Alarm system wiring - Daisy chain

[GazDerby]

Hello

I’m a relatively new spark and have avoided installing wired security alarms instead opting for wireless systems for customers.

I have a rewire currently and the customer is wanting a wired system.

Am I right in thinking I can daisy chain the sensors and keypads?

They have a three floor house and want a keypad by the front door then one on the mid and top floor.

I’ve ran 1 cable from the alarm panel position to the mid and top floor in a daisy chain. I plan on running a separate to the front door position.

Additionally I was planning to run a separate daisy chains run for the PIRs and door contacts respectively.

I’ve ran individual cables from the front and back Sirens.

Is this the norm?

Any advice would be appreciated ?

 

[MJPD29]

Cable to every sensor unless you want them all on 1 zone which isn't a good idea. Keypad can ve daisy chained but again I run a cable to each one in case of any future damage. Personally I would run a cable to everything and separate each zone.

 

[Simon47]

It depends on the system, and they vary a lot.
The most basic systems cannot tell you which sensor on a zone has been triggered - so best to keep the zones small. But others are more intelligent, at each sensor you have a small IC that talks to the panel - so the panel can identify each sensor individually.
So before you start with any wiring at all, you need to design the system and work out what wiring is required for the system to work. If you are being asked "install some cabling" then your response should be "give me a spec and schedule so I can install what's needed".

 

[UNG]

The first thing to assess would be how many detectors and door contacts you are using in order to spec a control panel with sufficient zones / circuits

To wire a number a number of detectors / contacts on a single cable run you would need to use a control panel that can support "biscuit wiring", this is where each detector / contact is wired using an ID biscuit so it is uniquely identified on the control panel. With this method of wiring care has to be taken that the length of cable and load does not drop the voltage too much on the detectors alternatively doubling up of the cores carrying the power is an option to consider

 

[freddo]

Don't forget some systems recommend shielded twisted pair cable to connect key pads and zone expanders. Though for little systems and short cable runs you are probably fine. Avoid putting loads of devices on one zone, really there should be only one device per zone (or use an ID system as above) If you get an intermittent fault it can be a pain to find the fault. Looked at a fault recently on a zone that had 11 devices, not fun.