Q: What’s the difference between a contact and a transmitter?

A:   They are both used for the same purpose.  The difference is that a contact is wired and a transmitter is wireless.  A transmitter, transmits the signal to a receiver to be analyzed by the panel, whereas a contact sends the signal via wire to the panel.

Q: I heard transmitters are better than contacts?  Why?

A: Transmitters are not better than contacts.  This is a misnomer.   People assume they are better because they are a newer technology, that is not the case.  Transmitters are more mainstream now due to the ease of installing them and the savings on labor.    If you are doing construction, and the walls are open, it is advisable to run the wires and have contacts installed.  Even the smallest transmitter is 2-3x larger than a contact and it will require you to change batteries.

Q: Are there more than one kind of transmitter?

A:  Yes.  We offer various models.  Each accomplish the same thing, but some are smaller than others.  Each has their own purpose.  The smaller they are, the more aesthetically pleasing they tend to be.  The trade off is battery life.  The smaller the transmitter, the smaller the battery.  Two examples are below.

Full size – the industry standard 3-1/16” H x 1-9/16” W x 1-3/16” D

Battery life – Average of 4-6 years.

Mini – Sensor dimensions: 1” W x 2.2” H x 0.25” D

Battery life -2-4 years.