Re: How to connect window sensors?

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

troubleshooting open circuit switches is a nightmare - use what you are
using.

solder and  heat shrink tubing is fine...probably the best way if you have
time to do it that way - you will seldom find it in production work though.



--
Crash Gordon
-------ouch------

<I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe>
<borne@xxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1191870855.817428.36700@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| When we purchased our home it did not have a security system.  I
| installed one myself, really not knowing anything about the proper
| ways of wiring one up.  For each window, I drilled up through the
| header and ran the sensor wires along the edge of the window.  It
| really is not noticable.  I had sensors with very long leads and I was
| able to make all my connections in the attic using butt connectors.
|
| But since I lost many sensors due to a lightning strike, the
| replacement ones I bought have much shorter leads.  These are the
| small sensors that do NOT have the screw terminals.  I can't make the
| connections in the attic, so have been soldering the new sensors
| (staggering the solder joint for each wire) and using shrink tube to
| insulate.  This makes for a very small profile connection compared to
| butt connectors.  Is this a good idea?  How do you pro's do it for a
| repair job?
|
| Another question... I have learned from this newsgroup that my
| normally closed contact sensors failed since they were basically
| welded together.  Would I have been better off using normally open
| contacts?  I assume those are wired in parallel, and since NC ones are
| wired in series, I can't just change, but I was just curious if they
| fail due to lightning.
|
| Thanks in advance.
|