Re: Unbelievable !

[Robert Macy <robert.a.macy@xxxxxxxxx>]

On Jul 10, 8:15=A0pm, Jim <alarmi...@xxxxxxx> wrote:
> I just got called in to take over an old installation at a residence.
>
> Old Napco 825 control panel which means the whole house is on four zones =
=A0 with about 20 openings. The owner had a problem with the original insta=
ller after many years because he couldn't stop the false alarms that were o=
ccuring on the system. So I'm checking out the system to do the estimate ..=
...looking at the wiring in the basement .... doesn't look too bad. Mostly =
twisted pair as was common 25 years ago. Ball contacts on the doors. Not a =
good thing .... but kinda acceptable... but the windows !!!!!
>
> The old installer had installed roller ball switches on the sides of the =
double hung windows. Drilled through the metal track and weather strip ....=
. cut out the weather strip to accomodate the flange on the roller ball and=
 chisiled some of the wood away underneath the weatherstrip, so that the sa=
sh wouldn't hit the switch flange when moving the sashes up and down. He di=
d this on both the tops and bottom sashes. I can't imagine how long it took=
 to do this on every =A0window.
>
> The owner just wants me to replace the roller balls with the reasoning th=
at the original ones ( which were mechanical contacts) lasted 25 years, the=
 new one's should last longer.
>
> Even though the owners "logic" is sound .... for some reason I just don't=
 feel comfortable with being associated with doing this .... imagining that=
 the next installer 25 years from now will be thinking .... what kind of A-=
hole would do this?
>
> I still haven't decided on how to "fix" this. If I take the rollerballs o=
ut, I can just drill a hole through the edge of the moulding and run the wi=
re through the edge of the window and install a surface mount contact with =
the splice residing in the old switch hole. And that'll only work on the bo=
ttom sash. On the top sash, I'd have to install a recessed magnet so the tw=
o sashes could pass one another with out knocking off the magnet. Another p=
art of the problem is ..... I'll have two big gaping 3/4 inch holes on each=
 window to fill. And ...... With what? And I'm afraid that with the absence=
 of the roller ball, the weather is going to come in through where the swit=
ches used to be. To me ..... the windows were ruined by the alarm installer=
.
>
> It's amazing that the old switched have survived the exposure to the weat=
her all these years.
>
> Any suggestions?????

Second thoughts, since you want to HELP this guy...

Sell him parts, at cost, guide his efforts, to make it a DIY project,
that way his alarm system works, he should accept responsibility for
the repairs, and you're not liable for repairs, yet you could both be
happy with that scenario.