Wiring for a new burglar alarm installation

wozzawozza · 7 Apr 2005

Hi all...

I've recently purchased a wired burglar alarm kit and am looking to save a couple of bob and install it myself. Wiring and installing the various sensors is not a problem, but I have a question regarding the mains supply to the control panel. The supplier included a surface mounted unswitched spur box (3A fuse) with the kit and everywhere I look recommends fitting this on a spur to the ring.

My questions is, eventually(!), what difference is there between fitting a 3A spur from the ring and fitting a standard 3A plug and plugging into a socket - other than the switch? Stupid question maybe, but a 3A spur box is effectively a hard wired plug, no?

Thanks in advance.

plugwash · 7 Apr 2005

pluging in an alarm as well as being untidy seems like its asking to get unplugged by mistake (resulting in either a noisey power failure notification if the alarm has battery backup or a dead alarm and possiblly an activated external bellbox if it doesn't)

wozzawozza · 7 Apr 2005

True... but if the plug is secure and doesn't get unplugged will it perform the same function as the spur option?

plugwash · 7 Apr 2005

yeah

one final thing though

using a plug implies using flex make sure you take steps to ensure that flex can't get yanked out of the panel

ban-all-sheds · 7 Apr 2005

Why are you so set against using the FCU?

wozzawozza · 7 Apr 2005

Nothing against it... just strikes me as much easier than hacking a wall to pieces to find the ring!

Anything else I should be aware of?

mapj1 · 7 Apr 2005

Could you not put FCU beside the socket you were goint to plug into, and put the flex or fixed wire in trunking It will look so much better than a semi-permanent plug.

wozzawozza · 7 Apr 2005

You mean connect the spur to an existing socket? Sounds like a fair compromise...

Does the spur length matter? I'm probably looking at around 4m from socket to control panel.

breezer · 7 Apr 2005

the reason you have a fcu, is to prevent anyone unplugging it, although it will have battery back up, a battery will not last for ever

mapj1 · 7 Apr 2005

a 4m long spur will be just fine. If the cable is buried in the wall it should follow an permitted route, or be suitably protected. If its surface, either clipped or trunking, then any route is fine. I'd imagine a 3A fuse and 1.5mm twin and earth or a 3 core 1.25mm flex would be appropriate, depending on the cable gripping arrangements.

alarm_guy · 7 Apr 2005

Can't you tap into the ring from under the floorboards?

wozzawozza · 7 Apr 2005

Could do but I want to make it minimum hassle

Surface mounted and trunked sounds the best bet.

Quick question regarding the sensors: I'm going to use one PIR per room on three rooms. Does this means one cable from the control panel to each PIR? If it makes a difference it's 6 core cable supplied and there is 6 terminals on each sensor:

Power +
Power -
Alarm C
Alarm NC
Two tamper terminals

(IntelliSense IS-215T)

breezer · 7 Apr 2005

depending on make of panel and its requirements.

But it would be the best way, also you should connect one detector per zone / circuit, if you dont, how will you know which one went off

diynot

If you need to find a tradesperson to get your job done, please try our local search below, or if you are doing it yourself you can find suppliers local to you.

Select the supplier or trade you require, enter your location to begin your search.

Are you a trade or supplier? You can create your listing free at DIYnot Local

Wiring for a new burglar alarm installation

breezer

breezer

Similar threads