Elk False Negative

[mstarks01]

The other day my wife opened the door while the system was armed and nothing happened. There were no beeps, no alarm, nothing. We disarmed the alarm, re-armed it and tested by opening the door, This time it worked as expected. Obviously, this is very concerning. Has anyone else experienced this and is there a solution?

 

[Spanky]

Do you have hardwired or wireless door switches?

Had all the exit times expired. ie: Exit 1 time and exit 2 time?

Had the opening been opened recently or had it been a long time since opening? Sometimes reed switches stick. Opening and closing can cause the reed switches to unstick.

Check the log to make sure the control was armed.

 

[mstarks01]

Do you have hardwired or wireless door switches?

Had all the exit times expired. ie: Exit 1 time and exit 2 time?

Had the opening been opened recently or had it been a long time since opening? Sometimes reed switches stick. Opening and closing can cause the reed switches to unstick.

Check the log to make sure the control was armed.

I have hardwired switches, all exit times had expired, and I think it had been awhile since the door last opened.

 

[Digger]

Do you have hardwired or wireless door switches?

Had all the exit times expired. ie: Exit 1 time and exit 2 time?

Had the opening been opened recently or had it been a long time since opening? Sometimes reed switches stick. Opening and closing can cause the reed switches to unstick.

Check the log to make sure the control was armed.

I have hardwired switches, all exit times had expired, and I think it had been awhile since the door last opened.

Was it a ball switch? They tend to stick.

 

[mstarks01]

Do you have hardwired or wireless door switches?

Had all the exit times expired. ie: Exit 1 time and exit 2 time?

Had the opening been opened recently or had it been a long time since opening? Sometimes reed switches stick. Opening and closing can cause the reed switches to unstick.

Check the log to make sure the control was armed.

I have hardwired switches, all exit times had expired, and I think it had been awhile since the door last opened.

Was it a ball switch? They tend to stick.

Nope, it's magnetic.

 

[Neurorad]

I thought ball switches/plungers were better for doors? Don't remember where I picked that up. Please enlighten me. I need to replaced some sensors anyway - I'd like to use the better solution.

 

[Digger]

I thought ball switches/plungers were better for doors? Don't remember where I picked that up. Please enlighten me. I need to replaced some sensors anyway - I'd like to use the better solution.

I have had ball switches hang up on me more than a few times for doors that were not used often.

 

[Sandpiper]

I thought ball switches/plungers were better for doors? Don't remember where I picked that up. Please enlighten me. I need to replaced some sensors anyway - I'd like to use the better solution.

In my experience, good quality magnetic switches and good quality "push button" or "ball switches" have equal reliability. The quality push button switches use a sealed magnetic switch inside. You get into trouble when you use the type that are not environmentally sealed and do not use a magnetic reed switch inside such a microswitch type or just plain wire-to-wire contact. GRI and Honeywell are good brands.

The big advantage of a magnetic switch is that the switch element is sealed in a glass envelope where moisture, which causes corrosion, cannot get to the switch contacts. Corrosion and moisture are the biggest issues affecting switch reliability.

Edit:
I forgot to mention. I have seen push button or ball switches get stuck. This is usually because of paint or dirt getting between the button shaft and the sleeve it slides in. Again, switches of good quality have a design which is more tolerant to this.