what is the best wire for a perimeter alarm

[Bob in Phx]

thinking of wiring a new house and would like to know what kind of wire to
run. cat 3, cat5, cat6 something else???????
it will be in the walls, not in air spaces, 2 zone alarm with NC switches
all in parallel.,

thanks in advance....

 

[Bob in Phx]

thanks a load.... Sort of what I expected ....

Ah, yer kidding.....right?
js

 

[Buggs]

thinking of wiring a new house and would like to know what kind of
wire to run. cat 3, cat5, cat6 something else???????
it will be in the walls, not in air spaces, 2 zone alarm with NC
switches all in parallel.,

thanks in advance....

Ah, yer kidding.....right?
js

 

[Frank Olson]

thanks a load.... Sort of what I expected ....

You expected someone was going to "teach" you how to wire your house??
Phone Bob Bass. He'll take you through the whole thing in about two hours.

 

[Frank Olson]

Frank,

What's up, you're referring to Bass as Bob???? So you guys hanging together
now, are there children in the future )

Russ

We're buds.

 

[Robert L Bass]

Bob,

There are several types of wire you may use for a burglar alarm
system. For magnetic door and window sensors 22-gauge, 2-conductor
is sufficient in most residences. Motion detectors, glass break
sensors and the like require 4 conductors -- 2 for power and 2 for
the "zone" (sensing circuit). Most keypads use the same ordinary
(unshielded, not twisted pair) cable as motion detectors. A few
systems such as the ELK-M1G use CAT5 cable for the keypads. The M1G
is a home automation / alarm system, probably more than what you're
looking for.

The transformer which supplies low voltage AC to power the panel is
usually wired using 2-conductor, 18-gauge wire. Siren speakers can
be wired using the same type of cable.

If you include fire alarm sensors (smoke detectors, heat detectors,
etc.) you will need 18-gauge, "power limited" fire alarm cable for
those. One exception is Rhode Island where 16-gauge is the minimum.
Smoke detectors are available in 2-wire and 4-wire models now. If
you need 10 or less smokes, select 2-wire types since the sensors and
the cable are less expensive and performance is identical.

Regarding the magnetic contacts, consider using 4-conductor wire even
though they only need 2. The difference in cost is minimal and
you'll have an extra pair available in case a staple goes awry during
the installation.

There has been a lot of discussion regarding stranded vs. solid core
cable for burglar alarm wiring. Some folks insist that stranded is
the only way to go. Others are just as insistent that solid core
wire is better. The reality is that either cable will work the same
once installed. Use whichever you feel more comfortable working
with. Whichever you choose, make certain it's rated for in-wall use.
Virtually all cable sold for the purpose at most online stores,
including mine, catering to DIYers will be UL listed and rated for
the purpose.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

=============================>
Bass Home Electronics
941-925-8650
4883 Fallcrest Circle
Sarasota · Florida · 34233
http://www.bassburglaralarms.com
=============================>

 

[Crash Gordon]

Cat...for alarm? 2 zones? in parallel....okie dokie

Do yourself a big learning experience favor and don't do it yourself.



--
Crash Gordon
-------ouch------

<I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe>
| thinking of wiring a new house and would like to know what kind of wire to
| run. cat 3, cat5, cat6 something else???????
| it will be in the walls, not in air spaces, 2 zone alarm with NC switches
| all in parallel.,
|
| thanks in advance....
|
|
|

 

[Crash Gordon]

I'm in Phoenix and I'm available as a paid consultant or instructor or will
actually do the job correctly for you (for a fee).



--
Crash Gordon
-------ouch------

<I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe>
| Cat...for alarm? 2 zones? in parallel....okie dokie
|
| Do yourself a big learning experience favor and don't do it yourself.
|
|
|
| --
| Crash Gordon
| -------ouch------
|
| <I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe>
| || thinking of wiring a new house and would like to know what kind of wire
to
|| run. cat 3, cat5, cat6 something else???????
|| it will be in the walls, not in air spaces, 2 zone alarm with NC switches
|| all in parallel.,
||
|| thanks in advance....
||
||
||
|
|

 

[Nomen Nescio]

Try using Romex. It's readily available, and the heavier wire reduces the
chances of other contractors breaking a wire. Be sure to order some of
those 1" diameter flush mount contacts, and an auger bit to install them
with.

 

[Jim]

Bob,

There are several types of wire you may use for a burglar alarm
system. For magnetic door and window sensors 22-gauge, 2-conductor
is sufficient in most residences. > --

Regards,
Robert L Bass

If you should consider buying equipment on line, before you buy from
this one, be sure you check out his horrendous BBB record here:

http://www.bbbwestflorida.org/commonreport.html?bid=41001663

He's also a convicted felon who's ironically in the security business.

