Re: How to connect window sensors?

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On Oct 8, 2:14?pm, bo...@xxxxxxxx wrote:
> 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.

A contact can go bad in the open condition as well as closed.