Honeywell 5811 Posts

A great way to build out your Honeywell Lyric is with Honeywell 5800 Sensors. These are simple, 345 MHz wireless sensors that you can easily enroll with the system for security, life-safety, and environmental monitoring. They are perfect for expanding your system and making it more robust.

When you want to pair a Honeywell 5800 Sensor with the Lyric, the process is very straightforward. Put the Lyric in its auto-enrollment mode by choosing Security > Tools > enter Installer Code (default 4112) > Program > Zones > Add New > Serial Number. Make sure the RF Type on the right-hand side is set to 5800. Then activate the sensor either by faulting it or triggering its cover tamper switch. The Lyric should beep to confirm that it received a signal transmission. Then activate the sensor a second time to have the Lyric display the Serial Number. The third activation will confirm the Serial Number and return you to the screen where you can configure the zone settings.

Programming the zone settings for the sensor is actually quite simple. Depending on how you enrolled the sensor, you may need to adjust the Loop Number. This is almost always the case if you enrolled the sensor by activating its tamper switch. Refer to the instruction manual for the 5800 Sensor to determine which Loop Number to use.

The two (2) Zone Descriptors and the Device Type serve as the name for the sensor. You should choose a name that will help you identify the sensor, e.g. "Front Bedroom Motion Sensor", "South Hallway Door", etc. The Response Type determines how the system responds when the sensor is faulted. See our list of Lyric Response Types for more info.

Alarm Report should be set to Yes if you want the system to report out through AlarmNet to a Central Station if the zone causes an alarm on the system. That is an essential component of alarm monitoring services. Chime is optional, and it has the panel emit any one of several available sounds when the zone is faulted. Supervision tells the panel to look for an RF check-in signal from the sensor periodically to ensure that it is online. Click Save in the bottom-right after you finish adjusting the settings.

Keep in mind that only uni-directional (one-way) sensors from the Honeywell 5800 Series can be used with the Lyric. This leaves out bi-directional devices like the Honeywell 5800WAVE Siren, the Honeywell 5828 Keypad, and the Honeywell 5800RL Relay Module, so make sure you do not buy those for the Lyric. But you still have a lot of excellent sensors and security devices to choose from.

Below is a list of the Honeywell 5800 Sensors that you can use with the Honeywell Lyric:

