and limitationsAvoiding HVAC and sunlight interferenceWalk testing and coverage verificationLesson 10Communication modules: cellular, IP (Ethernet/Wi‑Fi), dual-path and supervisionExamines cellular, internet, and dual-path links, covering priority paths, data protection, and check intervals. Emphasises trustworthiness, network choices, and fulfilling monitoring and regulatory needs in Namibia.
Cellular communicator types and bandsIP over Ethernet and Wi‑Fi modulesDual-path routing and failover logicSupervision intervals and test signalsEncryption, APN, and firewall settingsCarrier selection and signal strength testsLesson 11Backup power configurations: tamper and low‑battery reportingDetails backup power setup, including battery capacity, charger capacities, and operation time estimates. Covers tamper detectors, enclosure safety, and low-power alerts to keep systems protected during blackouts.
Battery capacity and runtime estimatesCharger current and load calculationsPanel and enclosure tamper switchesLow-battery thresholds and reportingTesting under AC fail conditionsService intervals and battery replacement
