Vibration Sensors for Safes, Lockers and Walls: How They Work
Short answer: a vibration sensor is fixed to a safe, locker, almirah, wall or glass and raises the alarm when someone hammers, drills or cuts at it, before they get through. It catches attacks that a door contact or motion sensor misses, such as a thief breaking in through the wall of an empty shop next door. On our store the VS-43 wireless vibration sensor and the VS-WD wired vibration sensor cost ₹750 each, and both need an alarm panel. The easiest way to start is Combo-CN307 (₹6,999), an ACJ-400 Wi-Fi + GSM alarm with a VS-43 included.
Jewellers, pharmacies, mobile shops and families with a home locker all face the same risk: the valuables sit in one heavy box, and a determined thief will attack that box directly rather than walk past a motion sensor. A vibration sensor guards the box itself. This guide explains how it works, where to fit it, how to set the sensitivity and what it costs.
How does a vibration sensor work?
The sensor feels shock and vibration travelling through the surface it is fixed to. A hammer blow, a drill biting into steel or masonry, or a crowbar prying at a door sends vibration through the metal or wall. When the vibration crosses the level you have set, the sensor signals the alarm panel, which sounds the siren and, on a GSM panel, calls and sends SMS to your phone. The VS-43 listing says its sensitivity is adjustable, so you can tune it to ignore everyday knocks while still catching a real attack.
Vibration sensor vs door sensor vs motion sensor
| Sensor | Catches | Misses |
|---|---|---|
| Door/window contact | A door, window or locker door being opened | Someone drilling or cutting through a wall or the side of a safe |
| PIR motion sensor | A person moving across a room | An attack from the other side of a wall, before anyone enters |
| Vibration sensor | Hammering, drilling, cutting or prying on the surface it is fixed to | Quiet entry through an unlocked door; pair it with contacts and a PIR |
That is why a vibration sensor is an addition, not a replacement. Most shops use all three: a contact or shutter sensor on the entrance, a PIR on the floor and a vibration sensor on the safe or the weakest wall.
Where should you fit a vibration sensor?
- Inside the safe or locker door, or on its back or side panel, fixed firmly to the metal. Inside is better: a thief cannot see or remove it.
- On the steel almirah where you keep jewellery or cash at home, near the lock.
- On a shared or rear wall. If your shop or godown backs onto an empty plot, a closed shop or a narrow lane, fix a sensor on the inside of that wall at about chest height.
- On a glass display or window frame, for showrooms. Our combo listings describe the VS-43 as detecting impacts and glass breakage.
- Close to the likely point of attack. Vibration fades with distance, so a sensor at one end of a long wall will feel less at the other end. Use more than one sensor on a long wall.
Where should you not fit one?
- On a rolling shutter that rattles in the wind or when traffic passes. Use a shutter sensor for shutters instead.
- On a wall next to a generator, compressor, lift motor or busy road, unless you can turn the sensitivity down enough.
- On furniture that people lean on or bump all day, such as a billing counter.
- On loose panels or plywood that flex. The sensor should sit on something solid.
How to set the sensitivity
- Fix the sensor firmly with screws or strong tape on clean metal or wall.
- Start at a middle setting and pair it with the panel.
- Arm the system. Tap the surface lightly, as a person might by accident. It should stay quiet.
- Strike harder, as a hammer would. It should trigger the alarm.
- Adjust and repeat until it ignores the light tap but catches the hard strike.
- Leave it for a few days and check the panel or app history for any false alarms, then fine-tune.
Many panels let you assign a sensor to a 24-hour zone, which stays armed even when the rest of the system is off. The ACJ-407 lists a 24-hour zone type, and the Combo-CN307 listing lists one for its ACJ-400 panel. Putting the locker sensor on such a zone means it guards the valuables even while you are at home or the shop is open.
Vibration sensors and kits on our store
| Product | What the listing states | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| VS-43 wireless vibration sensor | Wireless, adjustable sensitivity, sends a signal to your alarm panel; for doors, windows and other entry points | Adding a safe or wall sensor to a wireless panel | ₹750 |
| VS-WD wired vibration sensor | Wired connection, tamper-proof design | Wired alarm zones and new installations | ₹750 |
| Combo-CN307 | ACJ-400 Wi-Fi + GSM panel kit plus 1 VS-43; app, SMS, call and siren alerts | Shop or home starting from scratch | ₹6,999 |
| Combo-CN304 | ACJ-402 Wi-Fi + GSM panel plus 1 VS-43; Smart Life app control | Homes that want app control | ₹7,999 |
| Combo-CN32 | ACJ-405 touch panel kit plus 1 VS-43 | Homes with elderly parents who want the panel's SOS button | ₹9,450 |
| Strobe siren kit with VS-43 | SRRD-43 strobe siren, VS-43 and 2 remotes, for a compatible 433 MHz panel you already own | Adding a sensor and a second siren to an existing panel | ₹3,249 |
Example: a small jewellery or mobile shop
Say the shop has one shutter, one safe and a rear wall facing a lane. Start with Combo-CN307 (₹6,999): the ACJ-400 panel and its VS-43, which goes inside the safe. Check the product page for the other sensors in the box. Add a second VS-43 (₹750) on the rear wall and an SH-43 shutter sensor (₹1,200) on the shutter. Total: ₹8,949. WhatsApp us that you are adding these to an ACJ-400 and we will confirm pairing. For the rest of the shop, use our shop and showroom security checklist, and for smaller valuables in drawers see the cabinet and locker lock guide.
Choosing a panel? Our ACJ-400 vs 405 vs 407 comparison sets them side by side. Browse all models in shutter and vibration sensors, or plan a full system in the Security System Builder.
FAQ
What is a vibration sensor used for in a security alarm?
It detects hammering, drilling, cutting or prying on the surface it is fixed to, such as a safe, locker, wall or glass, and triggers the alarm before the thief gets through.
Can a vibration sensor work without an alarm panel?
No. The VS-43 and VS-WD send their signal to an alarm panel, which sounds the siren and sends alerts. Combo-CN307 (₹6,999) gives you both in one box.
Where should I put a vibration sensor on a safe?
Inside the safe door or on an inside panel, fixed firmly to the metal and close to the lock or hinge side, where an attack is most likely.
Will a vibration sensor give false alarms?
It can if the surface shakes normally, for example a shutter in the wind or a wall next to a generator. Set the sensitivity carefully and avoid those surfaces.
Wired or wireless vibration sensor: which is better?
Wireless (VS-43) is easier to add to an existing wireless panel. Wired (VS-WD) suits wired alarm zones and needs no battery. Both cost ₹750 on our store.
Does it detect glass breaking?
Our combo listings describe the VS-43 as detecting impacts and glass breakage when fixed to the glass or its frame. Test it after fitting.
Prices are NavKar Systems website prices on 27 October 2026, inclusive of GST, and may change.