Sensor Name	Notes
Honeywell 5800MINI	Door/Window sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5800PIR-RES	PIR motion sensor. Uses Loop 1. Coverage Area: 35' x 40'
Honeywell 5816	Door and window sensor. Loop 1 = Terminal Block for NC Contact Loop 2 = Reed Switch
Honeywell 5811	Door and window sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5800C2W	9-zone wired to wireless converter. Allows hardwired sensors to communicate with the Lyric as wireless devices. All zones use Loop 1 and a unique Serial Number ID.
Honeywell 5800CO	Carbon monoxide sensor. Loop 1 = CO Detection Loop 2 = End of Sensor Life (separate programming only required on TURBO and other V-Plex panels)
Honeywell 5800COMBO	Combination, smoke, heat, CO, and low-temperature sensor. Uses up to five (5) zones on the Lyric Panel. Has two (2) Serial Numbers for enrollment purposes. Loop 1, SN 1 = Smoke/Heat Detection Loop 2, SN 1 = Smoke/Heat Maintenance Loop 3, SN 1 = Low Temperature Detection Loop 1, SN 2 = CO Detection Loop 2, SN 2 = End of Sensor Life (separate programming required only on TURBO and other V-Plex panels)
Honeywell 5800FLOOD	Flood and temperature sensor. Loop 1 = Low Temperature Detection Loop 2 = High Temperature Detection Loop 3 = Flood Detection
Honeywell 5800MICRA	Recessed window sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5800PIR	PIR motion sensor. Loop 1 = Low Sensitivity Motion. Loop 2 = High Sensitivity Motion. Loop 3 = Low Temperature Detection Coverage Area: 35' x 40'
Honeywell 5800PIR-COM	Commercial PIR motion sensor. Loop 1 = Low Sensitivity Motion Loop 2 = High Sensitivity Motion Loop 3 = Low Temperature Detection Coverage Area: 60' x 80'
Honeywell 5800PIR-OD	Outdoor PIR motion sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5800PIR-OD2	Outdoor PIR motion sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5800RP	Wireless repeater for Honeywell 5800 Sensors. Does not require enrollment, but can be assigned a single zone for RF supervision, low-battery, AC loss, and RF jam detection. This is done using Serial Number 1 with Loop 1, with DIP Switch 2 set in the OFF position. Can also use up to four (4) separate zones for supervision when DIP Switch 2 is set to ON. This is required for UL installations.
Honeywell 5800RPS	Recessed door/window sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5800SS1	Shock sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5802MN	Medical alert button. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5802MN2	Medical alert button. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5802WXT	Panic button. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5802WXT-2	Panic button. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5806W3	Smoke detector. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5808W3	Smoke and heat detector. Loop 1 = Smoke & Heat Detection Loop 3 = Low Temperature Detection
Honeywell 5809	Fixed temperature and rate-of-rise heat detector. Uses Loop 1. Alarm occurs when the temperature exceeds 135 degrees Fahrenheit, or when the temperature rises more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit per minute.
Honeywell 5809FXT	Fixed temperature heat detector. Uses Loop 1. Alarm occurs when the temperature exceeds 135 degrees Fahrenheit.
Honeywell 5809SS	Fixed temperature and rate-of-rise heat detector. Uses Loop 1. Alarm occurs at 135 degrees Fahrenheit or when the temperature rises more than 15 degrees Fahrenheit per minute.
Honeywell 5814	Door and window sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5815	Door and window sensor. Loop 1 = Terminal Block for NC Contact Loop 2 = Reed Switch
Honeywell 5816MN	Door and window sensor. Loop 1 = Terminal Block for NC Contact Loop 2 = Reed Switches
Honeywell 5816OD	Outdoor door and window sensor. Loop 1 = Terminal Block for NC Contact Loop 2 = Reed Switch
Honeywell 5817	Three (3) zone door and window sensor & transmitter. Loop 1 = NC or NO (DIP Switch Selectable) unsupervised. It does not use an End of Line Resistor (EOLR) Loop 2, 3 = NC Only. Both are unsupervised with no EOLR used
Honeywell 5817CBXT	Three (3) zone commercial transmitter. Loop 1 = Two (2) Terminals; Primary Loop supervised by 470k Ohm (yellow, purple, yellow, gold) EOLR. Resistor must ALWAYS be installed, even if Loop 1 is not programmed. If Loop 1 is used as a burglary zone, then Loop 4 must be programmed as a separate zone for Cover Tamper protection. Loop 2 = NC Reed Switch Loop 3 = Two (2) Terminals; NC Loop unsupervised, no EOLR required
Honeywell 5817XT	Three (3) zone door and window sensor & transmitter. Loop 1 = NC or NO (DIP Switch Selectable) unsupervised with no EOLR required Loop 2, 3 = Two (2) Terminal Blocks, NC Only
Honeywell 5818MNL	Recessed door and window sensor. Uses Loop 1. Not suitable for use in metal doors
Honeywell 5819	Three (3) zone shock processor. Loop 1 = NC for Inertia Style External Shock Sensor. This input provides a suitable fast loop response of from 1ms to 20ms, based on dip switch setting Loop 2 = Reed Switch Loop 3 = NC for Wired Contact, unsupervised with no EOLR required
Honeywell 5819S	Shock sensor and contact sensor. Loop 1 = Built-in Inertia Style Shock Sensor Loop 2 = Reed Switch Loop 3 = NC for Wired Contact
Honeywell 5819WHS	Three (3) zone shock processor. Loop 1 = NC, Built-in Inertia Style Shock Sensor Loop 2 = Reed Switch Loop 3 = NC for Wired Contact
Honeywell 5820L	Slimline door and window sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5822T	Garage tilt sensor. Loop 1 = NC for Wired Contact, unsupervised, no EOLR used Loop 3 = Tilt Switch
Honeywell 5834-2	Two (2) button key fob. Dual-button inputs allowed. Uses three (3) loops total, for a possible three (3) inputs. Can only be used with the Lyric in Low-Security Mode (Green LED)
Honeywell 5834-4	Four (4) button key fob. Dual-button inputs allowed. Uses two (2) Serial Numbers, which both use Loops 1, 2, 3, 4. Up to eight (8) inputs possible. Can only be used with the Lyric in Low-Security Mode (Green LED)
Honeywell 5834-4EN	Four (4) button key fob. Dual-button inputs allowed. Uses two (2) Serial Numbers, which both use Loops 1, 2, 3, 4. Up to eight (8) inputs possible. Can only be used with the Lyric in Low-Security Mode (Green LED)
Honeywell 5853	Glass break sensor. Uses Loop 1.
Honeywell 5869	Commercial panic switch. Uses Loop 1. Latches when tripped, key (provided) needed to reset it after it is tripped
Honeywell 5878	Six (6) button key fob. Uses two (2) Serial Numbers, which both use Loops 1, 2, 3, 4. Up to eight (8) inputs possible.
Honeywell 5898	Dual-tec motion sensor. Loop 1 = Low Sensitivity Motion Sensor. Pet immunity is available for this loop. 50lb or 100lb pet immunity, selectable via DIP Switch 1 Loop 2 = High Sensitivity Motion Sensor. Loop 3 = Temperature Sensor (High or Low, DIP Switch Selectable)

