One thing you may need to deal with nosy kids running around is a homemade alarm. In fact, in general this tool can also be used to protect homes that can surprise thieves. Alarms will prevent theft of objects and/or make you safer.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Preparing to Assemble and Install the Alarm
Step 1. Gather the necessary materials
You can buy all the materials you need at a hardware or hardware store. If you can't find a 1.5-volt mini buzzer at a hardware store, try buying one at an electronics store. To get all these materials, you have to spend around Rp. 400 thousand. The materials that must be prepared include:
- 1.5 volt battery
- 1.5 volt mini buzzer
- Cardboard (for example from a cereal box)
- Electrical tape
- Glue
- Insulating cable (3 strands, with small size)
- 10x30 cm (or larger) plywood
- Meter (or ruler)
- Wall hanger (can be glued and removed)
- Wooden clothespin (with spring)
- Rope (with a length of 90-150 centimeters)
- Cable cutting pliers (or strong scissors)
- Cable stripping pliers
Step 2. Glue the plywood to the wall next to the door
Use adhesive and removable wall hangers or tape to attach the boards to the wall. It serves as the base for the door alarm. You may have to punch holes in the board so it can hang on the hanger.
- Usually, the alarm board is installed near the top of the door, about 30 centimeters from the frame.
- Alternatively, you can place the alarm on a table, nightstand (a small bedside table), or a bookshelf placed near the door if you don't want to hang it.
- Alarms placed in high locations are more difficult to deactivate and reach. However, you will need a longer rope to do this.
Step 3. Cut three strands of insulating cable (cable covered with rubber sleeve, not bare wire)
Use strong scissors or cord-cutting pliers to cut 3 strands of cable about 30 centimeters long (for each cable). If you use scissors, you may have to move the scissors several times to break the cord.
- Measure the cable with a tape measure or ruler, then bend the cable at the point to be cut. This makes it easier for you to cut them accurately.
- If you can't cut the wires with scissors, use a sharp knife to cut them.
Step 4. Peel off all the ends of the cable
The cable will be covered with insulating rubber which can be peeled off with cable stripper pliers. Insert about 5 cm of the end of the cable into the slot of the peeler pliers with a size that corresponds to the size of the cable being used. Firmly press the peeler pliers and pull the cord to remove the insulation layer. Do this on both ends of each cable.
- You can also use scissors or an all-purpose knife to peel off the insulating rubber. Slice the insulating rubber until it reaches the metal wire inside, then peel off the insulating rubber.
- If the insulating rubber is difficult to remove, you can use pliers to clamp and pull it firmly.
Part 2 of 3: Assembling the Alarm
Step 1. Use masking tape to attach the battery and buzzer to the wooden board
Attach both of them to the wooden board using electrical tape. The tape must not interfere with or block the flow of electricity to the buzzer, and must not cover the positive (+) or negative (-) ends of the battery.
The bell you bought may already have screw holes. To keep the alarm firmly attached, use screws to attach the buzzer to the board. Use short screws so they don't go through the wood planks
Step 2. Wrap the stripped end of the cable around the end of a clothes pin
Wrap the ends of the 2 strips of wire around the top end of the clothespin. Do the same for the bottom end of the clothespin with the other cord. Twist the stripped end of the cable until it is tightly wrapped around the end of the clamp.
The cords will touch when the clothespin closes. This will activate the circuit and set off the alarm
Step 3. Connect the cable wrapped around the bottom of the clamp to the battery
Place the cable so that it touches the positive (+) end of the battery. Use electrical tape to secure the wires in place. If the battery is placed in a holder or case, attach the cable to the connector or positive cable on the holder, then secure it firmly with tape.
Step 4. Connect one cable that is not attached to the battery to the buzzer
There is a small hole in the bell that the cable can enter. There are also two connectors, namely positive and negative. Connect one of the wires wrapped around the top of the clothespin directly to the positive input on the buzzer.
