Re: Window Sensors

["Crash Gordon" <webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Surface mount switches have some advantages;

Alignment problems over time are EASY to spot...recessed switches that were
difficult to align to begin with are a PITA to find/fix when you have a
no-set 5 years from now.

They're inside protected from snow/rain, and expansion/contraction of wood
(even vinylclad moves)

Where I am they are less succeptable to lightning damage.

You can find small ones in various colors so you'll barely see them against
the window frame.



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

<I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe>
"DigitalPimp" <mark.stubblefield@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1190921150.142877.252730@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
|> First of all, who ever did the pre-wire, didn't have a clue about what
| > he was doing. I don't know if you've considered it, but if you went
| > through a builder for the pre wire, have you contacted him and asked
| > him to make
| > good on the poor job or at least get some compensation for your
| > upcoming and ongoing troubles with your alarm system? What did he
| > say?  If you contracted it directly, have you pursued it with the
| > contractor and what did they say? Did you ask either of them what
| > their plans were for the ? inch holes in the sills? Or perhaps you
| > just bought the house "as is"
| The house came pre-wired at no cost to me when I built it last year.
| I do not think I have any recourse to contact the installers directly,
| as after looking at a neighbors house that had his alarm "activated"
| by the company that did the pre-wire, all of the windows have a push
| button type switch that goes under the seal and into the sill.  First
| off, I didn't like how this looked, and secondly the info I read about
| the internet has lead me far, far away from these types of switches if
| they are to be exposed to the elements.  To me, I'm not sure if
| contacting the pre-wire company makes any sense since if they did this
| bad of a job in the first place, I don't think I want them mucking
| around with my windows and make it any worse.
|
|
|
| > No one has said this, but DO NOT use any kind of push button switch in
| > the sills of windows. They will inevitably jam with debris, grit,
| > paint .... you name it.
| Got it, thanks.
|
|
|
| > No one has mentioned that GRI also carries 1/4 inch rare earth magnets
| > that may align with the ? inch recessed contacts. Even though the ?
| > inch switch is larger than a 3/8s inch switch does not mean that you
| > need a larger magnet to make it operate. Generally speaking you can
| > pretty much count on the fact that now days, most switches use the
| > same size reed contact and require the same amount of magnetic pull to
| > activate them. You'd have to experiment, to be absolutely sure, but
| > I'm betting that the 1/4 inch rare earth mags, drilled beside and on
| > the inside of the weather strip, would be strong enough to close the ?
| > switch. GRI has two sizes .... 1/4" dia by 1/8" thick and 1/4" dia by
| > 1/4' thick. The latter being the stronger of the two. If you've got
| > enough meat in the bottom of the sash to drill a 1/4 inch deep hole
| > with a brad point bit .... to recess the magnet, then I have no doubt
| > it would pull in the ?" switch.
| I've found a good source for the switches as well as the "button" type
| magnets that have a hole in the middle of them to be screwed to the
| bottom of the sash.  So you're saying there needs to be a drilled out
| hole for the buttons to sit in?  I believe the window is the newer
| style hollow core type that is entirely made of plastic and metal with
| dual panes with an insulation layer between.
|
|
| > I'd have to actually see the window and how and where the holes were
| > drilled, but if I were looking at the job, I would try to evaluate if
| > the wires could be redirected so that you might be able to consider
| > using surface mount contacts on the inside window sill, rather than
| > messing with the ? contacts that are going to be at least partially
| > exposed to the weather. ( ie the part of the switch that's on the
| > outer side of the window seal.)  I'd bet there's a possibility that
| > with an experienced installer with a practiced dill hand, a small wire
| > hole could be drilled between the inner window sill or ( if the window
| > has a raised lower lip on it) the inside edge of the window. A small
| > surface contact could be used instead of an ill placed, partially
| > exposed contact in the outer sill. Once the wire was re-routed, hole
| > plugs could be used to fill the ? holes, then caulked and painted.
| > Now days, there are many surface mount contacts that are so small as
| > to be almost unnoticeable.
| >
| > The wires may be able to be re-routed to another hole drilled in the
| > right place in the sill, that would accommodate a 3/8 inch recessed
| > contact also. Again .... sealing up the ? hole.
| Would you like to see a photo?  I can put one on the net tonight.  I
| had thought about using surface mounted contacts but the look doesn't
| appeal to me.  But, at the end of the day I want functional perimeter
| detection, so the surface mounts may be the way to go.  I'd just have
| to figure out how to get the holes lined up since most of the pre-
| drilled holes are nowhere near the outside edges of the sill.  The
| only way I could see doing it is to route a channel into the sash with
| a dremel and run the wire in there, then covering it up with putty and
| painting.  Sounds like a lot of work though!
|
|
| > With regard to the doors, I don't use the roller ball or roller wheel
| > switches. Eventually they will need replacing and they will likely jam
| > and you'll think the door is protected .... when it isn't.
| I noted this too, and putting in reed switches isn't that hard, so I'm
| going that route.
|
| > There are ? recessed magnetic contacts that are made specifically for
| > metal doors. Actually they are normal ? contacts with heavy duty
| > magnets. Some/most(?)  have the switches and or the magnets spaced so
| > that they are as far away from the metal as possible.
| I found those too, thanks again.
|
| Thanks
| -Mark
|