Honeywell is known for producing some outstanding security equipment, and their wireless door and window contacts are no exception. With wireless contacts available from both the 5800 Series lineup and the SiX Series lineup, there are certainly some great options. But with all the possibilities, it might seem overwhelming if you are just getting started. This guide will help you choose the perfect wireless Honeywell door and window contact for your needs.

First, a user should understand exactly how a door and window contact works. Almost every wireless Honeywell door and window contact functions using the exact same principles. These devices consist of a sensor and magnet. The sensor is the "brains" of the operation, and it is responsible for sending signals to the alarm system. It is typically installed on or inside the door or window frame. The magnet is installed on or inside the door or window itself. The only wireless Honeywell contact that does not use a magnet is the Honeywell 5800RPS. This is a wireless recessed sensor for doors only that operates using a plunger switch.

For proper operation, the device's magnet should be installed very close to the sensor. We usually recommend placing it within a half-inch of the sensor. However, some 5800 Series contacts, like the 5816OD, can function properly with a slightly larger spacing gap. When the door or window is opened, the magnet will separate from the sensor. This will cause a reed switch inside the sensor to activate. When this happens, the sensor will send a signal to the alarm system so that the programmed Response Type can be performed.

It's also important to know the system compatibilities for the different Honeywell wireless contacts. Their wireless contacts come from two different sensor lineups. These are the 5800 Series and the SiX Series. The 5800 Series contacts are unidirectional devices that operate at 345 MHz. This makes them compatible with any Honeywell System or 2GIG System. But the SiX Series contacts are bi-directional, fully encrypted sensors that communicate using 2.4 GHz WIFI. These sensors only work with Honeywell Lyric Systems.

If you have a Honeywell Lyric Controller, then you can choose between any Honeywell wireless contact on the market. But if you have a LYNX Touch or a VISTA System with an added wireless receiver, then you are restricted to the 5800 Series contacts. Additionally, if you are using a 2GIG GC3 or a 2GIG GC2, then you can use either 2GIG Contacts or Honeywell 5800 Series contacts. Any alarm systems that do not accept the 345 MHz frequency are unable to use Honeywell contacts.

The only two contacts in the Honeywell SiX Series Lineup are the Honeywell SiXCT and the Honeywell SiXMINICT. These are both wireless, surface-mount sensors that work exclusively with Honeywell Lyric Systems. What makes these sensors special is that they feature 128-bit AES encryption. Whenever the sensor sends a command to the Lyric System, the system must then send a secure response back to the sensor. The command will only go through if this secure response is received. Many security experts refer to this as a "digital handshake", and it is excellent for preventing any hacking attempts or wireless attacks.

The SiXCT and the SiXMINICT do have a few slight differences. Most notably, the SiXMINICT is smaller and more compact than the SiXCT. The SiXCT measures at 3.13”L x 1.61”W x 1"D, while the SiXMINICT measures at 2.44”L x 1.25”W x .45”D. So users who want a smaller sensors should go with the SiXMINICT. But the benefit of the SiXCT is that it features a larger wireless range (~300 feet) than the SiXMINICT (~200 feet). However, only users with particularly large properties should have to worry about signal range. One thing that these sensors do share in common is that they can both be batch-enrolled with the Lyric Controller.

• Honeywell SiXCT - The standard SiX Series contact. Features a 300 foot range and encryption. Will only work with Lyric Systems.
• Honeywell SiXMINICT - The more compact SiX Series contact. Provides a 200 foot range and encryption. For Lyric Systems only.

