22/4 Wire purchase

[Monk]

I am considering 3 boxes of this 22/4 solid wire from this web site. If anyone has any alternate suggestions on the wire or supplier, please let me know.

http://www.deepsurplus.com/Network-Structu...-1000ft-White_3

Thanks!

 

[Neurorad]

I am considering 3 boxes of this 22/4 solid wire from this web site. If anyone has any alternate suggestions on the wire or supplier, please let me know.

http://www.deepsurplus.com/Network-Structu...-1000ft-White_3

Thanks!

For what will you use it, may I ask?

 

[Monk]

For what will you use it, may I ask?

Just regular alarm wire purpose - contacts / motion detectors / glass break sensors etc..

 

[AceCannon]

Monoprice has 1000ft of cat5e for $13 LESS than that 22/4. FYI.

 

[CORT]

Monoprice has 1000ft of cat5e for $13 LESS than that 22/4. FYI.

Rant on

Honestly the cost of even expensive wire is peanuts compared to the cost of labor (or the cost of your time) pulling and terminating wire.
I am not a fan of using Cat5 for motion sensors, contacts, etc. Cat5 is typically 24 ga (sometimes higher) which is smaller that the industry standard 18 ga or 22 ga. I know that you can double up Cat5 conductors to get effective lower ga, but this creates an extra step and an extra opportunity for error. Plus Cat5 is often solid core as opposed to stranded. My perception is that stranded wire will be less at risk for damage when the cable is bent tightly as in making connections to sensors. Until the industry adopts Cat5 as "best practice" for alarm installations, I think one is best staying with accepted practices. This is an alarm system. I think you want it to be as reliable as possible. To me, that means following the industry standards, and even seeking out high quality, easy to work with wire rather than the cheapest stuff available.

Rant off

 

[Monk]

Monoprice has 1000ft of cat5e for $13 LESS than that 22/4. FYI.

I am not a fan of using Cat5 for motion sensors, contacts, etc. Cat5 is typically 24 ga (sometimes higher) which is smaller that the industry standard 18 ga or 22 ga.

Thanks all - I went with the Deep Discount wire - Expensive but it will last me through this house. I think I was more looking for either a super deal - or negative comments regarding the particular vendor.
It would be nice to use CAT5 for everything but I prefer the smallest cable size possible as I often poke it thru some pretty small holes.

 

[AceCannon]

Rant on
<snip>. . .I am not a fan of using Cat5 for motion sensors, contacts, etc. Cat5 is typically 24 ga (sometimes higher) which is smaller that the industry standard 18 ga or 22 ga. I know that you can double up Cat5 conductors to get effective lower ga, but this creates an extra step and an extra opportunity for. . . <snip>
Rant off

Actually I was just mentioning the price of cat5e as a basis for comparison with what should (presumably) be less expensive (22/4).

Cheers.

 

[Neurorad]

Why is 4 conductor always used for security, when most of it (contacts) requires only 2 wire?

 

[Steve]

Why is 4 conductor always used for security, when most of it (contacts) requires only 2 wire?

It is not 'always' used. People that use 22/4 for the entire house do it either to have an extra pair just in case, or to save costs and use only 1 type of wire. Personally I use 22/2 for non powered contacts like doors and windows, and 22/4 for powered devices like PIR's and GB's.

 

[Neurorad]

Thanks, Steve.

My house came with only 4 conductor installed. That extra pair may come in handy.

 

[felixrosbergen]

My LV installter use 22/4 for eveything as well...just one less thing to possible mess up (i.e. run 22/2 to a motion which should have had 22/4 and now the drywall is up, unhappy customer, etc). The cost different is likely to be neglible and as said before if you do get a conductor break they may not all break at the same time and the extra pair can come in handy.

 

[Neurorad]

If someone has a moment, would you please tell me what gauge to use for distributed power (9V for a phone)?

Thanks.

Had a reel of 22-4 in my shopping cart on Sat. Thought I should make certain.

 

[Steve]

Really depends on current draw but as a general rule I like to use 18 ga just to be sure.