ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade Voice - Data - Video Discussion Alarms

Any links to a good alarm system how to. I am planning on running some wire before I see my alarm friend again. Been awhile since I paid any attention to the type of wires he was running to door and window contacts. Not to sure about smokes and motions either. Was thinking it was two conductor but a buddy mentioned it was four. I know the keypad is four conductor but am confused now about the others.

You can run 4-wire to everything and be covered. Run 4-wire fire wire (the red stuff) to the smokes and you should be fine. Some use 2- wire for smokes, but I prefer 4-wire.

Yes, use 4 wire "quad" for all the motions and contacts and keypads. Quad is the "old" 2 pair telephone wire- red,green,black,yellow.

Run home runs from each back to the panel location, my alarm supply house has quad in many different jacket colors so you can color code by floors, areas etc. Leave plenty of slack so the alarm guy can do whatever he wants.

I should add that you might want to check with him first for the best locations for the motions. Always new stuff and some ceiling PIR's now can take the place of wall mounted ones.

-Hal

[This message has been edited by hbiss (edited 02-02-2005).]

Thanks for the input guys. Ceiling mounted PIR's....will have to look into that.

very good advice. quad in colors makes life simpler. pulling 4 wire cable also allows for addressable systems like DMP and Radionics which need two for data and two for power.
Just a caution, pulling quad through drilled holes , be careful, it can't take the abuse that Romex and MC can.
Good luck

I don't dispute the benefits of multicoloured wire, however if any or all of the wiring will be visible I do believe that a cleaner and more professional looking install results when all the same colour wire (tagged, of course) is run to the alarm panel.