How to Install a Recessed Door Contact for a Wireless Home Alarm System

A wireless home alarm system can be an affordable alternative to an expensive hard-wired system. A downside, however, is that the door contacts tend to appear obtrusive and bulky when they are installed. Fortunately there is another option: the recessed door contact. These devices still work with a wireless alarm system, but they are installed directly into the door frame and door itself.

Things You'll Need

• Power drill
• 5/8-inch drill bit
• Small hammer
• Duct tape

Instructions

1. Choose a suitable location for your recessed door contact to be installed by measuring the two components of the device and making sure there is enough door for the device to fit inside. The depth of the holes you will need to drill will be 1/2 inch longer than the length of each component. Avoid coming within an inch of any glass. Also avoid drilling through metal if possible. Your wireless alarm system will be able to recognize signals transmitted from the device -- whether it is installed near electrical equipment, metal, or any other type of material -- so the only major consideration to make is whether or not there will be adequate space for the device inside the door and the frame. It is better to install both pieces horizontally as opposed to vertically. This decreases the possibility of the contact falling out if a hole is slightly too wide.

2. Mark the center point of each hole to be drilled. Make sure that the points are aligned when the door is closed. An easy way to do this is to make the original marks with a small screw drive by inserting the screw driver into the narrow gap between the door and the door frame (when the door is closed) and then gently wiggling the screwdriver back and forth from left to right. This will make two small indentations that are directly opposite one another in the door frame and the door itself.

3. Drill the holes for the door contact components. Make sure you are drilling parallel to the door, and perfectly perpendicular to the outside edge of the door. It is very important that the holes are not crooked in order for the contact to rest inside the door properly and to be flush with the door on the exterior. Place the door contact next to the drill bit and mark the length of the hole to be drilled on the bit by wrapping duct tape around the bit -- thus creating a "stop" line.

4. Test the door contact to make sure it functions properly. These are difficult to remove without damaging the doorway and the device, so you want to be sure the need will not arise for a long time.

5. Install both components of the device into the corresponding holes and gently tap them into place with a small hammer. You should not need glue for this installation if the holes were drilled correctly, but glue is okay to use if you need it.