Rafiki by Securex: The hardware

Rafiki is the name for Securex’s “do it yourself” home security solution, launched in March this year.

As can be expected, the home security kit has two major components: the hardware and the software.

Both of these components come together to work in tandem to keep your home secure whether you are around or far away from home.

Here, we are going to focus on the hardware.

The Rafiki home security kit comprises an alarm panel, a PIR motion sensor, a magnetic contact and a remote control unit.

Of course, these components are accompanied by the relevant accessories needed to make them work once you unbox them. In the case of the alarm panel, which acts as the central physical monitor of the system, that means a charger whose cable is not only detachable but has a USB 2.0 end meaning that it can play nicely with any of the chargers you have lying around as long as you are sure to get the voltage correct (5V). For the magnetic contact and the motion sensor, that’s a pair of AAA batteries for each unit. Being consumables, you can expect to replace these with time – maybe a couple of months.

One interesting thing I found out is that the alarm panel appears to have its own built-in battery which keeps it in operation even when the power is out. For how long? I have no idea. This is interesting because, at least theoretically, that means that you can set up a secondary network connection it can pair with when the power is out (something that Kenya Power is likely to do to you, anyway) and not miss a second of what’s going on in your home.

In all these hardware components, the alarm panel is the single most important component. It is this device that you pair with your home network at first before adding other components like sensors and what have you. It has a physical on/off button, giving the user more control than entirely relying on the application, as most other systems do. It also has the CDDE key which is used for resetting. Its centrally-located SOS button, once the system has been set up, can be pressed at any time to turn the alarm on and declare an emergency. The tiny signal flashlights can be quick indicators of the status of the system at any given time e.g. is it armed or disarmed?

The motion sensor is for, well, sensing motion. This is what one puts on the exterior of their front door so that, paired with the magnetic contact, it can connect any motion detected there or towards there with any home status – you are in the house or away – and alert you accordingly.

It took us a few moments to figure out what to do with the magnetic contact but, it’s easy. It’s what you fix to your door to keep tabs on it. Stick it using the supplied 3M tape and you’re good to go. The screws in the box are for use affixing the motion sensor.