Magnetic contact on bottom of door?

e40

New Member
I'd like to have a hardwire solution to my front door, and unfortunately there is sideglass all the way around, sides and top.  (So I could not pre-wire for a top or hinge mounted contact.)  I do have complete access to the door threshold from the basement.  Has anyone ever put one of these contacts on the bottom of the door, into the wooden threshold?  I imagine the contact could get damaged from getting stepped on, but I could mount it as close to the edge as possible for the least amount of traffic.  I have a 10 pack of the brown 3/8" contacts so they would at least blend in...   
 
Has anyone ever put one of these contacts on the bottom of the door, into the wooden threshold?
Yes
I imagine the contact could get damaged from getting stepped on, but I could mount it as close to the edge as possible for the least amount of traffic.
 
I put the contact under the door threshold over 10 years ago and have not had any issues.  Looking at the threshold today the hard wood has stood up with time.  There is also a sweep under the door which is relatively tight. 
 
Another house they were all on the top of the doors.  New construction had a glass arch over the doors and the sides were glass and wood.  The contractor put the contact wire inside of hollow framing over the door; I was impressed with the work.
 
A couple of my doors have contacts about 2" from the bottom on the door molding.  Looks like they took a long 1/4" drill bit and went in at 45 degrees or steeper though the bottom plate and framing, then went in vertically with a 3/8" bit and worked it up and down to create a pocket for the contact.  Not what I would have done, but that's what I got.
 
It should work to countersink the sensor in the door threshold to protect it from harm and maybe even fill the hole with a thin layer of putty or some other material.
 
Mike.
 
I used the GRI plunger type contacts just below the bottom hinge with the wire routed into the crawlspace below.
They've been working great for 5 years.
 
Unless the door is completely glass, there has to be some sort of trim/molding surrounding the door. An angled drill can usually get to whatever location the same as drilling through the threshold.
 
ADT was notorious for installing their "nail head" contacts in thresholds. They'll work but you're subjecting them to a ton of extra wear and if the magnet ever starts to drop out of the frame, very likely to jam the door closed.
 
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