A blaring sounder on a security alarm is annoying both for you and for those who live nearby and have to put up listening to it. If you have good neighbours, they may keep an eye out for suspicious activity in the vicinity of your home when it sounds. However, if false alarms occur regularly, it can be like a scenario from the story The Boy Who Cried Wolf and they might just ignore it!
This guide explains the basics of how alarms work and how sensors are wired. It also covers the various faults which occur in sensors resulting in nuisance activation of your alarm.
What Causes False Alarms?
Loose connections
Loop resistance resistance outside the specified limits
A worn out battery
A misaligned or incorrectly spaced magnet
Rodents, birds, bats, spiders or other small animals may be triggering sensors, especially in lofts or outbuildings
Tamper strips on junction boxes may be tarnished and causing bad connections
Tampers on some sensors are badly designed and may only barely close the tamper switch in the sensor when the lid is replaced. Consider replacing the…