Alternatively, the buzzer you purchased may provide a short cord that extends from the body of the bell. Peel off this wire (if necessary) and connect the wire that is not attached to the battery to the positive wire of the buzzer by twisting it
Step 5. Use a cardboard sheet as a circuit breaker
Cut a medium-sized piece of cardboard and tuck it between the two wires wrapped around a clothes pin. Tuck the cardboard so that the two wires wrapped around the ends of the clamp don't touch when closing. This will prevent the bell from ringing.
- You can use any material as a circuit breaker, as long as it doesn't conduct electricity. Try using sheets of paper, wood, or rubber.
- If the cardboard is thin, you may need to fold it up to keep the wires apart. Very thin cardboard may not work as a circuit breaker.
Step 6. Connect the remaining wires
Attach the end of one of the wires in the remaining clamp to the negative (-) side of the battery. Use electrical tape to secure it. Next, use the same method as before to attach the last wire on the clothespin to the negative (-) input on the buzzer.
- Once the wires are attached to the buzzer, use tape to cover any exposed wires. When the circuit is active, you could be electrocuted if you touch bare wires.
- Be careful not to damage the circuit breaker inserted in the center of the cable winding in the clamp. If this happens, it will activate the circuit and may cause a small electric shock when you attach the wire to the buzzer.
Step 7. Test the switch by activating the circuit
Place the alarm on a flat surface. Open the clothespin and unplug the circuit breaker (cardboard sheet). When the clamp closes, the circuit activates and the buzzer lights up.
- The ends of the chipped wire wrapped around the clamp should be in good contact. If they don't touch or barely touch, wrap more wire around the clamp.
- When arranging the wires in the clamp, remove the battery from the circuit to avoid electric shock.
Step 8. Check the connection and the battery if the buzzer does not ring
If the buzzer is off, perhaps one of the connections is loose. Slide the circuit breaker back (cardboard) and tighten all connections. Furthermore, if the alarm still does not work, replace the battery with a new one.
- To strengthen the connection between the wires, connect the wires by twisting them, then cover them with tape to prevent accidental electric shock.
- To strengthen the connection between the connectors, wrap the ends of the wires using pliers to form a small circle. The loop should be small enough so that it can be firmly attached to the connector. Attach the cable loop to the connector with tape.
- In some cases, the bell you are using may be damaged. Test the buzzer by connecting it to a power source according to the instructions on the doorbell packaging. If it still doesn't work, it means the bell is broken.
Part 3 of 3: Setting the Alarm
Step 1. Glue clothespins to the wooden board
Remove the wooden planks from the wall. The battery and the buzzer are already attached to the board. Attach the clamp near the battery and buzzer. Follow the glue instructions on the package and allow the glue to dry before continuing with the process.
The clothespins are small enough to fit nicely with a hot glue gun or all-purpose glue. For best results, use strong glue or wood glue
Step 2. Arrange the excess wires with tape, then hang the wooden planks
Cables that are too long and sticking out in all directions can be dangerous. A cable like this can get caught in something or be unplugged by accident. If the cord is damaged, the alarm becomes non-functional. Attach the wires to the wooden planks so they don't get caught or pulled. After that, hang the wooden planks back to the wall.
Step 3. Attach the rope to the cardboard sheet that is on the clamp
Attach the rope to the cardboard with tape. Alternatively, make a small hole in the cardboard using a pair of scissors, then tie the string to the hole in the cardboard with a simple knot.
Make sure the rope is firmly attached to the cardboard. There is a possibility, the door opened suddenly. If the ties are weak, the rope may come loose and the cardboard still tucked into the clamp. If this happens, the alarm will not sound
Step 4. Tie the other end of the rope to the door
Tie the string to the doorknob or attach it to one side of the door. Adjust the length of the rope so that when the door opens, the rope will be pulled. When the cardboard sheet is removed, the alarm will sound.
If the door is painted or made of a good material, do not tape the string to the door. Some tape can damage paint or wood when peeled off
Tips
Don't forget to check your garage or tool shed for alarm materials before you go shopping. It's possible that you already have some of the materials you need
Warning
- When assembling and installing the alarm, there is a possibility that you may be electrocuted. Even so, the battery used in this alarm only has a low voltage so it is not too dangerous.
- Be careful when cutting and peeling cables. Do not cut near the body and keep the blade away from fingers and limbs.
