Installing alarm magnetic contacts: DIY?
Goose
and doors?
The wiring is already in place (was done at construction, two years ago). I
have a signal tracer and can more-or-less find where the wires terminate near
the bottom left or bottom right of each window and door.
What I am not sure about is:
1. Windows are vinyl double-paned with argon gas fill. Will I be able to
easily install the magnets without springing a leak?
2. After I drill for the contact, how do I fish out the wire from the wall?
3. Which contacts do I buy? I have an Omnipro controller. Does it recognize
contacts with serial numbers for individual identification?
4. Have never done anything like this before. What surprises might I be in
store for? What will I screw up?
--
Goose
Malcolm Blackhall
> easily install the magnets without springing a leak?
As long as you don't crack the glass you are OK. Of course, you can just
use double sided foam tape to attach the magnets if you are not comfortable
with screws. Some contacts come with it already applied.
> 2. After I drill for the contact, how do I fish out the wire from the
wall?
There are all kinds of tools for fishing cable. Check out a site like
www.milestek.com. You might be able to get away with a piece of coat
hanger. How much trouble it will be depends on how well you know where the
wires are, how accessible they are, and luck.
> 3. Which contacts do I buy? I have an Omnipro controller. Does it
recognize
> contacts with serial numbers for individual identification?
Don't know anything about Omnipro. But I don't think the controller cares
much what contacts you use. NC (closed when magnet is close to switch)
contacts are normal for dorms and windows.
> 4. Have never done anything like this before. What surprises might I be in
> store for? What will I screw up?
Fishing wires can be very frustrating at times, even if you are experienced.
You may screw up the insulation and vapor barrier in exterior walls.
It might be worth hiring a pro to do the job.
>
> --
> Goose
Ken Schumm
> > 1. Windows are vinyl double-paned with argon gas fill. Will I be able to
> > easily install the magnets without springing a leak?
>
> As long as you don't crack the glass you are OK. Of course, you can just
> use double sided foam tape to attach the magnets if you are not comfortable
> with screws. Some contacts come with it already applied.
Be aware that probably every vinyl window manufacturer will void
their warranty if you drill anywhere in the frame. If you are
going with recessed contacts, ask before you drill.
[...]
Malcolm W
"Malcolm Blackhall" <blac...@midtown.net> wrote in message
news:u4ujm68...@corp.supernews.com...
> > 1. Windows are vinyl double-paned with argon gas fill. Will I be able to
> > easily install the magnets without springing a leak?
>
> As long as you don't crack the glass you are OK. Of course, you can just
> use double sided foam tape to attach the magnets if you are not
comfortable
> with screws. Some contacts come with it already applied.
I got these because I didn't want to risk a mistake with my brand new
windows. The magnet is so thin I probably can surface mount most of them
(contacts are wired and installed but the windows aren't painted yet). Not
in the Worthington catalog but they can order them.
http://www.grisk.com/recessed/mighty_mag.htm
> > 2. After I drill for the contact, how do I fish out the wire from the
> wall?
>
> There are all kinds of tools for fishing cable. Check out a site like
> www.milestek.com. You might be able to get away with a piece of coat
> hanger. How much trouble it will be depends on how well you know where
the
> wires are, how accessible they are, and luck.
I tried fooling with a coat hanger and it's a Royal PITA. If you have a lot
of fishing, get the right tools including the "wet noodle" and magnet. Even
better, someone who know the tricks.
>
> > 3. Which contacts do I buy? I have an Omnipro controller. Does it
> recognize
> > contacts with serial numbers for individual identification?
Nope. You have to use a different zone if you want to know what's open.
Zones get real expensive after the first 16 zone expander.
It comes with 16, $75 gets the next 16, and $230 for each 16 after that.
Needless to say at those prices , even if you home run everything, you put
all the windows in the same room or area on the same zone. Who gives a crap
if the left or right window is open in the guest bedroom? ;-)
> > 4. Have never done anything like this before. What surprises might I be
in
> > store for? What will I screw up?
>
> Fishing wires can be very frustrating at times, even if you are
experienced.
> You may screw up the insulation and vapor barrier in exterior walls.
>
> It might be worth hiring a pro to do the job.
Yeah. Try not to get someone that will lock you into an over priced
monitoring contract. As a member of the local vol. fire co. I can get
monitoring for about $10 a month from the county comm center.
Robert L Bass
: > easily install the magnets without springing a leak?
:
: As long as you don't crack the glass you are OK. Of course, you can just
: use double sided foam tape to attach the magnets if you are not comfortable
: with screws. Some contacts come with it already applied.
