Alarm connections

[Eggy]

Just installed my 1st panel (in my own place)!!

 

All seems to have gone ok but I'm wondering what to use for the "loop" connections between tamper wires.

 

I've got 8 zones to link and "choc block" (aka terminal strip) seems a bit excessive.

 

What have you used?

[stuart_mcg]

When fitting lower end panels that combine all zone tampers in a single circuit, I always used

a terminal strip. I also soldered each pair of wires in the loop to ensure a good connection (probably

excessive) and then mounted the terminal strip somewhere sensible/accessible in the panel enclosure.

 

If you do this, then if you get an open trigger on the tamper loop, you can quickly narrow down the

cause with a voltmeter.

 

Adding a label detailing each pair can also make fault finding much easier if you need to look at it a

couple of years later.

 

Cheers.

[Eggy]

When fitting lower end panels that combine all zone tampers in a single circuit

 

Are there many panels available that can take 12 different zones inc tampers and door contacts?

[stuart_mcg]

Yes, of course. If you look at panels like the Honeywell Galaxy range, you'll see that the panels have a number of zones that can be expanded using expansion modules (the panel number details the max number of zone circuits, but the panel itself already has a qty availabl). The zone circuits combine tamper and other detection features by using a balanced circuit on two wires. Basically what this means is that the circuits are terminated with resistors that allow different voltage levels for different situations. That way a zone trigger can be distinguished from a tamper, an anti-mask, zone short circuit or a zone open circuit. This cuts down the number of wire cores required to go to a sensor. Best practice is still to fit six core though! Hope this provides an insight...