Honeywell Door Sensors: Matching the Contact to Your Panel

Best for
Replacing a standard 5816 door contact

The Honeywell Ademco 5816WMWH White Door Window transmitter is the classic larger contact. The listing says it comes with the 5816 transmitter, a CR123 lithium battery and a magnet, measures 4.6 by 1.8 by 1.4 inches and weighs 3.2 ounces. It is wireless and battery powered.

That is almost everything the listing says. It does not specify which panels it works with, its range, or whether it includes a wired input. The model number follows Honeywell’s 5800-numbered wireless line, so confirm your panel accepts 5800 series transmitters before buying. The spec table also lists a 720p video resolution, which does not apply to a door contact and looks like a data error.

Choose this if you are replacing an existing 5816 and want an identical fit, so mounting holes and magnet position line up. If you are starting fresh, the slimmer 5800MINIV is easier to hide and set up.

This 2 Pack – Honeywell 5800MINI listing bundles two 5800MINI door and window transmitters, sold by Alarm Liquidators rather than directly by Honeywell. The title says the 5800MINI replaces the discontinued Honeywell 5811.

The description places it in the Honeywell Home 5800 Series of quick-install wireless devices. It adds signal transmission and low-battery LED indicators, has case tamper protection and opens without special tools. Its compact size makes it suited to ornate doors, casements and double-hung windows, and it installs with the included double-sided tape. Each one provides a single zone of protection.

The listing does not specify the battery type. This pack suits someone adding a front and back door to a 5800 series system at once. If you want LEDs that also guide magnet placement, the 5800MINIV below spells that out.

• Two 5800MINI transmitters
• Transmit and low-battery LEDs
• Case tamper protection
• Double-sided tape installation

Best for
Lyric panel owners wanting two-way sensors

The Honeywell SiXCT is a two-way wireless door and window sensor, and the title says it is for use with Lyric. Two-way means the sensor and panel can confirm communication with each other, rather than the sensor simply broadcasting.

The listing is thin: it gives door and window mounting, digital output, 5 by 2 by 2 inch dimensions and the model name. It does not specify battery type, range or whether it works with any panel besides Lyric, so do not assume it will pair with a 5800 series system. Buy this only if you own a Lyric panel.

Best for
Easy placement on 5800 series systems

The Honeywell Home 5800MINIV 5800 Series Wireless door and window sensor is the most user-friendly contact in this list. Its LEDs do three jobs: blue confirms the magnet is placed correctly, green shows the sensor is transmitting, and red warns of a low battery. That blue placement light removes the usual trial and error when mounting the magnet on a door frame.

It runs on a 3V lithium battery, has case tamper protection and a tool-free case, and uses the same 5800 Series description as the 5800MINI: single zone, double-sided tape installation and a compact design for ornate doors and windows. The spec table itself lists only the manufacturer.

This is our default pick for a 5800 series system owner adding one contact. If you need two at once, the two-pack may be simpler.

• Blue LED for magnet placement
• Green transmit and red low-battery LEDs
• 3V lithium battery
• Case tamper protection

Best for
Honeywell thermostat owners balancing room temps

The Honeywell Home X Series Sensor is not a door sensor. It is the XRSENSOR wireless room sensor for Honeywell Home thermostats, compatible with the S1200, S1100, S1000, X8S, X8Q, X7S and T10+, and the title warns it is not compatible with T9 or T10 thermostats.

It monitors temperature and humidity so the thermostat can prioritize living areas by day and bedrooms at night, with a range of up to 200 feet. It runs on two AAA batteries and can stand on a surface or be adhered to a wall. It shows up in door sensor searches, but it will not report a door opening to a security panel. If you are pairing it with a thermostat, our Honeywell Home smart thermostat guide covers that setup.

Best for
Hardwired garage and overhead door zones

The Honeywell Ademco 958 Overhead Door Contacts are wired contacts for garage and roll-up doors. They come with 24 inches of armored cable, an adjustable magnet with an L bracket, and a standard gap of 2-3/8 inches, which allows for the looser fit of overhead doors. The reed switch is epoxy sealed against moisture and impact, with a shock-absorbing design.

Because it is wired, it needs a hardwired zone on your panel. The listing contains unrelated fields, such as 720p video, app control and a motion-only alert type, which do not describe a magnetic contact, and the description notes the item is open box. If you want a simple app alert for your garage instead of an alarm zone, see our look at a smart garage door sensor.