Glass break sensor?

[programmergeek]

I have a HT and a workshop they both are around the back of the house and have alot of windows. There is no way I can allarm all the windows. Are the glass break sensors any good I ahve read stories of them just going off for no reason. If they are good which one is a good one?

 

[rfdesq]

I have had good luck for the past 30 years with Sentrol glass breaks. I have never had one false and I don't put them on 24 hour zones.

 

[dkemme]

The only problem I have had is with my dogs barking incessantly when they are inside. Always disable them when they will be left inside for prolonged periods of time now.

 

[AO-Brandon]

Make sure to get a good quality glass break sensor, the whole key is the "dual technology". Simple accoustic glass breaks are VERY prone to "falsing", but the more advanced sensors such as the 5820A actually use a dual technology. They are accoustic based sensors, but only provide "alarm" when the sound is accompanied by a pressure "wave" or variation. Sentrol / GE is my recommended brand, and they DEFINATELY have their act together in R&D.

 

[Photon]

I'm so confused. The 5820A is the Sentrol Recessed ShatterPro II Glassbreak Sensor. The Sentrol 5812NT Series ShatterPro 3 claims to have better immunity: "In lab tests - ShatterPro 3 provides 25 percent better false-alarm immunity than the popular ShatterPro II." Both claim to cover a 25' radius.

I plan to have three spaces with windows in my walk-out lower level when I get around to finishing them. One is a simple, rectangular bedroom about 12' square. It will have two double hung windows in one opening on a single wall facing the back yard. Next to it, the recreation room will have an eight foot bumpout into the back yard with glass on three sides: a sliding door and five double hung windows. There is one additional double hung window facing the back yard. All this glass is with a span of 22 feet. The third space remains left over unfinished basement. It has three double hung windows and a swinging door with a window all facing the back yard within a 20' span. I planned to install three of the 5812NT Shaterpro 3 units, one in each space. Do you suggest I change my plan in favor of the ShatterPro 2 units? I plan to also have a pet imune PIR in each space, probably a Bosch ISMBLP1P - Blue Line Quad PIR. For what it'sworth, and I don't think it is worth much for security, I'll have a magnetic switch on the lower sash of each double hung window. Also on the doors.

 

[programmergeek]

ok besides my house I am also wiring this system into two clients houses at the moment. Do you think this is something I should include or is it more of a hassle than it is worth? I don't want them calling me up saying they are getting false alarms. I don't think eithor have a dog right now.

 

[CORT]

ok besides my house I am also wiring this system into two clients houses at the moment. Do you think this is something I should include or is it more of a hassle than it is worth? I don't want them calling me up saying they are getting false alarms. I don't think eithor have a dog right now.

My house's 6 Sentrol glassbreak sensors are on individual zones and programmed as perimeter devices. As such, they will only trigger the alarm if the alarm is armed. In a year of use, I have yet to experience a false alarm from the glassbreaks. I can't imagine a comprehensive house alarm without glassbreak sensors.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

Yea, I also have Sentrol's and have them as ACTIVE even when armed in STAY mode. Have never had a false alarm with three years of use. I use the round ones that mount "into' the wall.

 

[felixrosbergen]

Hi gents,

I'm a bit new to the HA/Security scene..

Are these glassbreak sensors mounted on the window and trigger when broken or are these mounted somewhere in the room and alarm based on the sound of breaking glass?

I don't like the idea of mounting all these little stickons on the windows, but if i can have a single sensor somewhere in the room this would be much better.

 

[BraveSirRobbin]

They are mounted in a room and will alarm when they pick up the specific frequency of glass breaking inside that room. There are "optimal' places to mount them based on size of room, number of windows, location of drapes, etc...

 

[AutomatedOutlet]

Yep, most of the sensors are so accurate that it can even tell the difference between someone breaking the glass from the inside or the outside.

 

[felixrosbergen]

So the glass mounted breakage sensors (my parents had them in their house 15 years ago) are a thing of the past then?

 

[Steve]

No, they are still in use, just a different type of sensor. The one you are referring to is more of a vibration/shock sensor that mounts on the glass. The ones mentioned here so far are an audible detector that detects the sound of glass breaking.

 

[upstatemike]

I like the silver conductive alarm tape around the edges of the window (breaks when the glass breaks).