Details of Alarm Cable

Alarm cable is a type of shielded/unshielded cable used to connect up security systems. The sheath provides protection against frequency interference, which could otherwise cause false alarms to occur.

How do Alarm cables work?

Alarm cables consist of a number of strands of wire, all contained within a protective sheath. They connect the alarm device to a power supply, making the alarm sound when the device is triggered. If a sensor is inbuilt, movement is detected by the cable and a signal is sent to sound the alarm. Alarm cables can sometimes be embedded into the ground or into walls to detect intruders.

Types of Alarm cable
Alarm cables are all constructed in a similar way, but they can differ in terms of their size, in both length and diameter, and the materials they are made from. The sheath material can make a difference to their minimum and maximum operating temperatures. They can also have varying numbers of cores and strands within the cable.

Alarm Cable – Choosing the Right Wire
As security camera systems are becoming more affordable than ever before, maybe you’ve decided to take matters into your own hands and want to turn your house into an impenetrable fortress. But before you start searching for autonomous killer sentry robots, you need to decide on one crucial thing: the type of security wire that you are going to use.

This wire, also known as burglar alarm wire or security cable, is used to wire various components, such as passive door sensors and motion detectors to your alarm panel. The most used security wires are 22 AWG and 18 AWG. Both are available in 2, 4, and sometimes even 6-conductor configurations to accommodate for a variety of security components.

Why Not Use Cat5e ethernet Cable instead of Alarm Cable?

Given how widespread computers and sophisticated home-networking solutions have become, it’s no wonder that many people are considering using Cat5e ethernet cable for all their home security needs. This approach is, indeed, possible, but it’s important to be aware of all downsides that come with it.

Cat5e ethernet cable has more wire strands than what all security components require. This increases the cost and makes the installation look very messy. Future repairs and upgrades will take much longer, not to mention that the individual wires are often thinner than your typical 22 AWG security wire, which means higher resistance.

We strongly recommend you to install appropriate security wire for each component of your home security system and use Cat5e ethernet cables only where they are really needed.