Wiring & Connecting the Hardware: Wiring Glass Break Sensors

1. Setting up Glass-Break sensors in SmartThings

SmartThings Smart Home Monitor does not support a device type for glass-break sensors specifically. However, since they work the same as any other sensor, you can set them up as Motion Sensors or Open/Close Sensors instead, and they will work with Smart Home Monitor. You can always change the icon of the device after you create it by tapping on the gear icon on the device detail screen in the SmartThings app.

2. Acoustic type Glass-Break sensors

Acoustic glass-break sensors are good for protecting a whole room full of windows. They’re usually mounted on the wall or ceiling of the room. They work by responding to the sound of broken glass.

Testing these sensors is not as straightforward as other types of sensors, because they are only supposed to trigger by the sound of an impact followed by broken glass. Professional alarm installers use a portable electronic glass-break simulator, but these are expensive and impractical for the do-it-yourselfer. Instead, you can use a key chain of metal keys, or a glass jar full of coins. To trigger the sensor, simultaneously create a thud sound by pounding the wall/ceiling while jingling the keys/coins as close as possible to the sensor. This YouTube video has a good demonstration.

3. Shock type Glass-Break sensors

Shock type sensors stick on to a pane of glass, and they alarm if the glass is broken or disturbed.

4. Foil tape

Foil tape can adhere on to any glass surface to create a conductive loop. The tape easily breaks if the glass is broken,interrupting the signal loop and triggering an alarm.