How Does a Shock Sensor Work?

A shock sensor works by detecting the shockwaves that are associated with a window or a door being broken. When a large shock wave is detected, the shock sensor will activate. This will tell the shock sensor to send an alert to the alarm system to let it know about the situation.

The term "shock wave" actually comes from physics. It refers to a wave of energy that moves faster than the local speed of sound. The force behind a powerful shock wave can be detected by a shock sensor and cause it to activate. The shock sensor will then know to alert the system. Shock sensors can be hardwired, or they can communicate with the alarm control panel wirelessly.

The application of shock sensors for alarm systems is somewhat obvious. An intruder may break a window or break down a door when entering a property. If an intruder is careful, they may be able to do this without activating a door and window contact. But breaking a door or window without activating a shock sensor is next to impossible.

An important thing to remember about shock sensors is that they can be overly sensitive, and they may activate during non-emergencies as well. There have been cases where shock sensors activate because of someone knocking hard on a door or by tapping against a window. Or a shock sensor might activate because of an earthquake. For this reason, some users may want to use glass break detectors, which are often less-prone to false alarms.

Shock sensors can also be used in applications outside of alarm systems. For example, cars have shock sensors that let the vehicle know when to deploy the airbags in an auto accident. Also, some high-tech football helmets have integrated shock sensors that let experts know the strength behind an impact on the field. Shock sensors may also be used in packages to let the recipient know whether or not the parcel was handled with care.