Good point, Malcolm. If the gentleman uses foam tape he should be aware that
the foam can fail after a few years, especially if the window faces the sun.
After applying the magnets and switches with the supplied tape, I like to draw a
small bead of silicone (RTV) along the side of each piece. The tape might fail
but that RTV will last until Jesus comes back.
: > 2. After I drill for the contact, how do I fish out the wire from the
: wall?
If the wire is already in the wall, it can be a bit tricky. Sometimes it's
easier with windows and doors over an unfinished basement to just run a new wire
and splice it together in the basement. On some windows there's a decorative
skirt below the inside window sill. This can often be removed *carefully* with
a 2-1/2" to 3" stiff taping knife and a screw driver. Once the skirt is off the
wall you can reach inside with a bent coat hanger or the end of an electrician's
snake and snag the wire. Splice together, tape or shrink tube the individual
wires and hide your work with the skirt.
: > 3. Which contacts do I buy? I have an Omnipro controller.
Any normally closed (circuit opens on alarm) magnetic sensors (contacts) will
work with the OmniPro. It doesn't care which brand or model you select. I
prefer Sentrol for most applications. Some other folks here prefer GRI. Both
seem to be of similar quality, though I have much more experience with Sentrol.
For a self-stick, mini-magnetic contact, you might want to look at the 1035W
(it's a wide gap sensor, more tolerant than standard gap units). Their 1275W is
a good, all purpose recessed contact. It goes in a 3/8" hole. There are
hundreds of others, but I've used more of these two models than any others with
very good results for many years.
: Does it recognize contacts with serial numbers for
: individual identification?
No. That's a multiplex system technique. What you do with OmniPro (ideally) is
install one sensor per zone. That way if something goes wrong or if there's an
open window, etc., you can tell which one is off at a glance.
: > 4. Have never done anything like this before.
Quite a few of my DIY clients have done it. No major difficulty if you study
the installation guide well.
: What will I screw up?
I can't say. The possibilities are infinite. But OmniPro isn't all that
complex when you get down to it.
: It might be worth hiring a pro to do the job.
Naaah... That would take all the fun out of it. :)
Regards,
Robert L Bass
=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
The Online DIY Alarm Store
http://www.Bass-Home.com
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota, FL 34233
877-722-8900 Sales & Tech Support
941-925-9747 voice (Florida)
941-926-9857 fax
Rober...@home.com
=============================>
Robert L Bass
I've spent nearly a quarter century in the alarm industry. During that time
I've personally installed thousands of magnetic contacts in vinyl windows. In
virtually every case I've drilled the frame. Never has a single manufacturer
caused problems over it.
Now if you drill the sash, that's another story. Some window makers do indeed
void the warranty for that. Fortunately, there are several ways to bug windows
without drilling the sash. The relatively new rare earth magnets available with
sensors from companies like Sentrol and GRI (among others) are small enough to
be tucked into the insulation strip on the sash. In others it may be possible
to cement the magnet into a recess on the bottom of the sash.
Another trick is to use a roller-plunger, such as the Sentrol 3005. These
contacts have both the magnet and the sensor in the same housing. When the sash
comes down it forces the roller into the housing, pushing the magnet into
proximity with the sensor and completing the circuit. When the sash goes up,
the circuit breaks. There are issues with these so I use them only as a last
resort. There are a few other things you can do to protect vinyl and vinyl-clad
windows. If anyone needs help, feel free to call and I'll be glad to assist.
: Be aware that probably every vinyl window manufacturer will void
: their warranty if you drill anywhere in the frame. If you are
: going with recessed contacts, ask before you drill.
Despite my comments above, I do concur with Ken that you should always check
first. Don't ask the builder or the salesman though. They usually don't know.
Instead, read the warranty. Many manufacturers have it on their web sites and
all will send you a copy of the warranty on request.
Ken Schumm
Thanks for the info. When we built our house, I bid out the windows
to Milgard and WeatherShield. I specifically asked them about this.
When I received the bids back they both said "warranty void if frame
is drilled". They didn't differentiate the frame and sash.
That said, I can't see how drilling the frame could cause problems,
but the words the manufacturer uses in the warranty are important.
FWIW.
Ken
Previously, Robert L Bass wrote in comp.home.automation:
Robert L Bass
"Ken Schumm" <kwsc...@IH8SPAMqsolv.com> wrote in message
news:Voyager.020123170429.25910B@dilbert...
: Robert,
: >
: >
: >
: