Tamper Alarm Triggering After Disarming – Entry Sensor Alignment Issue

Issue Overview

Some customers may experience an unexpected tamper alarm shortly after disarming the system. In some cases, the siren may sound 15–30 minutes later when exiting the residence, and the event history may show a message similar to:

Opening User: 001
Tamper Alarm – [Door/Zone Name] (for example, garage door)

This issue may occur intermittently and may not have happened previously.

Common Symptoms

System is disarmed normally.
After a period of time, opening a door triggers the siren.
Alarm history shows a Tamper Alarm rather than a standard entry alarm.
Issue occurs sporadically and may have started recently.

Likely Cause

The most common cause is improper alignment or movement of the entry sensor, often related to:

The tamper switch tab not being fully depressed.
The larger sensor body being pushed or shifted when the door closes.
A self-closing door or door that closes with more force than expected.
Weather stripping compression causing contact between the two sensor pieces during a harder door close.

In one confirmed case, the door appeared to close normally during a soft close, but during a harder close, the increased compression caused the moving sensor piece to push against the larger sensor body mounted on the frame. Over time, this caused the sensor to slide slightly out of position, triggering a tamper condition.

How to Troubleshoot and Resolve

Step 1: Inspect Sensor Alignment

Check that the two parts of the entry sensor are properly aligned.
Ensure there is adequate spacing between the two pieces (not installed flush).
Open and close the door firmly to confirm nothing is making contact.

Step 2: Check the Tamper Switch Tab

Remove the sensor cover.
Verify the tamper switch tab is properly aligned and fully depressed when the cover is installed.
Re-seat the cover securely.

Step 3: Test the Door Operation

Test both soft closes and harder closes of the door.
Watch for any movement, shifting, or contact between sensor parts.
Pay special attention to self-closing doors or doors with strong weather stripping.

Step 4: Reposition if Necessary

If contact is occurring, reposition the sensor to allow more clearance between parts.
Ensure the larger sensor body cannot be pushed or slid by the moving door.

Summary

Unexpected tamper alarms after disarming are most often caused by sensor movement or misalignment, especially on doors that close with force. Ensuring proper spacing, secure mounting, and correct tamper switch alignment typically resolves the issue.

If the problem continues after following the steps above, contact OSI Go Direct Support for further assistance.