Better to deal with someone locally. And it's best to find a company
by
referral from someone who you know.

 

[Frank Olson]

Please don't name any of the kids after me......... LOL )

"Brill". Good name for a Poodle.

 

[Crash Gordon]

I have used BX for security systems up in Vegas. Their codes are a pain in
the ass and it's actually easier to use BX then running conduit.



--
Crash Gordon
-------ouch------

<I feel like I'm diagonally parked in a parallel universe>
| Try using Romex. It's readily available, and the heavier wire reduces the
| chances of other contractors breaking a wire. Be sure to order some of
| those 1" diameter flush mount contacts, and an auger bit to install them
| with.
|

 

[Bill]

If you want the *best* wire... In addition to what others said, note that
all that wiring running in the walls/attic of a house acts as a big
"antenna".

The wiring can get voltage running in it induced by nearby radio
transmitters, etc. and lightning strikes - causing false alarms sometimes.

If you use "shielded" wire and ground one end of the shield (at the main
box), this will keep the outside electrical interference out of the wiring.

Shielded wire is like TV coax wire which has a metal wrap inside the jacket.
But you can get regular 2, 4, [or whatever] conductor shielded wire. It is
expensive though.

More about this - Faraday Cage...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_Cage



"Bob in Phx" wrote in message

 

[Buggs]

I have used BX for security systems up in Vegas. Their codes are a
pain in the ass and it's actually easier to use BX then running
conduit.

BX for what exactly? What gauges? Sounds like a real PITA.
js

 

[Matt Ion]

BX for what exactly? What gauges? Sounds like a real PITA.
js

Pretty sure he's talking about just using the BX as sheathing and
running the alarm wiring inside of it...

 

[Doug]

Its pretty difficult to remove the cable from BX especially if its of any
length.

Doug

--

 

[Frank Olson]

If you want the *best* wire... In addition to what others said, note that
all that wiring running in the walls/attic of a house acts as a big
"antenna".

The wiring can get voltage running in it induced by nearby radio
transmitters, etc. and lightning strikes - causing false alarms sometimes.

If you use "shielded" wire and ground one end of the shield (at the main
box), this will keep the outside electrical interference out of the wiring.

Shielded wire is like TV coax wire which has a metal wrap inside the jacket.
But you can get regular 2, 4, [or whatever] conductor shielded wire. It is
expensive though.

More about this - Faraday Cage...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Faraday_Cage

Next you'll be telling him to wire up his keypads with CAT 5E...
Shielded wire... sheesh! We've got alarm systems installed in homes
where the customer's are running ham radios. I've not had a single
false alarm that's related to "radio interference". About the only
"interference" I get these days is from young punks driving around with
bass speakers the size of garbage can lids playing something they call
"tunes" at a volume level that's gotta be close to 140 dB. You can
actually *feel* them coming from a block away. To top it off, when they
stop next to you they'll invariably be talking on their cell phones
although God knows how the heck the person on the other end can even
hear what they're saying.

 

[Doug]

You're getting old Frank.

Doug

 

[Jim]

You know using that gauge wire is a perfect way to stop service calls from
rodent chews. It could be even better if you used it on an old direct wire
system from say Potter. 90VDC could almost weld their little teeth I bet.

Reminds me of an estimate I was asked to do down on the water front,
many years ago. They were opening a sea food snack bar and wanted
security. The store had been abandoned for quite a number of years but
still had drop ceiling tiles. I was doing a survey and got up on a
ladder and moved some ceiling tiles around and as I tilted them, these
black and white what looked like "chips" cascaded to the floor. I
didn't get down from the ladder to examine them but proceeded to move
tiles and shine my light above the tiles. It was dirty but there were
these little piles of black and white "pieces" lying in piles all over
the tops of the tiles. As I looked closer the black pieces were rat
and mouse droppings but it didn't register what the white pieces were.
Not a sign of any activity though, so I kept shining my light around
and all over the tops of the tiles were these parallel ( about a 1/4
inch apart) what looked like small tubing running side by side from
one end of the room to the other and into the walls. Then when I
followed them to the electrical boxes, it finally dawned on me what I
was seeing. The rodents had chewed all the plastic insulation off all
the romex wires that were in the freekin building. I just couldn't
believe my eyes. What a fireworks display ....... had the power been
turned on.

 

[Jim]

You're getting old Frank.

Doug

When I was young, I always wondered why old men were so crochety.

Now I know .... seems so reasonable, now.