Wiring for future alarm system

[alexeix]

Hi,

House is currently being renovated and I have the opportunity to fit a wired alarm system.

I would like some advice on how to run the wiring (8 core).

Plan is to have contact sensors on front door, side door and bifold doors at rear.
Additionally, there will be PIRs in the hall, living room, kitchen and utility room, as well as one on the landing.

Also, one keypad and one speaker for a siren.
I don’t have the alarm yet.
Two zones I guess: one downstairs and one upstairs.

Do I need to wire all the downstairs sensors in series (daisy chained), and if so would that include the door sensors AND PIRs, or would those need to be separate?

Alternatively, would all sensors need to be wired independently?

If anyone can link to any good articles or videos, that would also be great.
Thanks!

 

[GalaxyGuy]

Select a suitable location for the control panel. Preferably not a boiler cupboard that will be warm and cause the backup battery to dry out faster. Wire each sensor with its own cable in a star formation back to the panel. Each sensor will have its own zone which can be programmed to any function and grouped into an 'area' or 'group' for night and day setting.

Many panels (like Honeywell Galaxy or Texecon Elite used in UK/Europe) have external zone expansion modules which can be placed closer to clusters of sensors, thus reducing the need for having long runs of multiple cables. The zone expansion modules only require a single bus and power connection, then they provide further zones in chunks of 8.

8 core for the external sounder and 8 or 6 for sensors is generally the norm. More importantly, is that you use quality copper intruder alarm cable and not copper clad aluminium.

Try to have PIR sensors facing into the room and not directly facing large glazed areas or above heaters/vents. This isn't as important these days as multi technology sensors are available to reduce nuisance false alarms, but it's best to locate at the best possible location while you can - without showing unsightly wires.

I'm sure there will be more advice from others to help you along too.

 

[GalaxyGuy]

You may want to sketch out your plan and post to get further advice based on your layout and intended sensor / device positioning.