Honeywell 955PST

The Honeywell 955PST is a recessed plunger switch with a 3/4” diameter which you can use to protect sliding doors and windows from intrusion. As a member of Honeywell’s exclusive Staggered “T” Series of recessed contacts, the 955PST has staggered terminal screws so that you can easily connect the switch to a wired zone on your alarm control panel. Choose between the white 955PST-WH recessed plunger switch and the brown 955PST-BR to match your home’s decor.

Unlike door and window contacts that use an internal reed switch and a magnet, plunger switches like the 955PST have an actuator that gets depressed when the door or window is closed. When the actuator is depressed, the 955PST plunger switch is normally closed and the system is happy. If the security system is armed and the door or window is opened, the actuator pops out and the contact loop opens which causes an alarm. Recessed plunger switches are easier to install as there is only one piece you will need to drill into the door frame. They are also ideal for metal doors as the magnets used with recessed contacts typically don’t work within a metal door. However, you must make sure that your door closes tightly enough to actually depress the plunger when the door is closed if you are going to choose plunger switches instead of standard door and window contacts.

The 955PST recessed plunger switch has a broad faced plunger which distributes the impact more evenly when the door or window is shut. The plunger switch has a normally closed contact with a rating of 100mA at 24VDC. You will need to recess mount the plunger switch in your door or window frame.

To install the Honeywell 955PST recessed plunger switch, you will need to drill a 3/4” diameter hole into the bottom of your window frame or into the side of your sliding door frame. Next, you will need to route a (2) conductor alarm wire from your alarm control panel to the hole you just drilled. You should use alarm wire with gauge of 24-18 AWG. Insert a conductor into each staggered terminal screw and tighten the screws to secure both wire leads. Finally, press the 955PST plunger switch into the hole so that the switch is flush with the frame. The only part of the 955PST that should be sticking out is the plunger switch actuator. You would want to use the Honeywell 956RPT rolling plunger switch to protect normal doors and use this 955PST plunger switch for sliding doors. The 956RPT has a rounded actuator so that a normal door will not catch on the actuator and will simply depress it while it is closing. If you use the 955PST with a normal door, the actuator plunger switch can actually stop the door from closing or you run the risk of damaging the plunger switch every time you close the door. As sliding doors will hit the plunger switch straight on, they are a good application for the Honeywell 955PST recessed plunger switch.