Ademco Vista 20-SE - Zone 01 not triggering

[Steve Thomas]

It's been a while since I posted here, but that's because my alarm has
been working fine. ;-)

Anyway, I noticed this morning that my keypad was showing "ready" even
though the door for zone 01 was open. The system seems to have lost
zone 1.

The door has the "hidden" round flush mount sensor (the type with the
loose metal piece inside that is lifted to the magnet).

By way of troubleshooting, I set the system on door chime, went into
the equipment closet, opened the alarm panel and disconnected the wire
at terminal #9. Sure enough, the keypad chirped.

I guess this means the door sensor has become defective, but how? Why
would it think it has good contact at the door whether it is open or
closed?

My first instinct is replace the door sensor, but couldn't it be a
short in the wire anywhere between the panel and the door sensor. If
so, a new sensor won't solve the problem, right?

Any advice on how to check it?

Thanks,

Steve

 

[LJ]

It's been a while since I posted here, but that's because my alarm has
been working fine. ;-)

Anyway, I noticed this morning that my keypad was showing "ready" even
though the door for zone 01 was open. The system seems to have lost
zone 1.

The door has the "hidden" round flush mount sensor (the type with the
loose metal piece inside that is lifted to the magnet).

By way of troubleshooting, I set the system on door chime, went into
the equipment closet, opened the alarm panel and disconnected the wire
at terminal #9. Sure enough, the keypad chirped.

I guess this means the door sensor has become defective, but how? Why
would it think it has good contact at the door whether it is open or
closed?

My first instinct is replace the door sensor, but couldn't it be a
short in the wire anywhere between the panel and the door sensor. If
so, a new sensor won't solve the problem, right?

Any advice on how to check it?

Thanks,

Steve

You might need an ohmeter for this - Disconnect both door wires at
panel, and assuming the switch is normally closed. Attach aligator
clips to door wires and open/close door. If meter shows 000 when door
is closed and 1.00 when open, the door switch should be ok. Anything
can go wrong with a door switch - lightening hit, broken wire, etc. LJ

 

[Jim Rojas]

Replace the door contact. It could have been cause by any number of reasons.

Jim Rojas