Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Steel doors & frames and mag switch installation

My garage and basement doors are steel clad doors with steel door frames. I'm using a Simon 3 panel. I've try to install the GE door mag microswitches, but the microswitches don't function. I've tried spacing the magnet and switch off the door and frame by 1/8" and 1/4" - but the magnetic field of the magnet gets concentrated through the steel frame and not enough seems left to close the switch. It's much harder to install the switch on the frame and the magnet on the door. What do installers do with steel doors and dteel frames?

I use a 3/4 recessed contact with a 3/4 recessed magnet. You can also use roller ball contacts in the door jam

maybe a switch like this that requires physical contact would work for you.


http://alarmshoppe.com/store/images/small/grids01t.jpg

I should have said that I'm trying to stay wireless as the house is all concrete block & stucco. I'm thinking the only solution is wireless motion sensor, but I already have the wireless mag switches. Is there some kind of wireless relay switch that I could wire the button switches to for the Simon 3 ??

I should have said that I'm trying to stay wireless as the house is all concrete block & stucco. I'm thinking the only solution is wireless motion sensor, but I already have the wireless mag switches. Is there some kind of wireless relay switch that I could wire the button switches to for the Simon 3 ??

do you need strut channel and fittings to let the wire stay fixed?

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I should have said that I'm trying to stay wireless as the house is all concrete block & stucco. I'm thinking the only solution is wireless motion sensor, but I already have the wireless mag switches. Is there some kind of wireless relay switch that I could wire the button switches to for the Simon 3 ??

A switch is a simple contact. integrate the roller switch into the sending unit from the mag switch.

I should have said that I'm trying to stay wireless as the house is all concrete block & stucco. I'm thinking the only solution is wireless motion sensor, but I already have the wireless mag switches. Is there some kind of wireless relay switch that I could wire the button switches to for the Simon 3 ??

Sounds like you have the micro door windown sensors? Any of the other wireless door window sensors from GE (minus the recessed) can have hardwire contacts wired into them (like the roller switches previously mentioned).

The door switch is the GE 60-362 model. I didn't get the installation instructions when I bought it - but reading your answers and downloading the manual, I see that it can have an external switch wired into it, and just ignore the reed switches and magnet. Thanks :)