killervette
Active Member
Can i wire the short round magnetic sensors together in series for a single zone of several windows?
Can i link windows sensors in series?
- Thread starter killervette
- Start date
Yes you can wire them in series. I would venture a bet that most of us do exactly that. While it is true that I won't know which window in "Master Bed Room" is violated, that is a small trade off to keep from having to buy a ton of expansion units in order to increase the number of zones if I want every window on it's own zone. In most residential settings, I think that having a single room of windows all wired together in series isn't that bad. You can usually look very quickly and see which window is open and don't need the alarm to pin point it down to the exact window - telling me which room it is usually enough.
Also, as I mentioned in your other thread, wiring two sensors in series is also how most people will handle a double hung window - one sensor for the top and one for the bottom wired together in series.
Also, as I mentioned in your other thread, wiring two sensors in series is also how most people will handle a double hung window - one sensor for the top and one for the bottom wired together in series.
BraveSirRobbin
Moderator
beelzerob
Senior Member
*Kinda* I actually used 22/4 wire, 2 wires for top sash, 2 wires for bottom sash.
If you have the time and wire, I'm going to make a bold suggestion....run each window separately. That's what I did, and while it was a bit more work, it saved me from having to make any connections within the walls. Now, connected to my sensors, they *ARE* in series...but I just made those series connections in the wiring room, not in the walls. One of the big advantages to this, that I have already enjoyed, is that it makes troubleshooting the window contacts a lot easier. I can put my continuity sensor across a single window (or sash even) and test each one individually, instead of having a single pair of wires that holds the fate of 5 different windows.
This also lets me exclude a window from my series if I need to, for whatever reason....or even put it on its own sensor.
Justa thought.
If you have windows that you would like to keep open when the alarm is armed, there's a trick.
Put your sensor a few inches from either the top or bottom, and put it on the side for a vertical double hung. Put your magnets on the window for when they are closed, but then open the window a few inches and put another magnet where it lines up with the sensor. Then you can leave the window open, and if someone opens it farther to get in it will set it off.
Note that this is BEST done with the hidden flush mount sensors in the track. With a partially open window, an attacker can see exactly where the sensor is, and just do the ol' magnet reacharound trick. If the sensor is flush mount and hidden in the track, it will be covered by the window and the bad guy won't have any idea where it's at, or that there's even one at all.
Put your sensor a few inches from either the top or bottom, and put it on the side for a vertical double hung. Put your magnets on the window for when they are closed, but then open the window a few inches and put another magnet where it lines up with the sensor. Then you can leave the window open, and if someone opens it farther to get in it will set it off.
Note that this is BEST done with the hidden flush mount sensors in the track. With a partially open window, an attacker can see exactly where the sensor is, and just do the ol' magnet reacharound trick. If the sensor is flush mount and hidden in the track, it will be covered by the window and the bad guy won't have any idea where it's at, or that there's even one at all.
felixrosbergen
Senior Member
Except those of us that didnt realize they had double hung windows and their LV installer didn't bother reconizing this either. Those people end up with bottom only sensors on double hung window and are upset.
You guys seem to have covered most everything very well. I especially like the mention of the dual magnet suggestion. I have run across window/door sensors with a normally open option. I thought it worth mentioning:
normally closed contacts - multiple contacts wired in series
normal state = EOL resistance
trouble state = dead short
alarm state = open
normally open - multiple contacts wired in parallel
normal state = EOL resistance
trouble state = open
alarm state = dead short
hope this helps
Lero
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