Recommended Wire for Sensor Installation

[signal15]

I'm using 23AWG Cat-6 for everything. Not all Cat-6 is 23AWG, much of it is 24, so look for 23AWG when you buy it. It can handle over 1 amp if you do PoE over it, so I think it's sufficient for most things. The only thing I'm running thicker wire on is door strikes if I put those in.

Monoprice has 1000ft spools of the Cat-6 I'm using for $77 each. That's about 1/3 the price of anywhere else.

 

[Sandpiper]

Thanks so much, Sandpiper. You just saved me a bundle.

Does that apply to all cables? I don't have a copy of the NEC, at home ('pirate' draft soft copy of the NEC on work PC, that I found online).

I thought we were talking about fire alarm wiring. FPL is required for fire alarm wiring. Burglar alarm wire is required to be type CL2, and telephone and internet wire is required to be type CM.

As I mentioned before, most CL2 wire also carries a type CM rating. And CM is an acceptable substitite for type FPL. This seems strange to be but it is straight from the NEC. So the point of this is that if you use dual rated CM/CL2 wire, then you can use it for anything low voltage, including fire alarm wiring. However, the caveat is that many local jurisdictions have specific requirements that don't allow this.

 

[felixrosbergen]

. So the point of this is that if you use dual rated CM/CL2 wire, then you can use it for anything low voltage, including fire alarm wiring. However, the caveat is that many local jurisdictions have specific requirements that don't allow this.

Is this because of the color issue?

 

[Sandpiper]

. So the point of this is that if you use dual rated CM/CL2 wire, then you can use it for anything low voltage, including fire alarm wiring. However, the caveat is that many local jurisdictions have specific requirements that don't allow this.

Is this because of the color issue?

I could not even guess as to why local jurisdictions have the requirements they have. That is similar to asking why the interstate speed limit varies from state to state and town to town. I don't know that either. Sorry.