When to adjust alarm thresholds
This article provides quick guidance for field teams on when to adjust alarm thresholds when alerts are too frequent, not triggered when expected, or do not reflect normal operating conditions—while understanding the trade-offs between early detection and alarm noise.
Overview
Adjust alarm thresholds when alerts are not useful or not accurate, such as:
- Too many nuisance alarms
- Missing important events
- Alerts triggered during normal operation
Start with the default alarm thresholds then adjust carefully to improve signal without hiding real issues.
Common scenarios
| Issue | Possible cause |
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Thresholds may be too tight |
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Thresholds may be too wide |
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Threshold timing or limits may need adjustment |
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Thresholds may not match site conditions |
When NOT to adjust
Do not adjust thresholds if the issue is temporary or one-off. The root cause may be:
- Incorrect setpoints
- Door usage patterns
- Environmental conditions
- Hardware faults
What you can adjust
- High/low temperature thresholds – when alarms trigger
- Time delay – how long before an alarm is raised
- Recovery/reset behavior – when alarms clear
Make adjustments to alarms in small steps and review alarm history.
What happens when you adjust it
| Adjustment | What improves | Trade-offs to consider |
|---|---|---|
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Tighten thresholds (closer to setpoint) |
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Widen thresholds (further from setpoint) |
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Shorten time delay |
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Increase time delay |
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Specific guidance by Role type
| Role | Suggested actions |
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Service Technician |
Adjust thresholds when:
Good practice:
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Hardware Installer |
Use default thresholds unless site conditions require otherwise. Do not adjust thresholds to hide:
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Site Manager / Fleet Manager |
Alarm setting changes are normally made by a service technician. Ask your service team to review a cooler's alarm settings if:
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