GE NX-650 broke prematurely operating in non-conditioned space

[ddennerline]

I have an Elk-M1RF2G setup. I am having some trouble with a GE NX-650 Wireless sensor (http://www.gesecurity.com/portal/GESDownload?ID=5006&DID=1893&documenttype=Data%20Sheet). It has stopped working for some unexplained reason. The sensor is installed in non-conditioned shed. This sensor has only lasted one year.

I choose this sensor because it has a rather large internal antenna, and the battery life was supposed to last 10 years. Just to verify the maximum range, I created a “non-alarm†rule and walked down the street away from my house. With a normal number of obstacles such as trees, brick walls, and two-story houses, I was able to get reliable feedback at about 300 ft.

Has anyone had problems with this particular wireless sensor failing when being used in non-conditioned space such as a shed or garage? The shed is much closer than 300ft. GE specifications indicate a temperature range of 10-120F which is never reached in my neck of the woods.

Has anyone used any other GE Crystal sensor in shed-like environment without incident?

 

[jwilson56]

I think it was a fluke as my NX-650 has been in my detached garage for a number of years now and has seen temps down to -14 F (actual) and still worked. I did have one NX-650 that was in my home go bad so it happens I guess.

 

[alarmguy]

I 2 believe this is a fluke. As we have used this transmitter in dozens of mailboxes, to report delivery with great results.

 

[wuench]

I have found that sometimes the wireless sensors are shipping with weak batteries. They may be rated for 10 years, but that includes the time they sit on the warehouse shelf. I have had several fail after 2-3 years, some of my window sensors were too weak out of the box to work so I returned them...

 

[Digger]

I use a lot of NX-650's and the one on my garage door gets the least usage (couple times a month) but the battery dies faster than any other. The garage door lasts about two years and the rest are 5 years or more now. The temperature does affect the battery life but the transmitter should be fine.

Depending where you bought your transmitter the battery could be a few years old already and you do not know what conditions it was stored in.

 

[cbass377]

I 2 believe this is a fluke. As we have used this transmitter in dozens of mailboxes, to report delivery with great results.

Sorry to take the thread into the weeds. I don't have an alarm system yet, so I can only offer distraction.

Do you install these inside the mailboxes. I have a locking steel mailbox and was wondering how I am going to get notification results. It is bolted to a 2x12 that was cut to fit under the box. So I could route a recess in the board. But it would be nicer just to velcro it in the back of the mailbox.

Please elaborate just a bit.