How to Bypass an Alarm Sensor

How to Bypass an Alarm Sensor

Alarm systems can do amazing things these days. The technology leaders (including FrontPoint) have added remote arm/disarm, event notifications by text or email, on-line history, mobile apps, video services, and now home automation (think lights, locks, and even thermostats). We’ve entered a new era of expanded home security, where more people than ever appreciate the convergence of protection, convenience, and control. But with all the new and advanced features and functions, there are still some basic aspects of how alarm systems work that people ask about on a regular basis. One of these functions is arming your system with one of the sensors “bypassed,” usually a door/window sensor, or a motion sensor.

Bypassing a Sensor – What It Means

Let’s say you want to use your alarm system, but you have a door or window, or general area that you want to treat differently, and still arm the rest of the system. There are numerous reasons why you might want to do this, such as the following:

• You want to be able to open and close a specific window during the night, while your system is armed.
• You want to bypass a certain motion sensor so that a person or pet can move through an area without creating an alarm event.
• While you are making repairs or renovations to your home, a sensor may be temporarily displaced – and you still want to use your system to protect the rest of the house.

How to Bypass a Sensor with a FrontPoint System

Bypassing a sensor on a FrontPoint system is remarkably easy – thanks to the fact that we use GE Security components, the best wireless alarm equipment in the industry. They also have the easiest “user interface,” which results in fewer false alarms.

To bypass a sensor while the system is armed/arming:

1. Press the Bypass button and enter your Master Code.
2. Use the arrow buttons to scroll to the sensor you wished to bypass.
   1. On the first line, the display will show the sensor number and name (ex: SN 1 Front Door).
3. Press “OK” to bypass (deactivate) the sensor.
   1. When a sensor is bypassed, the display shows “Bypassed” on the second line.

To bypass a door/window sensor prior to arming:

1. Before arming the system, open the desired door or window to be bypassed.
2. Arm your system accordingly.
3. The panel will notify you that the sensor is reporting “Open.”
4. Press the Bypass button.
5. The system will now arm all of the sensors except the one(s) reporting open.