Wiring two bellboxes

[CR Alarms]

Hi all, apologies if this is security sensitive question but what is the absolute correct way of wiring two external sounders? The common method seems to be using the tamper return from the first unit and using that to supply the second unit, however on some posts this wiring method seems to have caused problems for some panels and Sounders, such as causing a bell tamper on a bell tests due voltage rising on the tamper return, is there any truth behind this? Has the above wiring method ever caused problems for anyone here for whatever panel and sounders you use?

I wired two sounders to my system about 3 years ago, the system i have is a scantronic 9600 and the sounders were klaxon flashguard xl's in fact, they were the newer version not the very old flashguard with the single sounder.

Both work fine one is on sab (front) and the back is on scb. I did listen in the end to six wheeled beast, and tbh the volume difference between sab and scb was so minimal it was hardly worth the fuss.

However at the time i was and still am skeptical of wiring these sounders using the tamper return from one to supply the other (the traditional way) due to the problems it may cause.

The way i wired my sounders up to the panel was the hold off positive,negative and the bell and strobe triggers in parallel, then the tamper return from the front unit to the tamper return in the panel, and the second unit i ended up putting its tamper return in a spare zone tamper input and programmed that zone as "rear sounder"

As usual my  post is rambling on, all i would would like to know is the best and most efficient way of wiring two bellboxes correctly? I imagine a lot of you here have used many different panels and sounders over the years so from your own experiences has wiring two bellboxes using the traditional method, tamper return to supply the other ever caused any issues? If so how did you get round it? 

Thanks 

[sixwheeledbeast]

I vaguely recall your original post and it all still applies, pretty sure I covered all the pros and cons in some detail.

It can depend on the bellbox, but if it has no special multiple box connections then you would just series them. I don't see where you feel it would be an issue.

Wiring a bell to a zone would normally require you to have tamper lead you can separate from the PCB for it to operate correctly, this removes some of the self activating feature of the bell.

 

If it where a new installation now with Texe I'd just use an expander input for additional bell tampers keeping them separate, but everyone's kits different as above.

[CR Alarms]

Hi, i should of at the time have asked about the tampers, the reason this question has come to light is i will be adding another zone to the system, and all 8 zones are currently used, rather than trying to find an expansion i was thinking of freeing up the zone that Is currently in use for the second bell, and was going to wire the sounders in series tamper from the first to supply the other, but as there as conflicting information and i haven't done enough of this so i wanted to make sure that this method will work. The sounders i have are klaxon xl but as they are both newer versions they could be made by texecom. I would send a picture if i could.

Thanks 

[CR Alarms]

As im not sure about pictures i will just give you the sounder pcb setup connections and jumper links

Terminals

Trigger+

Strobe+

Trigger-

Strobe-

Supply+

Supply-

Tamper return 

Tamper series

Microswitch b (this has a factory link)

Microswitch a this is connected to the lid/wall tamper switch.

 

Jumper links 

Battery on/off

Sab/Scb

Tamper mode on/off

Tone, fast slow

Hopefully you can recognise this sounder.

Thanks 

[al-yeti]

Rewire or get an expander

[CR Alarms]

There you are i managed to upload a few photos, these are the sounders i have exact same pcb, the picture taken is from a spare unit i have but what you see in the pictures is exactly the units i have. Would it be okay to use the tamper return from my front sounder to supply my second sounder at the back with this particular sounder?

Thanks 

[CR Alarms]

7 minutes ago, al-yeti said:

Rewire or get an expander

What do you mean exactly? Both sounders have their own 6 core going back to the panel, is what i have done wrong or unnecessary? If so for the Sounders i have and shown, is it okay to series the tamper? Thanks 

[CR Alarms]

Hi just to clear up any confusion, here is how the sounders are wired to the panel, the front unit goes into tr, the  green wire going to at8 on zone 8 is the tamper return from the second unit, is what i have done correct, or is the correct way to series the tamper?

Thanks

 

Edited March 22, 2020 by sixwheeledbeast
Removed image as requested

[sixwheeledbeast]

The panel is so old you have no option but to series the bell tampers, which is how it should have been in the first place IMO.

Be surprised if the tamper on the one in zone 8 works correctly

No idea what all the Tamper mode or link settings do never used the Klaxon, you may find that in the instructions it tells you how to wire for two bells using the Tamper mode using another method.

 

If you doing it the old school way like we spoke about I would believe you need to.

First Bell would have TR to TR and the TS back on the spare core, join in the panel to Second Bell feeding the TR and then TS gets your neg loop from bell or panel whichever.

That way no matter which bell you open you will get a tamper at the controls and they will self activate.

[CR Alarms]

Morning, the bell tamper from the second unit works fine on zone 8 i made sure at the time it was connected to the tamper input side on the zone and not negative feed side. Tbh i think i will just leave it be and buy the 9-12zone expansion card, you know what they say if it ain't broke don't fix, i appreciate all your help and advice and for security reasons i will be removing the pictures.

Farewell