Why Isn't My Door Sensor Working?

A non-working door sensor can be the result of many different factors. Perhaps the biggest consideration is whether the door sensor is wireless or hard-wired. There are some issues that only affect wireless door sensors. However, hard-wired door sensors can also experience trouble.

If your door sensor is wireless, a dead battery may be the reason your door sensor is no longer working. Many panels will notify you if the battery in your wireless door sensor is running low so that you can replace it before it fails. Another cause of a malfunctioning wireless door sensor is that it may be out of range of the panel. For example, the Honeywell 5816 uses RF communication to send signals to the security panel, and it has a range of about 200 feet. This range can be extended using a Honeywell 5800RP wireless repeater.

Whether your door sensor is wireless or hard-wired, one important factor that you should determine is if your door sensor has been mounted correctly. In most cases, the sensor should be mounted on the door frame, and the magnet should be placed on the door itself. Most sensors need to be within about an inch or less of the magnet to function properly. When you first install your door sensor, you should test it a few times first to make sure that the sensor and the magnet have proper spacing and alignment. The video provided below, which demonstrates an installation of a Honeywell SiXCT door sensor, may be useful in ensuring that your door sensor has been mounted correctly:

You should also make sure that the sensor has been programmed to the panel. The sensor must be assigned to a particular zone on the system. Check your panel's zones, and verify that the sensor is programmed. If you require additional assistance in programming your door sensor to the panel, one of the following videos might be able to help you:

If your exact panel isn't featured in one of the videos listed above, consider that many panels have a similar interface and programming process that may be helpful in your case. For instance, the process of programming a door sensor is virtually the same across most Lynx Touch panels. Therefore, what applies to one panel may also apply to another. Also remember that both wireless and hard-wired door sensors must be registered by the panel in order to function.

It's also possible that your sensor is not set to the correct loop. One example of this is the Honeywell 5816, which can be utilized as a wireless transmitter, allowing a normally closed wired contact to be connected and programmed as loop 1, in addition to being used as a door and window sensor, with the magnet next to the transmitter and programmed as loop 2. If this is applicable, make sure that your sensor is set to the appropriate loop.