Zone not Ready - Testing Window Leads

[marino454]

Hi all, 
 
I'm new here but I'm hoping someone will be able to help me out with an issue I'm having with my alarm system.  I recently insulated my attic and must have damaged one of the alarm system wires that runs to the magnetic contacts on my second floor windows as the zone is now no longer "ready".  The problem is, I can't visibly tell which of the wires I may have damaged.  My question is, is there an easy way to test each set of leads at each window, with a multimeter or something like that, to determine which wire was damaged in my attic? 
 
I appreciate any info.
 
Thanks,
 
Marino
 
 

 

[pete_c]

Welcome to the Cocoontech forum Marino. Nice to have you join us.
 

Is there an easy way to test each set of leads at each window, with a multimeter or something like that, to determine which wire was damaged in my attic?

 
Yes and no depending on what you think is an easy way.
 
A few years ago a friend asked me to look at why one audio zone didn't work in his home since the get go. 
 
First check was the cat5e (8 wires) cable to the control key pad.
 
The multimeter indicated no continuity from one end to the other.  This was good to find and bad to know.
 
The next piece was to check the wire with a toner. 
 
The wire started in one place in his home and traversed the attic to get to the end location (the audio control pad).
 
I made him climb the rafters in his attic as I didn't want to.  I was in the attic watching.
 
We traced the cable run and found the "break" in the attic. 
 
It was just some wooden beam which had been nailed over the wired sometime in the middle of construction guillotining the control wire.
 

I recently insulated my attic and must have damaged one of the alarm system wires that runs to the magnetic....

 
Happens sometimes.
 
Have a read here about using a cable tester (and toner).  Using this tool you can fix your issue. 
 
Note too that knowing the distance of where a break is (from one side or another) of a wire helps but doesn't replace a visual inspection. 
 
I had a door frame "settle" in my home tugging at a magnetic sensor which I installed "neatly" pulling the wires until they didn't work anymore.  The neat part was that I hide the sensor under the framing of the door and had to rip it all apart to get to it which was a PITA and time consuming.
 
cable tester
 
In a quickie recap. (note this is the way I would do it)
 
2  (two) wires are easier than 8  (eight) wires.
 
1 - disconnect both sides of the cable and check it end to end for continuity; if there is continuity then your wire is good and your wiring hardware or wiring might be an issue.
2 - flow chart methodology then if there is a break in continuity; find the break.
3 - fix the break or replace the entire wire; then reconnect it all.
 
Note 1,2 & 3 is easier written than doing it.  (it took me less than 30 seconds to write steps 1,2 & 3)

 

[marino454]

Thanks Pete. I'll try the continuity test and see if it yields any results.

 

[Del91574]

I'd go for voltage
 
The issue may actually be a short or ground and not a continuity issue at all, especially if EOLR's were installed and located propely.