Four Ways 4-conductor Wiring Will Bail Out Your Hide

When writing about alarm wiring I always distinguish between burglar alarms as opposed to home automation systems which also have a UL approved security regulating device. Regardless of the electrical components involved, alarm wiring will always have a important role. Many security installers will contend that alarm wire will often be a 22-gauge, two-conductor cable. And most installers will go on to suggest the use of stranded cable rather than 22-gauge solid copper wire as installed in a Cat-5 cable.

Watch Out For Drywall Screws

The trim-out phase doesn't usually come along for months after the initial rough-in pulling of the cable to each safety zone. In the meantime, the drywall crew will come along installing their drywall and at the same time knock thousands of screws or nails into the framing studs. The reason for the advice to use stranded cable is that should a drywall screw somehow come in contact with the solid copper wire, the screw will likely break the wire leading to a loss of all conductivity. Whereas when a screw touches a stranded wire, with any luck at all some of the strands of wire will survive thus maintaining conductivity between the zone contact and the security controller.

Advice Will Save Your Project

All that is needed for normally open or closed contacts used in doors and windows is a two conductor wire. However, I have a suggestion to all would-be installers. It is a method which has saved my bacon many times over the years. Iinvariably run a four-conductor wire connecting each door, window, motion detector, glass break sensor, photoelectric beam, and any other component being installed as part of an overall home automation or burglar alarm system.

All motion detectors, smoke detectors, glass breaks, etc., invariably use two wires for 12Vdc power as well as two wires for normally open or closed contacts. Why not just procure one type of cable to service both the devices requiring power and standard door and window contacts? The contrast between the cost of a box of 2-condcutor vs. a box of 4-conductor is small. In addition, the fact that one only needs to acquire and stock one type of cable pays off a big earning. Yet the savings in labor is boundless, especially when one contemplates the effort it takes to correct a damaged 2-conductor wire.

Do the Smart Thing

Do the smart thing, use the green and white wires for window and door contacts, leaving the extra red and black pair in reserve at each locality. That way when it occurs that conductivity has been lost on the green and white pair, one or both of the red and black wires can be used to accomplish the zone connection. That beats the alternatives of having to procure and install a wireless mechanism at the lost door or window or losing the zone all together from your burglar alarm system.

Four Conductor Security Wire is the Nexus

Your choice of security alarm wiring is the solution to any victorius installation whether you are installing a UL approved security system or a home automation system, which also provides a UL approved security regulating device. The foremost course of action is to install a stranded, 4-conductor security wire. You will only have to purchase one type of wire if you invariably install a 4-conductor wire. By doing as I put forword there will be conductors for backup at each of your doors and windows as well as power conductors for all your powered devices. On the day you discover that one of your green or white conductors has been damaged you'll be very happy you ran the extra conductors.