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Alarm contact/sensor for basement Bilco door

D

Dustin

Jan 1, 1970
0
I am working on alarm system in a newly purchased home. In the basement
the bilco doors have sensor that is attached to the inside of the metal
doors. It does not directly touch the inside of the door but is
connected by a bracket. The sensor is about the size of large dice,
made of plastic and has 2 screw terminals which are wired together with
very short length of stripped wire.
From this device there is flexible coiled plastic coated cable to a
terminal on the wall where the wiring goes back to the alarm panel. The
normally closed sensor seems to be either activated by the oreientation
of the door or by movement. Unforuntalty either it never worked
properly or has gone bad over the years as we have had multiple false
alarms at random intervals.

It does not help a family of rancoons have decided to play on top of
the bilco door I assume because it's warm. The door being metal and
directly exposed to the outside gets very cold during the winter and
also condensation forms on the inside of doors. So there is a lot of
enviormental challengs to putting a contact on the door.

1. Has anyone every seen sensor like I described? What is it called and
how does it operate? Is it known to be reliable normally?

2. If I were opt for different contact what would make the most sense
for inside of bilco door?

3. Indirectly related qustion: All the basement windows have silver
tape installed for the contacts. I read somewhere in this group silver
tape is no longer used for this purpose. How are windows like this used
now?

What is a bilco door? See:
http://www.bilco.com/foundations/store/scresults.asp?name=Classic Series Steel Sided&category=118
- Dustin -
 
C

Crash Gordon®

Jan 1, 1970
0
I would use overhead door contacts in this application (the Bilco doors).

Foil is a pain in the butt.

I would contact the windows with the appropriate switches and cover the area with audio discriminator glassbreaks and motion detectors depending on layout of the area.
 
J

Joe

Jan 1, 1970
0
What is a bilco door? See:
Hmmm, I thought that was something that Phil Silvers invented.

No, that was the military version...
 
D

Dustin

Jan 1, 1970
0
Ok I had not considered the bug issue for unfinished basement with
motion sensors.... since I just ordered motion sensors. How would
drafts impact the motion sensors? Also would temperature impact a
mercury tilt switch? Since I assume it would shrink/expand like the
mercury in thermometer.

- Dustin -
 
C

Crash Gordon®

Jan 1, 1970
0
Mercury has a wide freeze/boil temperature range...but I never trusted them, if they crack the mercury eventually disappears and the switch is dead.

Make sure you seal the pirs and bugs generally will not be a problem...unless they're really big, but then it's time to move out of the house anyway.

Drafts can effect PIRs, but if you seal them up, shouldnt be a problem.
 
G

G. Morgan

Jan 1, 1970
0
Subject: Re: Alarm contact/sensor for basement Bilco door
Newsgroup: alt.security.alarms
=> Alarminex <= said:
A suggestion:
In this instance I can tell you're responding to my post by your response, but
it is customary to include some of the text of the post you are responding to,
so that the person you are responding to, knows who you are addresing.


It is also customary to use a *threaded* newsreader, which one can tell
instantly whom is replying. You'll need to get one of these very soon Jim. AOL
has decided to not carry Usenet anymore, they will drop your access within a few
months.

I suggest you get *Agent* http://www.forteinc.com/main/homepage.php newsreader
now, and get used to how a real newsreader works. Also, you'll need a provider.
I suggest http://news.individual.net/register.html for a provider. It's free,
and your true IP address will never be revealed (maintaining your anonymity).
 
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