So, I decided to beef up my home security a bit. After looking around, I went with a Honeywell door sensor. Figured it’d be a straightforward install, and for the most part, it was. Here’s how it went down:
Unboxing and First Impressions
First things first, I ripped open the box. Inside, there was the sensor itself, a magnet, some screws, adhesive strips, and the usual instruction booklet that I glanced at briefly. The sensor and magnet were both pretty small, nice and discreet, which I liked. I wanted something that wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb on my door frame.
Planning the Placement
Next, I had to figure out exactly where to put the thing. I held the sensor up to the door frame and the magnet to the door, making sure they’d be close enough to each other when the door was closed. The instructions said to keep them less than half an inch apart, so I eyeballed it and marked the spots with a pencil. I decided to go with the adhesive strips first, just to make sure I had the positioning right before I committed to screwing anything in.
Sticking It On
Peeling off the backing of the adhesive strips was a little fiddly, but I got there. I stuck the sensor to the frame and the magnet to the door, pressing down firmly on each for a good 30 seconds. Then, I slowly opened and closed the door a few times to make sure everything lined up and the sensor wasn’t getting knocked loose. So far, so good!
Testing, Testing…
This is the crucial part. I armed my security system and then opened the door. BEEP BEEP BEEP! Success! The alarm went off, loud and clear. I disarmed it, closed the door, and tried again. Same result. Did this a few more times, just to be extra sure, you know, for peace of mind.
Securing it Properly
Once I was happy with the placement and that it was working reliably, I decided to go ahead and use the screws. The adhesive seemed pretty strong, but I figured screws would be more secure in the long run. It was a bit of a pain getting the tiny screws in, my hands are not the smallest. But with a little patience, I got them all in nice and tight.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m pretty happy with the Honeywell door sensor. It was easy to install, even for a DIY newbie like me. And it gives me an extra layer of security, which is always a good thing.
- Pros: Small, discreet, easy to install, works reliably.
- Cons: Tiny screws can be a bit fiddly.
If you need to do some simple door sensor setup, you can try it as me.