Mounting contact sensor outdoors

[virtu789]

I have a weatherproofed contact sensor, but need ideas to mount it outdoors e.g. on a patio screen door. I don't trust regular adhesive strips to hold in freeze or heat. But I also don't want to glue it with a permanent bond because I may want to replace it in the future. Thoughts?

[bcopeland]

Most contact sensors have screw holes

[virtu789]

Mine doesn't...

[bcopeland]

Well.. That does make it harder.. Interesting, every one I have tested have holes..

[waffles]

Silicone. Thats what i do. Little bead of white around the sensor, it blends and holds forever.

[aaiyar]

@virtu789

But I also don't want to glue it with a permanent bond because I may want to replace it in the future. Thoughts?

I've used silicone caulk for this purpose. It can withstand the elements, yet be removed with caulk remover and/or a putty knife at a later point of time. The only thing is that it takes time to set, so you have to tape the sensor in place for an hour or two.

Edit: Ha - @waffles beat me to it!

[virtu789]

Upon further examination, it does have placeholders to drill the holes in plastic....but also where I want to mount it is a metal surface, and I'm not keen drilling metal....

[waffles]

Beat ya by about 9 seconds

[virtu789]

Does it bond between plastic and metal also?

[waffles]

For sure. I have a metal screen door outside using an entry sensor. It wont come off until i say so. Silicone is pretty strong, ans like @aaiyar said, it can be removed

[wve]

I mount all my sensors as shown in this thread. Works great.

Ball and Socket for Iris Motion

I just gorilla glue a small strong magnet to the back of them. Use a screw at the angle you want, or any metal really. works great, they are easy to remove for battery changes etc but still stay in place really well. I have 10 V2's and 10 V3's mounted all over my house this way. [Screenshot 2020-07-30 at 9.31.20 PM] [Screenshot 2020-07-30 at 9.31.03 PM]

[aaiyar]

Hope that does work for contact sensors with a magnetic reed switch?

[mcdull]

Scotch 1"x48'' Indoor/Outdoor Extreme Double-Sided Mounting Tape : Target

I used this thing for outdoor, I didn't use it for heavy objects (like mailbox in pictures), just solar path lights on brick walls and they're still on the wall after a few So Cal summers.

I'm also using it for contact sensors outdoor (Samsung multipurpose sensors in a waterproof plastic box) on metal fences. The sensors showed 120F+ in summer and they're still stuck there.

[rwclements228]

I have mounted outdoor wireless thermometers using Velcro Extreme Outdoor. It will eventually degrade, but even in the extremes of weather in Chicago, it lasts for several years.

[wve]

@aaiyar

Hope that does work for contact sensors with a magnetic reed switch?

@aaiyar

I use Iris 3320-L contact sensors and place the magnet about midway (actually on top of the QR code) and it works fine for me.