Extending burglar alarm wire and TV coax

Stantheman

Im having a loft extension built at the moment. The only problem is that I have a few cables which are laid in the loft which I need to move.

Firstly there is a burglar alarm cable which I only need to add about 4ft of cable to in order to get it out of the way. The cable thats there already seems to be standard 4 core alarm cable. My question is can I just buy some from Maplin and use an electrical connector box to join the peices?

Secondly I have 5 TV ariel sockets which run into a splitter in the loft. Some of the cables have enough slack to be moved out of the way but 2 of them cant. Im thinking of just buying a few feet of coax and some male and female plugs to extend them. Is this feasable? Does connecting the plugs to the cable require any special tools?

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

Steve_xx

Stantheman wrote: »

Im having a loft extension built at the moment. The only problem is that I have a few cables which are laid in the loft which I need to move.

Firstly there is a burglar alarm cable which I only need to add about 4ft of cable to in order to get it out of the way. The cable thats there already seems to be standard 4 core alarm cable. My question is can I just buy some from Maplin and use an electrical connector box to join the peices?

Secondly I have 5 TV ariel sockets which run into a splitter in the loft. Some of the cables have enough slack to be moved out of the way but 2 of them cant. Im thinking of just buying a few feet of coax and some male and female plugs to extend them. Is this feasable? