Upcoming Keypads Prewire
- Thread starter toymaster458
- Start date
PDF for 18/4 FPL cable
A picture and more info
You should be able to get it at most of the regular places (Worthington, Smarthome, ASIHome, etc). I'm sure if you give Martin a call, he either has it, or can get it. You can also get it at Home Depot or Lowes. Look for 18/4 wire, type FPL (or FPLR or FPLP). Anyone in the electrical department who has a clue (yes, I know that can be a problem :blink: ) should be able to find it for you.
Oh yes, it's bright red.
A picture and more info
You should be able to get it at most of the regular places (Worthington, Smarthome, ASIHome, etc). I'm sure if you give Martin a call, he either has it, or can get it. You can also get it at Home Depot or Lowes. Look for 18/4 wire, type FPL (or FPLR or FPLP). Anyone in the electrical department who has a clue (yes, I know that can be a problem :blink: ) should be able to find it for you.
Oh yes, it's bright red.
Thanks by the way.
I won't relay my experience with Home Depot... lets just say I'll be ordering online.
Tying firewire and keypads: Is there a firewire like equivalent of cat5/6? Or are two cables pulled typically (noting these are not twisted pair)?
I saw reference to using firewire for keypads, but just haven't seen more than four conductors so far.
And one other question: If using two wire smokes, is there a good reason to run 4 conductor versus 2 conductor (firewire will not be reused most likely, and a conversion from 2 wire smokes to 4 wire smokes seems unlikely, only benefit is if a conductor was damaged, which if so, what are the chances the others are no)?
I won't relay my experience with Home Depot... lets just say I'll be ordering online.
Tying firewire and keypads: Is there a firewire like equivalent of cat5/6? Or are two cables pulled typically (noting these are not twisted pair)?
I saw reference to using firewire for keypads, but just haven't seen more than four conductors so far.
And one other question: If using two wire smokes, is there a good reason to run 4 conductor versus 2 conductor (firewire will not be reused most likely, and a conversion from 2 wire smokes to 4 wire smokes seems unlikely, only benefit is if a conductor was damaged, which if so, what are the chances the others are no)?
You can get firewire with multiple conductors, but it would probably be special order. A lot of the big distributors have drop-ship agreements with the manufacturers, so the cable comes straight from the factory. Elk recommends cat6 for the keypad, so I would go with their recommendation and forget the firewire for the keypads.
For the smokes, power, and horn, stay with the firewire. It's been ages since I priced 2 conductor firewire, so I don't know how much difference there is between 2 and 4, but if the difference is not to great, go with the four. As you mention, you can always use the extra conductors in a pinch. It's like station wire used for wiring contacts. Contacts only need 2 conductors, but the difference in price between 2 and 4 is so insignificant, it's easier to just use 4 for everything.
For the smokes, power, and horn, stay with the firewire. It's been ages since I priced 2 conductor firewire, so I don't know how much difference there is between 2 and 4, but if the difference is not to great, go with the four. As you mention, you can always use the extra conductors in a pinch. It's like station wire used for wiring contacts. Contacts only need 2 conductors, but the difference in price between 2 and 4 is so insignificant, it's easier to just use 4 for everything.
toymaster458
Active Member
Any new updates or time frames on the new keypads and or touchscreens?
