Imagine your security camera detects an intruder, but there’s no alarm to alert you or scare off this trespasser. After all, what good is spotting a thief if you won’t even find out until much later? So what do Eufy cameras do to solve this problem?
I’ve done the research, and I’m happy to report that, yes, Eufy cameras do have siren alarms built into several models. The HomeBase itself has a loud siren too. And with a little bit of tweaking, you can set up automation rules to integrate this alarm system into a cohesive unit.
Key Points
- Many Eufy cameras, including the EufyCam 2 series, EufyCam 3, and SoloCam series, have built-in sirens that can be triggered in various ways.
- Eufy’s HomeBase acts as a central hub, so you can connect cameras, sensors, keypads, sirens, etc., to it for more flexibility.
- You can create automation rules that integrate all your eufySecurity devices together, so any one event can trigger alarms and recordings on all of the cameras.
- Use the eufySecurity app to customize the security modes, schedules, geofencing, AI facial recognition, and other advanced features for better security.
Do Eufy Cameras Have Alarms and Integrate with Eufy’s Alarm System?
Yes, Eufy cameras do have built-in alarms/sirens and can integrate with Eufy’s security system and sensors via the Eufy HomeBase. You can set up automation rules to make the cameras, sensors, keypads, sirens, and HomeBase work together through the eufySecurity app.
Stick around as I break down everything you need to know to beef up your home security with Eufy.
A Detailed Breakdown of Eufy Camera Alarms and Integration
1) Which Eufy Cameras Come With Siren Alarms
Several Eufy cameras come equipped with built-in sirens that you can trigger (manually or via automation) to deter intruders and alert others in your home of potential security threats.
The latest models, eufyCam 3 and 3C, have sirens built into them. The eufyCam 3 also has anti-theft detection, so if someone attempts to move or steal the camera, it’ll alert you with the siren.
The eufycam 2 series, including the 2C, 2 Pro, and 2C Pro models, also have a siren in the hardware. All of the models in the Eufy SoloCam series and Floodlight Cam range come equipped with siren alarms too.
However, several cameras in the Eufy Indoor Cam series (except Indoor Cam E220), along with a few Video Doorbell models, don’t have any siren or alarm function.
If your Eufy camera has a siren, you can test it by manually triggering it via the eufySecurity app, or walking in front of it to let the motion detection alert you and check if the siren works.
2) Overview of Eufy Alarm System and Sensors
Besides its cameras, Eufy offers a range of security devices that form a comprehensive home alarm system. Here’s a quick rundown of the main components you’ll need:
- HomeBase: The heart of the Eufy security system, the HomeBase acts as the central hub that connects all Eufy devices, including cameras, sensors, and the keypad. It features a built-in 100dB siren that can be triggered by events from any connected device. The latest HomeBase 3 is compatible with most Eufy devices.
- Entry Sensors: These small devices attach to doors and windows, detecting when they are opened or closed. When the system is armed and an entry sensor is triggered, it can activate the HomeBase siren and send alerts to your phone.
- Motion Sensor: The Eufy motion sensor uses passive infrared (PIR) technology to detect movement within a room. It can be set up to trigger the HomeBase siren and send notifications when motion is detected while the system is armed.
- Keypad: The Eufy keypad allows you to arm and disarm the system by entering a PIN code. It also features a panic button that can be pressed to immediately sound the alarm in case of an emergency.
- Siren: Eufy also launched a standalone Siren that can be installed anywhere for additional alarms. This one is a bit disappointing because of how it sounds like a beep and not an actual alarm, but if you link multiple devices together, you can create a loud alert throughout the house.
Eufy also sells a few other sensors and accessories, including water detectors and smoke alarm listeners, but those aren’t as important for this setup.
You can buy all these devices as packages or individually based on your needs. The most important part you need is the HomeBase; as I’ll discuss next.
3) How the Eufy HomeBase Acts As A Hub
The Eufy HomeBase is the heart of Eufy’s security ecosystem. It serves as a central hub that connects and controls all your Eufy security devices. Here’s how it works:
- Connecting Devices: Most Eufy devices like eufyCams, motion sensors, door sensors, keypads, sirens, etc., connect wirelessly to the HomeBase. This allows them to communicate with each other too. Only a select few Eufy devices aren’t compatible with the HomeBase 3.
- Local Storage: The HomeBase comes with 16GB built-in storage, which is expandable up to 16TB via a hard drive or SSD. This is used to store all the footage from your cameras while keeping it private and easily accessible to you.
- AI Processing: The HomeBase 3 comes with an AI-processing chip that enables advanced features like facial recognition, pet detection, etc.
- Siren Function: The HomeBase itself has a 100dB siren built-in. When any connected device detects a security event (like motion or a door/window opening), it can trigger the HomeBase siren. This is one of the most important parts of the whole alarm setup.
The HomeBase can be connected to your local network via Ethernet or WiFi, after which you can control it from the eufySecurity app.
Once it’s all setup and all your Eufy security devices are connected to the HomeBase, you can configure several triggers and automation rules.
For example, you can make ALL of the available sirens (including cameras) sound an alarm when any motion is detected. This is really useful since the siren on its own isn’t always loud enough, so having 5-6 units blare at once is a surefire way to alert you and your neighbors.
4) Integrating Eufy Cameras with Other Eufy Security Devices
You can integrate your Eufy cameras with Eufy’s other security devices, all through the HomeBase. Here are some examples of how well they work together:
- Triggering Camera Recording: You can set your cameras to start recording when other Eufy devices are triggered. For example, you can set up an entry sensor on a door and have the camera record as soon as it’s triggered; this is faster than waiting for it to detect motion.
