How Do I Replace My ADT Door Sensor's Magnet?

You can replace your ADT door sensor's magnet by determining a compatible new magnet, removing the old magnet from the door and putting the new magnet in its place. If you are only removing the magnet, then no programming changes will need to be made to the sensor from the security panel.

A door sensor usually consists of two parts. These parts are the door sensor itself and a magnet. When the magnet is separate from the sensor, the sensor will send a signal to the panel, letting it know that the zone has been opened or faulted. We recommend placing the sensor on the door frame and the magnet on the moving portion of the door. This will prevent the sensor from being damaged when the door is opened or closed.

However, if the door is slammed very hard, it is possible that the magnet will become damaged. If this occurs, you will need to replace the magnet with a new one. Luckily, replacement magnets for door sensors. are very inexpensive and easy to find. Please note that if you ever need to replace the entire sensor, you may need to program the new one into the panel. That being said, this is not necessary if you are only replacing the magnet.

Complete the following steps to replace your ADT door sensor's magnet:

1. Determine a replacement. ADT uses security sensors that are designed to work with the security panels that the company supplies to their monitored customers. However, these sensors will also work with many non-ADT branded panels, and they are often very similar (or sometimes even identical) to sensors created by certain manufacturers, most notably Honeywell.

With this in mind, you can typically replace the magnet for an ADT door sensor with a magnet for a Honeywell sensor. Of course, both Honeywell and ADT make many types of door and window sensors, and not all of these sensors use the same type of magnet. Instead, the size and shape of these magnets may differ, so you will want to find the best one for your needs.

Take a look at the sensor and its old magnet. Then, browse our list of door sensors to find the perfect magnet for the sensor. Remember, it will not matter if the sensor is hardwired or wireless, as the magnet will simply be placed next to it regardless. Also, make sure that you only purchase the magnet, as there is no need for you to purchase a new sensor entirely.

2. Remove the old magnet. Take the old magnet and remove it from the door. If it is screwed it, then you will need to unscrew it. If it is held in place with double-sided sticky tape, then you can simply peel it off the wall. If it is a recessed sensor, then you can pull the magnet out from the hole you drilled in the door.

3. Add the new magnet. Take the new magnet and put it in the place of the old magnet. The new magnet will typically need to be within half an inch of the sensor when the door is closed in order to keep the sensor from faulting. You will most likely be able to apply the new magnet in the same way that the old one was applied, whether it was screwed in, applied with sticky tape or inserted into a drilled hole (if recessed).

4. Test for operation. Once the new magnet has been placed, be sure to test the zone for proper operation. The zone should show faulted when the door or window is opened, and the fault should clear when the door or window is closed.