Shock Sensors or Contacts

BMD

Shock Sensors or Contacts
Is there any consensus on whether shock sensors or contacts on windows are best?

Either system will be backed up by PIRs

KoolKid

Both on all ground floor & accessible windows/doors.
Backed up by at least 2 PiRs .

altor

BMD wrote: »

Shock Sensors or Contacts
Is there any consensus on whether shock sensors or contacts on windows are best?

Either system will be backed up by PIRs

A mixture of both providing money is not an issue on all windows that are accessible. Shocks as a minimum. Contacts on there own would not be advisable as an intruder has to open the opening on the window to activate the alarm system. Even with PIRs as a back up, most homes will have these off at night to allow them walk around.

Satts

With shock sensors is it best to use pulse or gross activation, or a combination of both ?

KoolKid

Always both set at 4 or 5.

altor

Satts wrote: »

With shock sensors is it best to use pulse or gross activation, or a combination of both ?

You need both set up for the shock sensor to work correctly.

Gross Attack - Detect a violent blow sufficient in length to trip sensor.
Pulse Count - Detect a sufficient number of less violent blows (rapping or tapping).

Satts

I've had a couple of guys out to give me a price for an alarm.
One guy only wanted to do shocks, another guy only wanted to do contacts because he said shocks give a lot of trouble, is this true ?
I had a third guy out willing to fit dual sensors.
If the contacts guy is right and the shock part of the dual sensors give trouble, can the shock part be turned off in the panel without changing the sensors ? If so, can each one be turned on or off individually in the panel ?

KoolKid

Satts wrote: »

One guy only wanted to do shocks, another guy only wanted to do contacts because he said shocks give a lot of trouble, is this true ?

Only if he doesn't install them right.

Satts wrote: »

I had a third guy out willing to fit dual sensors.
If the contacts guy is right and the shock part of the dual sensors give trouble, can the shock part be turned off in the panel without changing the sensors ? If so, can each one be turned on or off individually in the panel ?

Shocks can be turned off zone by zone only. They won't give trouble is they are installed properly. Don't scrimp on your security because one guy can't do it right. All ground floor & accessible windows should have both.

altor

Not true, if installed correctly you will have no problems. Some company's are just installing contacts on windows to keep the price down to get the job installing the alarm. Contacts just on the windows is not giving any real security, It is so easy to gain entry without opening the window. Shocks as a minimum, inertia contacts is the best form of security on all accessible windows.
Turning off a zone or inhibiting a zone is easy enough but the way most houses are cabled and the systems installed a zone could have a few windows on the same loop or zone, meaning turning off what you think might have a faulty sensor could disable a part of your alarm system.

Satts

altor wrote: »

Shocks as a minimum, inertia contacts is the best form of security on all accessible windows.

Shocks = inertia contacts ?

altor

Satts wrote: »

Shocks = inertia contacts ?

Inertia/contacts are a mixture of both, a shock and a magnetic contact in the one unit.