Pre-wire question

[Guest martinpalmer8]

I wish to install alarm cable while my home is being renovated, prior to any hardware being installed. I have not purchased or selected any hardware yet.

Two questions:

1. What is the optimum height for a dual tech sensor above floor level? (Room is 3.2m high)

2. I intend to connect two keypads to a security control panel. Two of the panels I've looked at (Texecom Premier, Ademco Galaxy) seem to require a four-core cable to each keypad. Should I run more cores just in case or is 4-core the norm?

Answers to the above will help me to run the right cable to the right positions.

Thanks

[bellman]

I wish to install alarm cable while my home is being renovated, prior to any hardware being installed. I have not purchased or selected any hardware yet.

Two questions:

1. What is the optimum height for a dual tech sensor above floor level? (Room is 3.2m high)

That will vary according to manufacturer and will be specified in the installation instructions.

2. I intend to connect two keypads to a security control panel. Two of the panels I've looked at (Texecom Premier, Ademco Galaxy) seem to require a four-core cable to each keypad. Should I run more cores just in case or is 4-core the norm?

Answers to the above will help me to run the right cable to the right positions.

Thanks

69107[/snapback]

4 cores is the norm but some panels like the galaxy require the use of screened cable specificly Belden 8723 or equivalent.

Hope this helps

Regards

Bellman

[hastings]

Hi there,

It would be wise to decide on the control panel and detection devices before you cable the house.

Whichever dual tecs you end up using will have suggested mounting heights written in the installation guide that comes in the box, usually about 2.3 m but check first.

Some types of control panel do require specific cables for keypads and expansion devices, decide which control panel you need and check the wiring diagrams before cabling.

It never hurts to run an 8 core cable if you only need 4 or 6 cores, especially if there will be building works between 1st and 2nd fix stages. Spare cores can be useful if the cable gets damaged somewhere.

Remember to keep the alarm cables away from mains cables and hot water pipes and you should be fine.

Good luck.

[Guest MSI New York]

Never run just enough wire. Always, always run spare wires. Running just enough wires is begging for something to go wrong with it.

The alarm gods are not mocked.

[secboy]

Hi!Martin here are my thoughts on your questions;

1.The mounting height as stated by others is included in the manufacturers spec but if you visited 100 domestic installs apart from old georgeon(how is that spelt?)with very high ceilings you will find that 95 of them are fitted directly under the ceiling or coving to take them out of eye line and just make them look better for the room,many have a shaped back so that you can angle the detector down slightly, some one will probably say thats wrong but I prefere to live in the real world than pretend to live in one where everyone does everything perfect with no regard to asthetics(sounds right looks wrong !wheres my dictionary?).

2.As has been said there are some detectors that required Belden cable (screened)but they are in the minority but make sure you check!.

3.I always run 8 core cable to everything even if I only needed a single pair and when you wire something up dont cut off the spares so that they are unusable.

4.Be sure you know what system of wiring the panel you use requires;

Standard 2 x pair means each multicore should run from the device to the control panel,

End of line is as above but resisters are used at the device end,

The last method ID uses a data "biscuit" in each device and is wired in a daisey chain fashion from one to another device.

5.Watch out for panels which state 8zones but which have two zones on the keypad,you will have to run device cables to the keypad from each device.

6.As mentioned before keep cables away from mains at all times(at least 100mm)and if you have to cross mains do so at 90 degrees.

7.Some of the domestic scantronic panels used to put very helpfull system design info in the manuals and system wiring diagrammes if you find a helpfull supplier it may be worth asking about!.

Hope that these opinions have been a help,as you can see from the replies already if there is anything your not sure of as you progress just post again,

Paul.

[Guest martinpalmer8]

Thanks, guys, that was useful advice. I appreciate your time.