Sensor Troubleshooting
Your ADT residential or small business security system will be installed with a number of sensors, such as door and winow contacts, motion detectors, glassbreak detectors, smoke or heat detectors, and carbon monoxide detectors. These may be hardwired to your system or they may be wireless devices that are powered by internal batteries.
Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Your carbon monoxide detector/sensor is designed to monitor the levels of CO gas in residential dwellings, and give early warning when potentially dangerous levels exist.
For help troubleshooting your carbon monoxide detector, please refer to the Carbon Monoxide Detector Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your carbon monoxide detector's battery, please refer to the Carbon Monoxide Detector Battery Replacement page.
Door Sensors
Two Piece Door Contacts/Sensors
A door or window sensor is usually a two-piece magnetic contact sensor. When the alarm is set and the door or window is opened, the two magnetic sensors are separated from each other, tripping the alarm.
For help troubleshooting your door or window sensor, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your door or window sensor's battery, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Battery Replacement page.
Door Rollerball Contacts/Sensors
Rollerball contacts are a single-piece with a rolling-ball component. These sensors are usually installed on metal door frames, attached on the hinged-side of the door. The device has a Rollerball that spins freely within the contact casing. As the door closes, the ball is pushed inward, closing the circuit. These are usually hardwired devices.
For help troubleshooting your door rollerball contact, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your door rollerball contact's battery, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Battery Replacement page.
Garage Door Sensors
The garage door sensor allows you to control and monitor the status of your garage door using your ADT Pulse Touch Screen, Web Portal, Mobile App or Voice App.
For help troubleshooting your garage door sensor, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your garage door sensor's battery, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Battery Replacement page.
Glassbreak Detectors
Your glassbreak detector is designed to sense the sound of breaking glass.
For help troubleshooting your glassbreak detector, please refer to the Glassbreak Detector Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your glassbreak detector's battery, please refer to the Glassbreak Detector Battery Replacement page.
Motion Detectors/Sensors
Your passive infrared motion sensor detects motion across the path of the device protection area. It measures the contrast of infrared energy (heat energy) within the room to detect a moving human. The device activates based on 3 paths being triggered for spot detection, which means it does not cover every inch of the floor.
For help troubleshooting your motion sensor, please refer to the Motion Detector Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your motion detector's battery, please refer to the Motion Detector Battery Replacement page.
Smoke & Heat Detectors
Your smoke detector is designed to sense particles of smoke from a fire. Your heat detector monitors for a rapid increase in heat or when the temperature reaches a defined setting.
For help troubleshooting your smoke or heat detector, please refer to the Smoke and Heat Detector Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your smoke or heat detector’s battery, please refer to the Smoke and Heat Detector Battery Replacement page.
Window Surface Contacts/Sensors
Contact sensors are made up of two pieces: the contact and magnet. The dimensions are about 2/3 inches long by 1/4 in wide. The contact is usually mounted on the lower side of a double hung or casement window frame, and the magnet is mounted on the window itself. Contact sensors may be hardwired or wireless.
For help troubleshooting your window sensors, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Troubleshooting page.
For help replacing your window sensor's battery, please refer to the Door and Window Sensor Battery Replacement page.
Related Topics
Finding the Right Sensor Battery
Here you can locate the correct size and type of battery for your sensor.
Testing Your System
Here are instructions for placing your system in Test mode, and for removing it from Test mode once the test is complete.
Silence Low Battery Beeping
Here are instructions for silencing your keypad when it has detected a low battery condition.
