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Our recent videos have been all about getting ready to install a new IQ Panel 5. If you haven’t already, be sure to check out our video on the various alarm sensor types and technologies. It provides some great background before you start deciding which sensors make the most sense for your installation.
With that under your belt, you’re probably getting ready to assemble your “shopping cart” of all the parts and pieces you’ll need. Maybe you’re starting completely from scratch, upgrading an existing system, or even comparing a DIY installation against a quote from one of the big nationwide alarm companies and want to make sure you’re accounting for everything.
That’s exactly where this planner comes in.
This tool is designed to help kick off the system design process for a DIY homeowner planning to self-install an IQ Panel 5 system. It asks a few simple questions and walks you through some of the most common options and decisions you’ll need to consider.
It isn’t intended to replace a complete system design, and it certainly can’t account for every home or every situation. Think of it as a starting point that helps you get the foundation right.
Answer a few quick questions below and the planner will rough out a complete system for you: the right panel configuration, a service plan that matches how you want to use the system, and a starting sensor set that you can adjust to fit your actual home.
No prices. No pressure. The goal is simply to help you form a solid foundational design before you spend a dollar.
IQ Panel 5 System Planner Tool
How to use it
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Answer the questions at the top. Your plan on the right updates as you go.
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Adjust the quantities so they match your home or office.
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Add a short note about your space, your existing system if you have one, and what you want the new system to do.
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Click Post my plan for a free design review. The planner will drop your system design into a new topic here so the community can help review it.
Why post your plan for review?
The planner gives you a starting point. The real value comes from getting a second set of eyes on the design.
Post your plan and we can help you spot where you might be overbuying, where you may have a coverage gap, and whether a less expensive legacy sensor, a PowerG sensor, or another option makes the most sense for a particular zone.
There are also plenty of design decisions that a planner can’t completely answer. Maybe you want to start small and expand the system over time. Maybe you’re reusing existing wired or wireless sensors. Maybe one area of the house presents an unusual coverage challenge.
Those are often best talked through.
The goal is for you to walk away with a system design you understand and trust — not just a shopping list generated by a website.
If you found the planner useful, run into something that doesn’t make sense, or have an idea for something we should add, please let me know below. I’m continuing to improve it based on feedback from the community.
| This planner is a free tool for the community. Its suggestions are general information only, are not professional alarm system design, and are not a substitute for a licensed professional. Always verify equipment compatibility and applicable local codes before purchasing or installing equipment. |