Fitting an isolator between meter and consumer unit.

[ebee]

Instead of the now usual 6 core cable linking the panel to the keypad, this early system needed a 12 core.

Well I started out with 4 core alarm cable, the old traditional wiring for contacts and mats then progressed to 6 cores for those new fangled Racal 772 PIR detectors needing a +ve and -ve supply.
8 core was handy to allow an extra zone on the same cable run.
12 core enable one cable run to a junction to be split off locally.
There was a 20 core available but I never used that size.
Mostly 4s and 6s with a few 8s did me but I did use the 12s a couple of times.
The ID biscuit help change things later on.
My favourite though became the Gardtech EOL resistor and zone resistor methods etc.

Ihave recently looked to see if the old Optima or logic 4 cheapos are available to replace old power supplies/signalling from my shed and feed electric strike mortice locks with battery back up for my shed.
They seem to be obselete (and I noted the prices and comparisons of alarm cables has changed significantly too).

 

[securespark]

I fitted that when we moved in here in 1990. Never given me any trouble apart from changing the battery 2 or 3 times! I have 4 x 4 cores going to the keypad.

I think the Concept was a model they were learning on WRT the keypad connection. You say yours had 16 cores, mine had 12.

But the instructions for this one has 4 cores, which is odd because as I understand it, latter day systems use 6: 2 for power, 2 for comms and 2 for tamper.

 

[SUNRAY]

https://stex24.com/37007-helu-kabel-h07rn-f-1x25-mmqm-single-core-rubber-tube-line-ad-12.7-mm15.8-mm-105682?

Oh for double-insulated/insulated-and-sheathed tri-rated...

Flexible double insulated singles are available, including rubber which is more flexible than tri-rated. I cleared some stock out quite recently.

[ As has ben pointed out, theoretically 'insulated and sheathed' (although I'm sure you would struggle to find a sheath which did not 'insulate'!) ]
.... but isn't that exactly what morq implied?

I interpreted the

... Oh for ...

As: 'I wish' there is.
Rather than: There is.

 

[SUNRAY]

Well I started out with 4 core alarm cable, the old traditional wiring for contacts and mats then progressed to 6 cores for those new fangled Racal 772 PIR detectors needing a +ve and -ve supply.
8 core was handy to allow an extra zone on the same cable run.
12 core enable one cable run to a junction to be split off locally.
There was a 20 core available but I never used that size.
Mostly 4s and 6s with a few 8s did me but I did use the 12s a couple of times.
The ID biscuit help change things later on.
My favourite though became the Gardtech EOL resistor and zone resistor methods etc.

Ihave recently looked to see if the old Optima or logic 4 cheapos are available to replace old power supplies/signalling from my shed and feed electric strike mortice locks with battery back up for my shed.
They seem to be obselete (and I noted the prices and comparisons of alarm cables has changed significantly too).

Oh my goodness: My first alarm panel of about the same era used 3 wires for: +, -, combined alarm & tamper and the cable which came as part of the kit was the early grey coloured telephone 3 core (Blue, orange, green).
Again sorting out recently I disposed of the whole system which I decommissioned in 1992 and had been living in a box ever since.