2A fused spur for alarm. Help please

[steve0161]

Hi, Im fitting an alarm to my house and am trying to work out how to get the power cable up to the loft where the panel will go. the only power cables up in the loft at the moment are from the lighting circuit, (i take it i cant use this ?). the closest ring main socket is in the back bedroom. can anyone give me some advice on how to come off this socket.

assuming i can use this socket i can quite easily get the cable up some conduit that takes the water up to the water tank in the loft. the distance between this socket and the panel will be around 8 metres, is that OK ?

What should i be looking for when i open the socket that it looks like i will have to use ? would it be better to take up the floor boards and fit a junction box before the wall socket and take the spur from their ?

what size cable should i be using for this ?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Adam_151]

I'd advise you to fit the FCU for the alarm on the lighting circuit, 1 or 1.5mm² T&E is what you need

If you want to use the socket ciruit, you should spur from a ring socket with 2.5mm² T&E to the fcu.

 

[steve0161]

Thanks for the reply, Ill use the lighting circuit if thats an option, (dont know why i thought i couldnt). whilst im here could anyone tell me if it OK to use a 3A fuse or should i buy a 2A as stated in the alarm instructions.

Thanks again

 

[Chris.J]

A 3A fuse is normal for an alarm FCU; note the panel itself will probably have a much smaller mains fuse.
Only problem in taking it off the lighting circuit is that when a bulb blows, it often takes out the 6A MCB, and if it's not noticed,no alarm after the battery runs out, and the external sounder self activates.
Replacing the MCB with a typc C greatly helps this, but opinions seem divided on the advisability of doing this, search the forum. u

 

[steve0161]

Thanks for that Chris, ill have a look. i'll probably still go off the lighting circuit as it will be much easier and neater, the lighting cable is less than a metre away from the panel, and can be easily hidden.

thanks for your help Adam. Im off to get it wired in before it gets dark.

 

[Adam_151]

If they advise a 2A fuse, then even though you might have to source it online specially, I'd fit it, otherwise if anything goes wrong, they'll just wiggle out of their warrenty

oh and 2A plug fuse (BS1362) , not just any 2A fuse of the right size

 

[breezer]

Technicaly speaking you cant put an alarm panel in the loft, UNLESS you put a detector in the loft looking at the panel, also being in the loft will make it a pain when it has a problem

 

[securespark]

If they advise a 2A fuse, then even though you might have to source it online specially, I'd fit it, otherwise if anything goes wrong, they'll just wiggle out of their warrenty

oh and 2A plug fuse (BS1362) , not just any 2A fuse of the right size

Exactomundo.

This happened to me with an ADE panel.

 

[steve0161]

I have a 2A fuse in a shaver plug adaptor its labelled 2A (BS1362). Can i use this ?

 

[Spark123]

If the phyically size is correct to put in a fused spur unit you can.

 

[bothyhead]

Technicaly speaking you cant put an alarm panel in the loft, UNLESS you put a detector in the loft looking at the panel

Why is this breezer? I'm curious because our alarm control unit is in the loft.

 

[breezer]

the theory is that some one can enter via the loft and do what ever they like to the main panel or its cables with out being detected.

I am not saying its likeley to happen in a house, but it has been known to happen in commercial premises, hence there should be a detector looking atthe panel.. also it does not comply with regs to have anyrthing outside the protected area

 

[Hacman]

Our local Edmundsons Electrical do standard plug top 2A fuses in packs of 10. Try them if you have one near

 

[securespark]

Breezer,

I have known this happen in an old terrace where loft was accessible from next door.

 

[bothyhead]

Breezer, would a tamper proof switch on the cover of the main panel not achieve the same thing, or does it have to be a PIR looking at it?