Shock Sensors
A shock sensor catches the break-in attempt — before the intruder is inside.
A shock sensor isn't there to tell you a window broke — it's there to tell you someone is trying to break in. Mounted on a door or window frame, the Versa Wireless SHOCK-319 feels the vibration of a pry bar, a kick, a hammer, or a drill and trips the panel during the attack — before the intruder is inside. This guide explains how shock detection actually works, how it differs from an acoustic glassbreak detector and a plain door contact, and how to mount and tune the SHOCK-319 so it catches real forced entry without nuisance trips.
What a shock sensor actually detects
Most perimeter protection is reactive. A standard door/window contact watches a magnet: when the door opens and the magnet separates from the sensor, the zone trips. That's useful — but by the time the contact reports, the opening is already breached and the intruder is on their way in.
A shock sensor moves the trip point earlier. Inside the housing is a vibration-sensing element with an adjustable threshold. When the protected surface takes a blow — someone prying a window sash, kicking a door, drilling a lock cylinder, or hammering a frame — the resulting vibration crosses the threshold and the sensor signals the panel. The alarm happens during the attempt to force entry, not after it succeeds. On a perimeter zone, that earlier warning is the entire point.
Shock sensor vs. glassbreak detector vs. door contact
These three device types are easy to confuse because they all protect openings. They detect completely different things, in different ways, from different mounting positions.
| Device | What it senses | How & where it mounts | Trips when… |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Shock / vibration sensor SHOCK-319 |
Physical impact & vibration on the surface it's attached to | Directly on the door, sash, or frame | Someone strikes, pries, kicks, or drills the protected surface — the attempt |
| Acoustic glassbreak detector | The sound signature of breaking glass (thud + high-frequency shatter) | Wall or ceiling, facing the glass it covers a whole room of | Glass actually shatters within audible range |
| Door / window contact | Magnet separation (open vs. closed) | On the frame, magnet on the moving part | The opening is breached and the door/window moves |
A shock sensor can certainly respond to the vibration of someone striking glass — but that is not the same job as an acoustic glassbreak detector, and it is mounted in a different place for a different reason. A glassbreak detector only earns its keep once the pane is already breaking; a shock sensor is designed to react to the broader act of forcing an opening, often before anything actually breaks. For full coverage, many installers use them as complementary layers, not substitutes.
Inside the SHOCK-319
The SHOCK-319 combines four things in one low-profile enclosure: an adjustable shock-sensing element, a magnetic reed switch (the door/window contact), a tamper switch, and Versa's patented Bluefield LED indicators. Here's what each LED tells you in the field.
| LED | What it means |
|---|---|
| Blue | Magnet is within range (1" max). Active for 5 minutes after the battery is installed or the cover is removed — your placement confirmation. |
| Green | Pre-shock. Flashes when the sensor detects a vibration that's near — but not quite strong enough to reach — the alarm threshold. Your tuning guide. |
| Red | Shock alarm. Lights to indicate a shock strong enough to trigger an alarm is in progress. |
That green "pre-shock" stage is the feature that makes tuning practical. You're not flying blind between "nothing" and "full alarm" — the green LED shows you when you're getting close to the threshold, so you can set sensitivity precisely against the real install surface.
The reed-switch DIP: two jobs, or one
The SHOCK-319 has a single DIP switch, and its only job is to enable or disable the reed switch — the magnetic door/window contact. That decides whether the device does two jobs or one:
- DIP ON — reed switch enabled. The SHOCK-319 works as both a shock sensor and a door/window contact. The magnet is in play, so the panel sees open/close events alongside shock detection.
- DIP OFF — reed switch disabled. The reed switch and magnet are not used. The SHOCK-319 works as a shock sensor only.
Where to mount it
- SHOCK-319 (sensor + included magnet)
- Small flat-blade screwdriver (for the sensitivity dial)
- 319.5 MHz panel — Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, or GE/Interlogix-class
- The sensor's built-in serial number (for enrollment)
- Mount the sensor to the stationary part (the frame), and the magnet to the moving part (the door or sash) — the same way you'd place a contact.
- Mount on the frame or sash, not on the glass. Like Qolsys's own shock sensors, the SHOCK-319 is designed to be installed on window frames and doors with or without glass inserts — not on the glass surface itself.
- Keep it away from metal and wiring. Avoid large amounts of metal, electrical runs, foil wallpaper, furnace and utility rooms — they interfere with both the magnet and the RF signal.
- Avoid moisture and locations that exceed the 32–122°F operating range.
- Confirm RF before you commit the tape. Run the panel's Go/No Go (walk test) from the intended spot to verify signal strength.
