‎Entry sensor doesn’t trip until door is closed | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
llgreen05's profile

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Entry sensor doesn’t trip until door is closed

Hello, my front door sensor does not trip until the door is closed, after it has sat for several hours. The first open of the day and the first open when I get home from work are when I notice it. No flashing, no chime. Once the door is closed, it then triggers the entry delay beeps. Subsequent opens cause flashing and a chime like they should. So in theory, a burglar could be successful if they left the door open…

The system and sensor are about 5 years old. This is the second house I’ve had them in, I’ve been here about 8 months but just started having the issue last week. 

Thanks!

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@llgreen05 The ususal suspects: weak battery, poor connection to the base, or, faulty sensor. Suggest 1. First, try changing the battery. If no go, then 2. try swapping the entry sensor with another one (don't forget to change and update your settings) and see if that fixes the location. If so, replace the faulty sensor. 3.  If you are under the FastProtect top monitoring plan, call and get it replaced at nc. If not, buy a new one.

Or, call support and see if they come up with anything else. Who knows, get a new or really nice agent and possibly they will replace it at nc even if not covered under warranty.

Please post outcome here if you get a chance.  Good luck.

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@captain11​ I just feel like any of those things would make it more spotty than it is? It is ONLY happening on the first open after sitting unused for several (8+, when I’ve noticed) hours. After the first use it works fine consistently. So strange. 

6.6K Messages

@llgreen05​ If the entry is sensor is less than a year old, SS is going to cover it at nc if it comes down replacement (or you have the FastProtect plan).  Also, read Emily's post as she adds great points I didn't include. 

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@llgreen05 I agree with Captain11, those recommended troubleshooting steps are a great first place to start. To me, it seems that something it happening with the Entry Sensor's connection to the Base Station, and that first opening event is helping it regain it. But of course, we always want the Entry Sensor and Base Station to communicate. 

First, is this Entry Sensor installed on a metal surface? We don't recommend putting either piece of the sensor on metal, as it could cause it to demagnetize. If this sensor is on metal, I would recommend placing a buffer between both pieces of the sensor and the door; this can be anything like a piece of cardboard, velcro, or an additional layer of adhesive. 

If this sensor is not placed on metal, I would then recommend replacing its battery. You can either use a new CR-2032 Lithium 3V battery, or swap out a battery from another working Entry Sensor of yours. If you still experience this same issue even with a new battery, it could be an issue with the sensor itself. In that case, we would want to replace this sensor - our Support team will be able to help you with that. 

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@emily_s​ Wouldn’t I get some kind of error message if it was a base station communication error? I’ve never gotten one. 

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@llgreen05​ If the Entry Sensor fails to check in with the Base Station for more than 24 hours then you will receive a "Not Responding" error message, but if the sensor regains its communication before that no error message will be received. 

1 Message

Did you ever get this resolved? I have exactly the same issue , but on 2 different doors.

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1.8K Messages

@marvingray_1 Are these sensors located in the same area of the home, or in different areas?

 

We would first recommend swapping these two sensors out with other ones that do not exhibit this behavior. If the problem sensors work as expected in their new location, that could indicate that interference may be at play.

 

In that case, try moving the Base Station closer to the two sensors if they're located in the same area of the home. But if the sensors are located in two different areas of the home, try moving the Base Station to a more central area. 

 

But if the sensors still do not respond when a door opens in their new location, that could indicate an issue with the devices. If that's the case, reach out to our Support team and they can assist you with further assistance. 

was this issue ever resolved? I am having the same issue. When I open the door the system does not trigger, it only triggers when the door is shut. Subsequently everything works afterward. It appears to happen if the system has been sitting for an hour or longer. 

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1.8K Messages

@rittermade2019 do you experience this behavior with all of your Entry Sensors, some, or just one?

 

If you are experiencing this with some or one of your Entry Sensors, try swapping the sensor out with one that you know works properly. If the sensor that is experiencing this issue works properly at its new location, this could be a sign of interference. In that case, we recommend moving the Base Station to a new location, making sure that it's in an open-air space and is not near any devices that output a WiFi signal, like routers or televisions. 

 

It can also help to look at the surface that the Entry Sensor is on. Neither piece of the Entry Sensor should be placed directly on a metal surface, as that can cause the sensor to demagnetize and read an incorrect open state. If the Entry Sensor is on a metal door, try adding a buffer between the sensor and surface. That can be anything like a thin piece of cardboard, plastic, or a few extra layers of adhesive. 

 

But if the Entry Sensor is not on metal, and adjusting the location of the Base Station does not help, this would call for further troubleshooting. In that case, please reach out to our Support team so they can take a deeper look into your account and troubleshoot with you in real time.

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I had this problem. I replaced the CR2032 battery on the sensor, deleted and then re-added the sensor. Then, I replaced the 4 AA batteries on the key pad. For some reason, this solved the problem. Usually, I get a notification that the battery is getting low, but not this time. 

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1.8K Messages

@sharidinkins It could have been that the Entry Sensor was about to show a Not Responding error message, which can be resolved by replacing the device's battery. Either way, we're happy to hear that your Entry Sensor is working again! If you need any additional help, please let us know.

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I am experiencing the same issue with the sensor, specifically on our front door. After the door has been closed for an extended period (say, over an hour), opening the door does not cause the system to detect an open door. For example, if I open the door in the morning with the alarm set, it does not go off. Similarly, setting the system to Away and returning more than an hour later, the system does not detect that I opened the door when I come home. In both scenarios, if I then close the door, I can see the blue light on the sensor flash, and it will detect the door open if I open it a second time in short succession.

The keypad, located 3' away, has new batteries, and the base station is approximately 10' away. This issue only started happening in the past month, and the sensor itself is less than 18 months old. The app says the battery is fully charged on the sensor.

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I too have this EXACT problem, I've switched out the sensors, replaced the battery, on opening the door the blue light never flashes....until it is closed. Then it flashes. Had a sensor on this door for a looooooong time just now started having problems.

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I have this EXACT problem, switched out batteries, switched out sensors moved base station closer, whenever I open door blue light does not light, when closing it there's a blue light and the keypad responds. This door has had a sensor for YEARS with no problems. After the last firmware update.... screwiness with both my simplisafe systems.

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