Cable Installation

The most important point to remember, when running cables for alarm systems, is concealment. That is all cables should be hidden from sight as much as possible. This is especially the case when installing in a domestic premises where the system is put in after the house has been built and decorated. For commercial and industrial premises, though, the hiding of cables is not as important. The following points, however, should prove useful when installing alarm cables.

UNDER CARPETS

As alarm cables carry low voltage and current, they can be run under carpets without any danger. The cable is usually run on the inside of the carpet gripper as in the diagram below.

Note: the carpet gripper rail holds the carpet in place by the use of small spikes. Make sure that the cable does not get caught by one of these spikes otherwise this could result in a “short” on the cable and is very difficult to trace once the carpet has been put back.

Another point to remember is to only run the cable along the edge of the wall and try not to run it across the middle of the floor, otherwise the cable will show through the carpet after a period of time.

SURFACE CABLING

Where there are no carpets or where a cable needs to be run up a wall then you can make use of skirting boards and architraves around doors.

MULTI-CABLING

Where a number of cables are to be run beside each other then you should make use of P.V.C. trunking of the correct size.

For example: at the control panel.