Which of these 4 choices would you use for contact wiring?

ahreno

Member
I need to run my wire for contacts / motion / glass break sensors in the next day or two. I had decided on 22/2 with double runs for things that need power... however I am unable to find it in town (besides shielded). So i basically have the following choices. WHich would YOU choose? Thanks in advance!

20/3 @ $0.14/ft
2 pair phone @ $0.08/ft
22/2 (shielded) @ $85/500ft
18/2 (unshielded) @ $0.10/ft
 
Did you try a local electric supply distributor? I called mine today to see if they had 22/4 in stock - plenty, with my joice of jacket color. 500' for $50. They open at 6:30A, and close to work.

Do a local google maps search for "electric supply".
 
20/3 @ $0.14/ft
2 pair phone @ $0.08/ft
22/2 (shielded) @ $85/500ft ($0.17/ft)
18/2 (unshielded) @ $0.10/ft
What is this "phone" wire? The old round beige 4 conductor stuff (I always heard it called JK wire)? Or is it Cat3 wire? Cat3 is 8 conductor stuff that was popular for phone use for a while.

The 18/2 is tempting, but if you have a lot of wire to run, it gets bulky in a hurry compared to 22/2.
 
I'll try a few more electric suppliers... I was trying to avoid 22/4 since i only really need 22/2... i only have a few sensors that need 22/4 so i was just going to double run.
 
Use 22/4 and forget about it. You never know when you might need an extra pair.


22x4 1000' $81.49 no smaller spool is available. ;)

so i guess that make my choice simple. its too bad cause i really only have about 10 windows and 4 doors to do... i'm sure i'll find another use for it...
 
You will not like doing and managing double runs. You will be much happier with 22/4. As long as you are just wanting to use 1 wire type I would agree that the 22/4 everywhere is the best choice. With 14 openings, depending on the size of the house, you can easily chew up 500' anyway.
 
The only stuff in town that i could find is the beldin 5502ue.

It's unshielded 22/4. is there a reason i'd need shielded?
 
Just thought I should point out that 1000ft boxes of cat5e from Monprice are $49.90 (about $0.05/ft). Yes, 8 conductors. Might get bulky.

But, I used this for some motion detectors and plan to use the other 4 conductors for other purposes at the same locations. The wire isn't that bulky, and faced with the costs some are citing here for 22/4 etc, I would have opted for this cat5e instead. My LV guys used their own 22/4 for most of the alarm contacts and they claim it was less than the Monoprice cat5e.
 
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