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I finally started double-checking every single zone walk test after a false alarm at a bank in Springfield cost me a client.
The manager called me at 6 AM because a motion sensor facing a window with direct sunrise triggered the whole system, and now I physically watch the sun hit each sensor during the final check.
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riley_west28d agoTop Commenter
Actually adding electrical tape to block sun or reflections is a hack fix, not a real solution. That sensor is now blind in that spot, meaning you have a coverage gap you're responsible for. If something happens in that exact area, the client's lawyer is going to ask why you intentionally blocked a sensor. The false alarm issue should have been solved by repositioning the sensor or installing a different type like a dual-tech unit that filters out light changes. Tape is lazy and creates liability. A bank in Springfield would have been better off firing you for that shortcut than losing a false alarm client.
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bennett.noah1mo ago
My buddy Mike had a similar thing happen at a pharmacy in Dayton. A sensor was aimed at a glass door that reflected headlights from the overnight delivery truck route. He got three callbacks in one month, all between 2 and 3 AM. He ended up putting a little piece of electrical tape on the lens to block that exact angle, which fixed it. Now he keeps a roll of that tape in his truck just for weird reflections.
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