Alarm cable at cu

[andyd55]

Hi all,

Have recently moved into a new build house which has been wired for alarm system throughout. however there is one alarm cable (6core) which is by the consumer unit, can anybody think what this is for or shed any light on why you would want a alarm cable in cu?

 

[Spoon]

Not knowing the layout of the house or where the CU is... Is it for the keypad?

 

[camerabloke]

Probably for an internal sounder

 

[BlueToBits]

Telephone monitoring?

 

[Darkwood]

Is it by the CU or in the CU ? Your question is ambiguous.

 

[telectrix]

could be that they've used the alarm cable to supply mains to the alarm. seen that before now. a whole estate of new builds.

 

[Tridentsystems]

Feed to a 12 v contactor for flood lights ? Cut it off if you don't want it

 

[DPG]

If 's new build then I would be asking the company that built them to find out. Daz

 

[Darkwood]

Either way if this cable is Band I and is run along or in containment with Band II cables it contravenes BS7671 and should be addressed.

 

[DPG]

I wouldn't be cutting it off. If nothing else there may be 12V feed connected to it and you may pop the fuse. Have a look in the alarm panel and see where it is connected to. May be to a spare zone and they forgot to route it to a sensor. Daz

 

[andyd55]

Thanks for quick replies.... It's quite a high spec modern well built house. The alarm is to be sited in a walk in cupboard opposite the kitchen. It has a FSU straight from the CU. There is 10 cables in total around the house. For the life of me I couldn't find the last one. Then today I noticed just below the CU where the doorbell transformer is there was another cable in the wall, this just so happened to be the last alarm cable! I had spoken to the builder reference the last cable, however the spark that wired this place is no longer around to ask, hence why it's taken me so long to find the last cable.

 

[DPG]

Ah, doorbell linked to alarm? Daz

 

[andyd55]

Ah, doorbell linked to alarm? Daz

In what way would that be used Daz?

 

[DPG]

Not sure, but I'm sure some alarms have some sort of doorbell feature. Tazz will know. Daz

 

[Darkwood]

In what way would that be used Daz?

Sometimes the burglar might ring the doorbell first?

As DPG says most panels now have a chime feature available and doesn't answer why a Band1 cable is in the consumer unit.

 

[DPG]

I don't think the cable is in the consumer unit is it? OP - can you clarify? I thought it was just near it. Daz

 

[andyd55]

It is literally right below it, the transformer for the doorbell is directly below the CU and the alarm cable comes out just next to it.

 

[Darkwood]

Sounds like the doorbell is wired in 6core probably used 2s sts of 3core twisted for the Selv side.

Was your last sentence in your post 1 that suggests the cable was in the CU even though you had said runs next to.

 

[telectrix]

Sounds like the doorbell is wired in 6core probably used 2s sts of 3core twisted for the Selv side.

Was your last sentence in your post 1 that suggests the cable was in the CU even though you had said runs next to.

think that's the most likely answer. why buy bell wire when you have alarm cable to hand.

 

[UNG]

The last new build I worked on the phone line entered the property adjacent to the mains if this is the same it could be provision for external comms on the alarm

 

[Flanders]

Thanks for quick replies.... It's quite a high spec modern well built house. The alarm is to be sited in a walk in cupboard opposite the kitchen. It has a FSU straight from the CU. There is 10 cables in total around the house. For the life of me I couldn't find the last one. Then today I noticed just below the CU where the doorbell transformer is there was another cable in the wall, this just so happened to be the last alarm cable! I had spoken to the builder reference the last cable, however the spark that wired this place is no longer around to ask, hence why it's taken me so long to find the last cable.

From my understanding of this you have identified all the cables. Have you belled them through to identify what cable goes where ? or are you guessing ? If the 6 core core cable by the CU comes from where the alarm panel is then I would say it for the internal sounder.
There should be a cable for every sensor or door contact , 1 for the outside bell 1 for the remote keypad and 1 for the internal sounder although the internal bell is sometimes mounted next to the alarm panel

 

[Flanders]

Not sure, but I'm sure some alarms have some sort of doorbell feature. Tazz will know. Daz

Some alarms have a final exit button that you press when setting the alarm , You put the code in leave the building then press the final exit button to set the system, A door bell push button is commonly used for this.

 

[Octopus]

Sounds to me as if this thread should be in the DIY section

 

[telectrix]

quite alarming, really.

 

[dan86]

quite alarming, really.

groan. sounds like summin specs would come out with!

 

[Paul.M]

If it is in a walk in cupboard, in the kitchen (I assume back of the house) it will be for (A) a remote key pad or (B) an extra PIR that may be needed in future after the new build is complete or (C) A panic room instead of a food cupboard!!!!! The choice is yours.

Bell out the 6 core and take it from there.

 

[Paul.M]

It code also be for a PA button but that all depends on the location etc etc.

 

[odawire]

Have a look at post #7, if its high spec and everything else is accounted for that's probably ur answer, quite impressive for the alarm guys to put it in for future proofing if it is

 

[tazz]

Read the posts fully.....but not seen a clear answer....is the 6 core in the cu or not....?
Seen a lot of doggy companies an diy`s use 6 core to supply 230 for the panel.

 

[andyd55]

No completely separate to the bell. The alarm cable is as yet not attached to anything. I was having a think about what it was intended and am thinking down the line of internal sounder?!

 

[andyd55]

6core runs behind consumer unit and comes out at a small hole at bottom just next to the bell transformer. (Which is wired up to the door bell) the 6core runs back to store/cupboard with all other alarm cables ready to be wired in. I was just trying to figure out what the previous spark had intended this to be for. Wer the alarm is to be situated he has left a fsu which goes back t&e to the cu.

 

[tazz]

Well the answer is take your pick from everyones guess, could and can be used for any addition you wish.....my guess, on first fix of cabling they were going to fit a smoke detector.....then the sparks fitted mains detectors...so the cable has been left

 

[andyd55]

From my understanding of this you have identified all the cables. Have you belled them through to identify what cable goes where ? or are you guessing ? If the 6 core core cable by the CU comes from where the alarm panel is then I would say it for the internal sounder.
There should be a cable for every sensor or door contact , 1 for the outside bell 1 for the remote keypad and 1 for the internal sounder although the internal bell is sometimes mounted next to the alarm panel

The previous spark marked all the cables up and I have buzzed through each just to check, however I was unable to locate two of them, eventually found them, one under a floor board in the loft and the other one right next to the consumer unit/door bell transformer in the utility room. I believe you are correct this was intended for internal sounder.

 

[tazz]

Would keep it, one day you might decide to add to the system

 

[UNG]

Have a look at post #7, if its high spec and everything else is accounted for that's probably ur answer, quite impressive for the alarm guys to put it in for future proofing if it is

Are you the guy that installed it declaring post #7 as correct

 

[odawire]

Are you the guy that installed it declaring post #7 as correct

no lol