Am I the only one who hates using wireless contacts on metal windows?

Last month I did a job in Austin for a house with aluminum framed windows. I put in three wireless contacts and two of them failed within 48 hours. The customer called me back furious because the alarm kept tripping. I told him the metal frame blocks the signal but he insisted on wireless. Has anyone else dealt with this and found a fix that actually works?

2 comments

2 Comments

carter.gavin16d ago

Swapped my opinion on this one too honestly. Used to think wireless was just easier and cleaner, but after a job with metal framed sliders in a high rise condo, I had to eat my words. Those things are basically signal blockades. I ended up pulling the wireless contacts and hardwiring everything just to get it to stop false alarming. The only fix I found that actually worked was relocating the sensors to the top corner of the frame where the metal is thinner, and even then range was super sketchy. If they absolutely need wireless, maybe look into surface mount sensors with external antennas or placing the receiver closer to the windows. But honestly, metal frames and wireless just don't mix well, learned that the hard way.

jamesm3816d ago

Totally feel you on this @carter.gavin. I did a whole house with those aluminum clad windows once and it was like the sensors were allergic to the frames. Had to tape a contact to the glass just to get it to close, looked terrible. Learned real quick that wireless and metal just aren't friends. Nothing beats hardwiring in those spots but you gotta plan for it before the drywall goes up, otherwise you're in for a real headache.