Elk Wiring Questions - Newbie

[Niccolo]

I am installing an Elk M 1 Gold system and need some help on the basic wiring -- emphasis on basic. Pardon the rudimentary nature of these questions, as I am new at this sort of thing.[/colo

1. I am using the M1XRF2G wireless receiver. I see that I need to run Cat 5 or 6 from the control unit bus to the keypad bus, and then another run to the wireless receiver. My question is about how these wires meet at the key pad bus. Do I attach the wires from both runs to the same key pad connector?

2. What should I use to make the connection from the transformer to the control panel?

Thanks

 

[gatchel]

1. Check the Elk manual on pages 7 - 9 for keypad wiring and termination instructions:

http://www.elkproducts.com/pdf/M1_Installa...ming_Manual.pdf

2. I used a 16-2 stranded cable. You can use pretty much whatever you want as long as it can handle the load of the panel. The elk manual says 18 AWG minimum on page 6.

Pretty much everything you need to know about wiring the panel is available in the manual. I read it several times before attempting to install the M1. It made things much easier.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

[AceCannon]

I strongly agree. Read the manual first. If you are not pretty confident you can do it after reading the manual, consider having someone else do the install.

 

[Niccolo]

Thanks for the push. I see it now.

One question on the wireless connection. The receiver instructions say it connects to the keypad. However the control instructions show an auxilliary data bus for wireless labeled J3. Is J3 what I should be using or is that where the jumper goes?

Thanks.

 

[Niccolo]

Thanks for the push. I see it now.

One question on the wireless connection. The wireless instructions say it connect to the key pad data bus. However, the control instructions show an auxilliary data bus for wireless marked J3. Should I be using J3 or can ot go either way?

Thanks.

 

[Niccolo]

1. Check the Elk manual on pages 7 - 9 for keypad wiring and termination instructions:

http://www.elkproducts.com/pdf/M1_Installa...ming_Manual.pdf

2. I used a 16-2 stranded cable. You can use pretty much whatever you want as long as it can handle the load of the panel. The elk manual says 18 AWG minimum on page 6.

Pretty much everything you need to know about wiring the panel is available in the manual. I read it several times before attempting to install the M1. It made things much easier.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

Thanks for the push. I see it now.

One question on the wireless connection. The wireless manual says it connects to the key pad data bus. However, the control manual shows an auxilliary data bus for wireless labeled J3. Should I be using the key pad, J3, or can it go either way?

Thanks.

 

[Steve]

Posting the same question 3 times isn't going to get you an answer any faster

It depends on what wireless receiver you have. Look at the note in the manual, only a few GE receivers can attach to J3. If its the Elk receiver then it goes on the data bus. I'm guessing you have the Elk M1RF2G and in that case it goes on the bus just the the wireless manual shows.

 

[Niccolo]

Posting the same question 3 times isn't going to get you an answer any faster

It depends on what wireless receiver you have. Look at the note in the manual, only a few GE receivers can attach to J3. If its the Elk receiver then it goes on the data bus. I'm guessing you have the Elk M1RF2G and in that case it goes on the bus just the the wireless manual shows.

Sorry about the multiple postings -- didn't realize I was sending it more than once until it was too late.

Thanks for the response -- I have the M1XRF2G, so it would be the key pad bus connection.

 

[Neurorad]

Brings up a question I've had.

OK to attach 2 wires or more to a screw-down terminal? Or would a jumpered terminal strip/connection block or wire nuts (or that other 3-connection terminal block) be ideal?

This is never really addressed in the Elk manuals. I guess it's mostly personal preference.

 

[Steve]

Electrically its all the same. If you put multiple wires into a connector, like the Phoenix connector just be sure they all are tight and make good contact. But a terminal block of some sort makes it easier, cleaner and easier to troubleshoot or work on if needed.

 

[Digger]

This was an issue that UL just addressed as far as how many wires to a terminal block. In "Commercial Fire" all new equipment is restricted to one wire per terminal unless UL specifically tests the terminal block. Eventually (it will be several years) they will carry that over to all Security and Signaling (Burg and Fire) categories.

Apparently there were some instances in the field that made them address that concern. I dont know any specifics though.