Terminating security sensors on 66 blocks

[AceCannon]

My tentative plan is to terminate all my sensors on 66 blocks instead of directly on the Elk panel and/or M1XIN expanders. It just seems like it will be more flexible given that I will likely be changing the placement of things around a bunch. I am a tinkerer. I realize that the increased # of physical connections theoretically introduces more entropy, but I think it will overall be easier to troubleshoot (take a meter to 66 block terminals, etc).

Since all the COM leads are the same, does anyone have advice for this? I could simply twist them all together, but that sounds messy. I was thinking I could punch down both wires for each sensor, then connect the COM leads with a length of wire between all the COM terminals without using the cutting blade on the punchdown tool.

Maybe there is a better way. . .?

 

[Marc Evans]

DON'T do it. Closed circuits won't take it kindly.

 

[electron]

I use 66 blocks as well for all my sensor wiring, and that's exactly what I did with some of my sensors. Not sure if it's the right way of doing things, but it sure seemed to be the easiest method at the time.

 

[Marc Evans]

I use 66 blocks as well for all my sensor wiring, and that's exactly what I did with some of my sensors. Not sure if it's the right way of doing things, but it sure seemed to be the easiest method at the time.

How long has it been in service? Have you had an increase in zone resistance? What's the humidity level at the 66 block? I would be surprised if you didn't have problems within a few years.

 

[electron]

I should probably mention that I haven't done this for security wiring, I used this method to connect a bunch of dry contacts together for home automation purposes. Have had the setup for almost 2 years, in a very dry basement.

 

[Sacedog]

I punched down all of my contacts (both security and automation) on 66 blocks. Granted, I live in a very low humidity climate, and the blocks are in a closet in an air conditioned house.

 

[AceCannon]

How long has it been in service? Have you had an increase in zone resistance? What's the humidity level at the 66 block? I would be surprised if you didn't have problems within a few years.

Why is this situation different from the 66 blocks the telco's have been using for so long?

 

[dutchyn]

How long has [66 blocks] been in service? Have you had an increase in zone resistance? What's the humidity level at the 66 block? I would be surprised if you didn't have problems within a few years.

That's troubling to me as well: as far as I can see, the punchdowns for the Leviton cat5e/cat6 and Onq AC1000/1005/1010/1012 network connections are 110 blocks, you use the same tool as the 66 blocks for punchdown. I don't want my intercom, my network, my CCTV, my telephone, and almost everything else to stop working because the connect technology is unreliable.

In another life, I installed serial terminals for minicomputers, and telephony systems. That was a couple of decades ago, and the technology was punch-down 66/110/bix blocks. Are phone systems failing regularly because of this?

 

[Sacedog]

There is nothing different about using 66 blocks for security contacts. You're right, telcos have been using these forever (and I have installed my fair share of them). I have seen 66 blocks installed in very humid environments, with multiple T1 circuits punched down to them, without any problems.

reeltoreel, what are you basing your statements on regarding reliability after a few years of service? I have a few 66 blocks in our current office that have been installed for 9 years, with numerous T1s on each, and have never experienced any sort of issue with the wiring.

 

[PaulD]

I set my security up with 66 punchdown blocks but my security wire was stranded and the punchdowns were less secure than I liked. 66 punchdown is really designed for solid wire and I had to work hard to get my stranded 22ga wire to punchdown in a reasonable manner. They all worked OK after punchdown but I was concerned about long term problems. As a result, I changed all mine to blocks with a screw down.
Like you, I wanted to bring all my runs to a single point that would be permanetly fixed and then have the flexability to move stuff around later without disturbing the permanent wiring.

 

[Lagerhead]

. . . telcos have been using these forever (and I have installed my fair share of them). . .

Ditto. I have used them for many years in various applications, with different wire types, signal- and current-carrying, all without problem.

 

[TCassio]

I have been in the telephone industry for 30 years and can say without a doubt that there is nothing wrong with using 66 blocks. I can't see security equipment being more sensitive that a T1 circuit or Ethernet. If your worried, they make cat5e certified 66 blocks. Please keep in mind that the 66 blocks were designed to be used with solid core wire, and from 22 to 26 gauge wire. If you use stranded wire, you may get it to work but you will have problems down the road without question. Humidity should not be a problem, but water will cause some corrosion and connectors may fail. I seen systems setup in the dampest and darkest basements for 20 years without problems.

HTH.
T

 

[Marc Evans]

There is nothing different about using 66 blocks for security contacts. You're right, telcos have been using these forever (and I have installed my fair share of them). I have seen 66 blocks installed in very humid environments, with multiple T1 circuits punched down to them, without any problems.

reeltoreel, what are you basing your statements on regarding reliability after a few years of service? I have a few 66 blocks in our current office that have been installed for 9 years, with numerous T1s on each, and have never experienced any sort of issue with the wiring.

66 blocks were never intended to be used with CLOSED LOOP burg circuits. All other circuits are fine. Closed loop splices/connections must be SOLID ( screw term, BB's, solder) and sometimes these methods can fail. WHY would anyone WANT to put burg loops on a 66?? All loops should be in a panel, labeled and secure behind a locked door. In 30 years installing alarms I have NEVER seen or heard of any dealer using 66 for BURG. Why even introduce the possibility of a swinger by using 66. Maybe I'm missing something? Again.... this only applies to burg loops.

 

[beelzerob]

All my security wire is stranded, so I bought a buttload of fork connectors and screw terminals and had at it. *shrug* works for me.

 

[AceCannon]

All my security wire is stranded, so I bought a buttload of fork connectors and screw terminals and had at it. *shrug* works for me.

Hm yes the stranded issue bothers me. I will have to check what type of wire the LV guys used, but I would not be surprised if the 22/4 is stranded. It looks quite malleable. I am not inclined to try to punch down stranded 22ga wire to the 66 block for durability reasons. I don't feel so strongly about the closed loop issue (for better or worse).

Beelzerob, how did you address the negative (common) conductors for your sensors? Any link to pics?