But the SiX Series contacts aren't for everyone. For one, they will only work with the Lyric Systems. There are also no recessed contacts in the SiX Series lineup. Users who don't have a Lyric Controller or want a recessed sensor should look to the Honeywell 5800 Series instead. This is an incredibly diverse sensor lineup that has an appropriate contact option for virtually any situation. Any Honeywell or 2GIG System will work with these sensors. This includes any Lyric Controller, L7000, L5210, VISTA P-Series, 2GIG GC3, 2GIG GC2 and more. Most 5800 Series contacts feature a 150-200 foot wireless range that can be effectively doubled with the use of a 5800RP Wireless Repeater.

When selecting a 5800 Series Sensor, a user will choose between a surface-mount contact and a recessed contact. With a surface-mount contact, the sensor and the magnet are mounted on the outer surface of the door or window and its frame. But with a recessed contact, the sensor and magnet are installed inside the door or window and its frame. Surface-mount sensors are very easy to install, since they only require screws or double-sided foam tape. But the sensor will be visible on the outside of the door. Recessed sensors are more difficult to install since holes will need to be drilled. However, some users will appreciate the fact that recessed sensors are hidden.

For users who go with a surface-mount sensor there are certainly some great options in the 5800 Series. One of our favorites is the 5800MINI. This is a reliable sensor that boasts an impressive 200 foot range, despite its small size of just 2.2"H x 1"W x 0.25"D. This is arguably the best surface-mount contact in the Honeywell 5800 Series.

• Honeywell 5800MINI - A small and discreet surface-mount contact. Offers a 200 foot wireless range. Great for almost any application.

But there are other surface-mount options than just the 5800MIIN. The 5816 is the most popular sensor that Honeywell has ever offered. It features a larger size and roughly the same range as the 5800MINI. But unlike the 5800MINI, the 5816 can be used as a wireless transmitter for a normally closed hardwired device. Honeywell also offers the 5820L Slim Line for narrow installations and the 5816OD for outdoor use.

• Honeywell 5816 - Honeywell's most popular sensor. Can also be used as a wireless transmitter for a single NC hardwired device.
• Honeywell 5820L - A slim line door and window contact that is great for narrow applications. Features a 150-foot range.
• Honeywell 5816OD - A surface-mount contact for outdoor installations. Excellent for monitoring fences, sheds and detached garages.

Honeywell also offers some less popular 5800 Series contacts. These include the 5811 (discontinued), the 5814, the 5815 and the 5816MN (discontinued). While these sensors will work just fine, there isn't really any reason to choose them over another 5800 Series contact.

• Honeywell 5811 - A small and discreet sensor that has since been discontinued. Replaced by the Honeywell 5800MINI.
• Honeywell 5814 - Another compact sensor option. It is not as robust as the 5800MINI. Its wireless range is only about 100 feet.
• Honeywell 5815 - An aesthetically pleasing surface-mount contact that has roughly the same functionality as the 5816.
• Honeywell 5816MN - A discreet surface mount sensor that has been discontinued. Replaced by the Honeywell 5816MN.

There are also several great recessed contacts in the 5800 Series. The Honeywell 5818MNL is a relatively standard recessed contact that can be used with almost any door or window. It features a 200-foot range, and the installation only requires minor drilling. The Honeywell 5800Micra is a recessed contact for windows only. It is a very small sensor with an attached antenna for sending wireless signals. Finally there's the 5800RPS, which uses a plunger switch instead of a sensor and magnet. This sensor can only be used with doors. When the door is closed, the plunger switch will be pressed in. Once the door is opened, the plunger switch will come out and activate the sensor.

• Honeywell 5818MNL - A standard recessed contact for doors and windows. It is easy to install, and it has a 200 foot range.
• Honeywell 5800Micra - A small recessed contact for windows only. Its antenna must be adjusted carefully when installing.
• Honeywell 5800RPS - A recessed sensor that uses a plunger switch instead of a magnet. For use with doors only.

Alarm Grid has previously discussed the batteries used with door sensors. We recommend checking out that blog post for more information on which batteries to use with a door and window sensor. If you ever need any additional help choosing a Honeywell door and window contact for your DIY wireless alarm system, please feel free to send an email to support@alarmgrid.com. You can also contact one of our technical specialists by calling 888-818-7728 from 9am to 8pm EST M-F.

Honeywell has discontinued the 5811 sensor and magnet. This popular sensor is the unit that has always been sent out with our most popular kits. It has been replaced by the Honeywell 5800MINI, a smaller, slightly sleeker device with a number of added benefits and improved range.