Setting shock sensitivity
Sensitivity is set with a screwdriver dial (potentiometer) inside the housing, and it's tuned from the final mounting position — the surface, fasteners, and frame all affect how vibration travels, so bench-tuning won't match the real install.
Mount first, tune second
Secure the SHOCK-319 in its permanent location before adjusting. Sensitivity set on a workbench will not behave the same on a door or window frame.
Tap the surface with your palm
Gently strike the protected surface with the palm of your hand to simulate an impact. Watch the LEDs: green flashes at the pre-shock threshold, red lights when the impact is strong enough to trigger a shock alarm.
Dial it in
Turn the sensitivity dial clockwise to increase sensitivity (or gradually increase your tap pressure) until you get the response you want for that surface. The goal: a real forced-entry blow trips it, normal use doesn't.
Reject the nuisance triggers
Make sure everyday vibration — wind, window coverings, a slamming adjacent door, normal door/window operation — does not trip the sensor. Back the sensitivity off until those are ignored while a deliberate strike still alarms.
Enrolling on a Qolsys IQ Panel
The SHOCK-319 enrolls like any 319.5 MHz transmitter. On a Qolsys IQ Panel the shock sensor and the contact come in as a single supervised zone:
- Put the panel in auto-learn mode (Settings → Advanced Settings → Installation → Devices → Security Sensors → Auto Learn Sensor).
- Trip the sensor: open/close the magnet, or tap the cover, to send the signal.
- The panel captures the serial number. Set the sensor name, group/zone type, and chime, then touch Add.
SHOCK-319 specifications
Physical specs below are taken from the official SHOCK-319 installation guide, which is the source of truth for the hardware.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Frequency | 319.5 MHz |
| Device type | Dual-function door/window contact + shock sensor (single zone) |
| Panel compatibility | Qolsys IQ Panel 4, IQ Panel 2+, GE/Interlogix-class 319.5 MHz panels |
| Supervision | Yes — fully supervised transmitter |
| LED indicators | Blue (magnet in range) · Green (pre-shock) · Red (shock alarm) |
| Shock sensitivity | Adjustable via screwdriver dial |
| Reed switch (DIP) | DIP enables the reed switch (shock + door/window contact) or disables it (shock sensor only) |
| Magnet gap | 1" (25.4 mm) max on wood; tighter on metal frames |
| Dimensions | 2.85" × 1.15" × 0.75" (73 × 30 × 19 mm) |
| Battery | 1 × 3V lithium — Versa CR2U (or Panasonic CR2) |
| Battery life | 5+ years |
| Operating conditions | 32°–122°F (0°–50°C) |
| Mounting | Surface mount (double-faced tape included) — on frame/sash, not glass |
| Listings & warranty | UL · FCC · IC · 1-year warranty |
Two-in-one perimeter protection for Qolsys IQ and GE/Interlogix panels.
Browse the full shock sensor collection, see the rest of the door/window contacts and motion detectors, or read more installer guides on Insight.
Frequently asked questions
Is the SHOCK-319 a glassbreak detector?
No. The SHOCK-319 is a shock (vibration) sensor. It mounts on a door or window frame and detects the impact and vibration of a forced-entry attempt — prying, kicking, drilling, or hammering. An acoustic glassbreak detector is a separate room-mounted device that listens for the sound of shattering glass. The two are complementary, not the same.
How does a shock sensor detect a break-in before entry?
A shock sensor reacts to vibration on the surface it's mounted to. When someone strikes or forces a door or window, the vibration crosses an adjustable threshold and the sensor signals the panel during the attempt — earlier than a plain contact, which only trips once the opening is already breached.
Can the SHOCK-319 be used as a shock sensor only?
Yes. A single DIP switch enables or disables the reed switch (the door/window contact). With the DIP ON, the reed switch is enabled and the device works as both a shock sensor and a door/window contact. With the DIP OFF, the reed switch and magnet are not used and the device works as a shock sensor only.
Where should the SHOCK-319 be mounted — on the glass?
On the frame or sash, not on the glass. Mount the sensor to the stationary part and the magnet to the moving part, keeping it away from large amounts of metal or wiring. Tune sensitivity from the final mounting position and confirm RF with the panel's Go/No Go test before committing the tape.
What panels is the SHOCK-319 compatible with?
It operates at 319.5 MHz and works with Qolsys IQ Panel 4, Qolsys IQ Panel 2+, and GE/Interlogix-class 319.5 MHz panels. The shock sensor and door/window contact enroll as a single fully supervised zone.
