Re: Window Screen Tamper

[Jim <alarminex@xxxxxxx>]

On May 22, 9:11=EF=BF=BDpm, "ABLE1" <royboynos...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> "nick markowitz" <nmarkow...@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
>
> news:d0660178-3bff-4948-9132-5d8c055e9788@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> On May 22, 5:55 pm, "ABLE1" <royboynos...@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Hey all,
>
> > I have a customer with alarm window screens. One of the screens has hig=
h
> > resistance on the loop. I have been told that it due to a bad tamper
> > switch. Presently the resistance is 125 ohms. A couple of weeks ago it =
was
> > 14 ohms.
>
> > My question is if I am reading this resistance what is going on with th=
e
> > tamper switch?? And what will happen long term. Will it eventually go o=
pen
> > or will the resistance go to K ohms or M ohms??
>
> > TIA
>
> > Les
> > You probably have a corroded switch and it will get worse. screen
> > needs replaced.
>
> Hi Nick,
>
> Thanks for the response. =EF=BF=BDThere is a whole lot more to this story=
. =EF=BF=BDI
> installed 5 screens at this house about 2 years ago. =EF=BF=BDSince that =
time I have
> had to get 4 of the screens repaired. =EF=BF=BDOne twice and two once. =
=EF=BF=BDNow I have
> another.
>
> The last time was about 3 months ago and at that time I had the screen
> company take all five of them and repair the one and check the others. =
=EF=BF=BDI
> was told that they placed all of them in a tank of water and all was good=
.
> When I got them back and before install the resistance was from 3-5 ohms.
> Then another alarm two weeks ago. =EF=BF=BDThis is the one that was repai=
red about 1
> year ago.
>
> I have these screens on wireless sensors NX-650's and when the resistance
> climbs it is an alarm. =EF=BF=BDI just swapped out the old transmitters w=
ith the new
> version that requires a 4.7k resistor to be in series with the contact. =
=EF=BF=BDMy
> hope is that the additional resistance of a bad tamper will not cause an
> alarm as before. =EF=BF=BDI have tested the transmitter with a pot and in=
creased the
> resistance up to 10k without a trigger.
>
> If I understand it correctly the "tamper" is supposed to be a "magnetic r=
eed
> switch" wired in series with the screen wiring. =EF=BF=BDWhat is going on=
 that I
> would failure so many times on so few screens?? =EF=BF=BDIs it that the r=
eed
> switches are not of good quality and have leaked thus causing corrosion o=
r
> that the solder connection to the reed switch leads have gone bad?? =EF=
=BF=BDHow
> should I specify that the repair be made to "hopefully" stop this from
> happening again.
>
> I know I need to get the screen repaired, but, I am just trying to
> understand what is going on to make a decision as to what my next move
> should be.
>
> It is all rather frustrating to say the least.
>
> Any additional thoughts now that you have "the rest of the story" would b=
e
> appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Les-


Hi Les,
This may sound sarcastic but it isn't meant that way.

My suggestion is to find a new screen company.

I've had screens in for decades without any "resistance" problem.

And WHY are they testing their screens by putting them in a tank of
water, of all things??\

I can only presume that if this is the way that they test their
screens, you're not the only one who's having this problem. The
screens likely have a hollow frame and I don't see how they could
possibly know that they were getting all the water out of the frame.
All you need is one exposed wire in a water solution, with voltage on
the wire and you've got an ideal situation for electrolysis to take
place. As the wire corrodes the resistance gets higher.

Jeeeeeeeze ..... absolutely amazing!!!!!