Aha! As I think bernard said when he first mentioned it, it takes only the tiniest gap in the magnetic path to have an enormous effect - the two parts of the magnetic core must be, and remain, in contact.In that case, is not by far the most likely explanation the one that was given right at the start - namely that putting additional things through the sensor is stopping in 'closing' (and hence completing the magnetic circuit) properly?That was it John, even a fraction of a mm causes a massive drop in the reading! The extra bit of sheath, rope, etc... in the sensor must of pushed open the clamp, only by 10th or so of a mm, but that's all it took.
Kind Regards, John