While not as common in the field as the 5816, the 5811s have, to date, been the contact that anyone looking for a small profile unit have purchased. And while not as thin as the 5820Ls, which are perfect for applications where a window has a very small lip, the discreet 5811 sensors are a well-loved mainstay of the Honeywell line. We are sad to see them go, but are excited about the new 5800MINIs that have replaced them.

For those ordering kits, our images show the old sensor. You will, however, from now on, be receiving the 5800MINIs. We'll be replacing the product shots in short order, but for now, please be aware of the change.

Unfortunately, for those looking to replace old 5811 sensors with new 5811 sensors, we are completely out of stock as is Honeywell. The new 5800MINIs should suffice.

If you're like Jose from Florida, and looking to replace the battery in your Honeywell 5811 door or window sensor, we have the perfect video for you in this week's installment of Ask Sterling.

Jose simply wants to know which battery to use when replacing the default Panasonic CR2032 that ships with the Honeywell 5811. 

In our video, we go over the various acceptable replacements for the Honeywell CR2032 coin cell 3V lithium cell battery and even how to install it. Watch below:

A security system with just a control panel won't get you very far. That's why we're happy to answer Jordan's question in this week's Ask Sterling - how do you add a sensor to a Honeywell L5100 control panel?

On this week's installment we use a Honeywell 5811, a thin door and window sensor, as our sample sensor as we show you how to learn the device to the Honeywell LYNX Touch 5100.

So get your installer code ready and watch the following Ask Sterling video to learn how to add your sensors to your Honeywell L5100 control panel:

If you are just beginning the process of looking for an alarm system, answer these really simple questions, and you'll be well on your way to finding what works for you.

1) Do you want a wired or wireless alarm system?

We highly recommend going wireless. Our two biggest selling wireless systems are the L5100 and the L3000. Both of these systems are great. The only differences between them really, is that the L5100 has a beautiful touchscreen that the L3000 does not and the L5100 can be used as a home automation controller as well as a security system.

On the wired side, our best selling units are the VISTA 21iP and the VISTA 20P. The difference between these two systems is that the 21iP has a built-in IP module, and the 20P requires that you purchase one (the 7847i) separately. After you've done your research, if you are excited about the VISTA panels, but like the benefits that a wireless system can offer you, you can add a 6160RF keypad with integrated wireless receiver to your VISTA panel and turn it into a wireless system.

2) How many doors and windows do you want to protect?

If you need three or more door and window sensors, and you have decided that a wireless system is for you, check out our L5100PK and L3000PK. They are the most cost-efficient way to get the sensors and system you want. If you need additional sensors, you can add more 5816s or 5811s. The 5816s are thick and boxy, the 5811s are thin like a wafer. Both are good, but we a lot of users prefer the look of the 5811s.

If you want wired door and window sensors, we have tons of those. Look through our selection, and pick the ones that you like best. They all work well, and each of them perform a slightly different function.

3) How many motion sensors do you need?

A lot of people do not install motion sensors. They are a good way to add an extra layer of protection, but oftentimes, the door and window sensors are good enough. If you just need one motion sensor, the kits I wrote about earlier are great. If you need more, the kit is still good, but you'll need to grab some more 5800PIR-RES motion detectors individually.

4) What kind of communication do you want your panel to use?

If you add alarm monitoring to your system, when a sensor is tripped, your security panel will send a signal somewhere. Now, if you have Total Connect service, it will go to AlarmNet and send you an email and / or a text. If you are connected to a central station, it will also go there.

How does the signal get from your panel to the central station or AlarmNet?

Good question. The signal can be delivered in three basic ways. First, you can have your system use your land line to report the alarm signals to the central station. All Honeywell systems, wireless and wired, have a built-in phone dialer so nothing additional is needed. That said, no one has a traditional phone line anymore. Also, you can't get Total Connect using a phone line. Therefore, other communication pathways are more popular. If you don't want to use the phone line, the most popular communication pathway is over the internet. While the L5100 can be hooked up through ethernet with the iLP5 module, the more common way to hook up an L5100 to the internet is by using the L5100-WIFI module. The L3000 needs the 7847i-L for internet monitoring and the VISTA panels use the similarly named, but very different 7847i. The L3000 and VISTA panels do not have a WIFI option and require an Ethernet cord to be strung to the router. The final communication pathway is over cell towers. Basically, when you purchase one of Alarm Grid's monitoring plans that include Cellular Communications, you are buying an AT&T cell phone plan for your system. We handle the SIM card activation and billing so you don't have to worry about a separate cell phone bill. Your system will then send out a signal using the wireless GSM network (which is often regarded as the most reliable pathway). The L5100 requires a GSMVLP5-4G to accomplish this, the L3000 needs a GSMVLP4G installed, and the VISTA panels need either the GSMV4G or the GSMX4G (see our FAQ on these communicators if you want to understand the difference between the two), unless it is a VISTA 21iP which requires the VISTA-GSM4G.

