Honeywell 5818MNL vs 5814

The Honeywell 5818MNL is an excellent recessed door contact. The benefit of recessed sensors is that you will never see the device nor will it take away from home or business decor. It also makes the alarm system as a whole a bit more discreet. The device requires a 3/4 inch diameter hole drilled into the door frame with a depth of at least 3 inches. There is also a magnet that must be drilled into the door itself. The included magnet requires a smaller 3/8 inch diameter hole with 1/2 inch in depth. The max spacing gap between the magnet and the sensor is 1/2 inch. 

The Honeywell 5814 is a cube shaped surface mount contact. Its rounded edges make it a clean looking device. It is one of the most compact sensors out there with the following dimensions: 1-1/2 inches high by 1-3/16 inches wide by 5/8 inch deep. It is a great solution for easy install in an environment. Just peel and stick the included adhesive tape and you are done!

What separates these two sensors is the battery life and RF range. The 5818MNL is an RF sensor that runs off a AAA Lithium battery which is designed to last up to 10 years! On the other hand the 5814 uses a smaller capacity coin cell battery that lasts 3 to 5 years. The 5818MNL is also the clear winner when it comes to RF range, 200 nominal feet vs. the 5814's 100 feet. When it comes to tech features the 5818MNL is the clear winner but it also involves more work when it comes to drilling it into the door frame. The decision is yours...