- Activating Sirens: Your cameras’ built-in sirens can be triggered by other Eufy devices. For instance, if your door sensor is opened unexpectedly, it can trigger your camera’s siren to sound.
- Synchronized Alarms: You can set up your system so that when one device triggers an alarm, all your devices sound their alarms. This can create a loud, attention-grabbing alert in case of a break-in.
- Smart Notifications: When a sensor is triggered, you can receive a notification on your phone with a snapshot from your camera, letting you quickly see what’s happening.
- Arming and Disarming: When you arm or disarm your system using the keypad or the app, your cameras can automatically switch on or off, or change their recording mode.
But it’s important to note here that all Eufy devices aren’t compatible with each other. Several models don’t connect to the HomeBase, so if they’re standalone, they can’t communicate with other devices effectively.
There’s another issue I’ve seen crop up, if you have multiple HomeBases. Most often, the devices connected to one HomeBase can’t talk to devices connected to another HomeBase, so it’s tough to set up automations that use both. So it’s best to try and keep everything on one HomeBase if you can.
And it also depends on which version of the HomeBase you have, as different devices are compatible with the HomeBase 2 and 3. The advanced AI features are also not available on older devices.
Third-party security devices are also generally not compatible with Eufy, as it’s largely a closed ecosystem. So trying to mix and match different brands is unlikely to work, and if it does, it’d be limited to basic functions.
5) Configuring Alarm Triggers and Automation
All the examples I mentioned earlier can be set up through the automation settings in the Eufy Security app. You can set up ‘triggers’ to choose which events will cause the corresponding ‘actions’ to take place. Here’s a breakdown:
- Security Modes: The app offers three main security modes – Home, Away, and Disarmed. In the Home mode, sensors will still detect events, but the HomeBase siren won’t sound. In Away mode, any sensor triggers will activate the siren. The Disarmed mode turns off all sensors. You can customize these modes to your liking, but you can also create a Custom mode with your preferred settings. So the automation rules will differ for each mode.
- Device Settings: Within each device’s settings, you can fine-tune its behavior. For cameras, you can adjust the motion sensitivity, define activity zones, and choose whether motion detection should trigger the camera’s siren, the HomeBase siren, or both. Each eufySecurity device has a different settings page, so go through each one and customize it to fit your needs.
- Scheduling: You can set schedules to automatically arm or disarm the system at specific times. For example, you might set it to Home mode every night at 8 PM and switch to Away mode at 9 AM.
- Geofencing: Using your phone’s GPS location, you can set the Eufy system to automatically arm when you leave home and disarm when you return. The geofencing setting lets you draw a zone around your house for this.
- Alarm Rules and Duration: You can set how long sirens should sound when triggered. You can also set a ‘Leaving Delay’ and ‘Alarm Delay’ up to 300 seconds to give you time to disarm the system before it starts the siren alarm. This can be adjusted for each device.
So my recommendation is to go through each page and menu in the eufySecurity app, as that’ll let you see everything that you can customize. There’s a lot of flexibility here, but if you find yourself unable to do something, it’s worth reaching out to Eufy support. They can help you set it up or take a feature request if it’s not possible yet.
Troubleshooting alert fatigue: understand why your Eufy camera may repeatedly send notifications and how to address it effectively.
Important Notes About Eufy Cameras and Alarms
Eufy’s Self-Monitoring Limitations
Eufy’s security system is designed as a self-monitored solution. What this means is it’s up to you to set up your system properly and keep track of everything, even if you’re away on vacation or anywhere else.
So when an alarm is triggered, and you see anything suspicious happening, it would be your responsibility to alert the local authorities and call emergency services if needed.
Now this could be a con for you, as I’ve seen some people who would rather pay a subscription fee to get a professional team to monitor and manage their security. But it’s also a pro since you’re in control over your security and privacy, and it’s cheaper.
If you do feel the need for a professional monitoring service, you can check out Eufy’s partnership with Noonlight, where they’ll take a monthly fee and monitor your home 24/7 and respond to emergency alerts as well.
Lack of Power and Internet Backup
This is a common concern I’ve heard, as Eufy’s security system does not have any power backup. If you lose electricity and internet connection, you won’t get notified. Luckily, the battery-powered cameras can still record videos and sound the alarm since they’re not dependent on the cloud.
If you’re concerned about this, I recommend getting a UPS and setting it up with your HomeBase, WiFi router, and any other wired devices you’ll need in an emergency.
This way, all of the expected functions can still work: the HomeBase can notify you, the alarms and automations will work, and your home will stay protected.
Learn if Eufy camera batteries are replaceable for hassle-free maintenance and extended usage.
Maintain Your Wi-Fi Network Security
Your Eufy system is only as secure as your home network. Make sure you’re using a strong, unique password for your Wi-Fi and regularly updating your router’s firmware. A compromised network could allow hackers to access not just your Eufy system, but all your connected devices
This extends to the eufySecurity app too, as you should have a strong password for it. And regularly keep the app and device firmware updated.
FAQs
Can Eufy camera alarms be triggered remotely or only locally?
Can I use Eufy cameras and alarms without the HomeBase?
How long do Eufy camera alarms sound when triggered?
Conclusion
I hope this guide helped you understand Eufy cameras’ alarm capabilities and how well they integrate with the alarm system. By tweaking a few settings in the eufySecurity app, you can connect all your devices together to get alerted of potential threats immediately.