What Magnetic contacts to use on exterior door

[newalarm]

Thanks all. Very helpful. I installed BMS switches on my garage doors. They are really nice, but not cheap at over $20 each. I ended up picking up the Secos. http://seco-larm.com/Magnet4.htm
 
BSR, thanks for the pictures. Very helpful. I also planned to use this magnetic switch as a notifier, and not to trigger the alarm system. (ie remind that door was left open, or to notify when someone uses the door.)

 

[pete_c]

In the 1980's I had a cedar privacy fence installed in the old house (5-6 feet).  I had the contractor build a cedar gate which had three hinges and a latch.  Over the years I noticed that the gate to the back yard would loosen the hinges if it was left open and windy outside.  I ended up putting a magnetic switch on it to remind me to shut it.  I did hid the wires a bit drilling a hole down in the middle of the 6X6 post to almost the bottom of the post and out the sides.  The cable / wires were buried beneath the river rock and ran some maybe some 50 feet to the alarm panel. 
 
At the time though I did have an alarm panel with TTS (and x10) and used the outside stuff more for informational purposes than anything else.
 
I did also have 4 CCTV cameras (analog) outside and related to just the back yard  (had more in the front of the house).