It may come as a surprise for anyone who is just starting their search, but those are really the four basic questions you need to ask yourself. Once you have taken inventory of your door and window sensors, motion sensor needs, whether you want your system to be wired or wireless, and what sort of communication pathway you think sounds most attractive give us a call or chat with us. We'd love to help you.

Since we opened for business, we've had a number of requests from wholesalers, distributors, and installers who want to purchase product at a deep discount. Usually it's an enormous amount of product that someone wants at a fraction of the price everyone else pays.

We made a decision very early on not to do business with wholesalers, distributors and installers. We really are only interested in selling to end users. One look at our alarm monitoring page reveals our goal, I think. It's clean, simple to understand, and we are up front about our pricing

Our goal has been to create a brand that helps guide individuals through the process of purchasing and installing a new alarm system and then offer them the exact kind of home security monitoring that they need. We really aren't the negotiating type of company. The price you pay on our site is the same price that every single person pays.

We really are a very small team. When we get distracted trying to give wholesalers, distributors and installers price quotes, it deters from our ability to build the brand that we want to build (and that we think you want us to build).

So if you're a wholesaler, distributor or installer please don't bother contacting us for quotes on big orders. You can do the math yourself. If you want 100 5808W3s, you will pay 100 * $77.99, just like everyone else.

So now that our fearless leader is hitched and I'm not off to any weddings, it's time to return to what I'm sure is everyone's favorite part of Friday: the Owner DIY Blog!

As I introduced in my blog post two weeks ago, I have a Honeywell LYNX L5100  system installed in my home. But it didn't just install itself. I'm here to document how we did it!

So a little background on my house. Like many people in Florida who hate putting up shutters on their second floor, I have high impact Hurricane windows and doors.  

And I don't just have them. I have a LOT of them. Being an older, remodeled home, I have them in all shapes and sizes. French doors, sliding glass doors, and way too many windows.

So when it came time to designing my security system, we had to put a lot of thought into picking the right door and window sensors.

First, let's consider the windows. There's a ton of them and clearly we want to protect that method of entry. 

Since there's over 40 of them (many of the windows are double-hung and multiple panels per opening), we had to rule out wireless window sensors. Even at those affordable Alarm Grid prices, they're unrealistic in that quantity.

We couldn't even use glass break detectors. Impact glass functions a lot like bullet proof glass. It won't shatter and set off the detectors.

So we settled on a few motion detectors placed cleverly throughout the house. Luckily since my manly 9 pound Shih Tzu just squeezes under the 80 lb limit of the Honeywell 5800PIR-RES, the choice of which one to use was obvious.

Need help installing yours? We have a great Honeywell 5800PIR-RES installation video.

With three of those placed in rooms with entryways and hallways outside the rest of the rooms, it was time to move on to the doors. Oh the many doors.

Since I'm a snob, I knew the standard and popular Honeywell 5816 just wasn't thin enough for me. I needed the slightly more expensive, but way more discreet Honeywell 5811.

For the many sliding glass doors, I needed to install two door sensors per door because the doors could open from either direction. Looking for help? We have a great video showing how to install door sensors on a sliding glass door.

For the French doors / double front door? Luckily, one side was a dummy / passive door that locked into the frame. We were able to get away with just one sensor on the active side. Again, we have a great French door installation video for the 5811.

Any questions or concerns on how to design your security system? Next up we'll go over some of the cool stuff we did with Z-Wave. 

This week, Josh from Connecticut had a pretty standard question a lot of us have before purchasing any wireless products: how long will the battery last?

Specifically, he wanted to know how long the battery in the Honeywell 5811 last. The Honeywell 5811 is a wafer thin door and window sensor that isn't as clunky as its counterpart, the 5816. It's button battery may be small, but it is very very effective.

While the answer to this question is obviously based on usage, I tried my best to answer Josh with a general estimate based on Honeywell specifications and average lifespans on Honeywell CR2032 3V lithium batteries as well as our personal experience with these sensors.

Watch the video below: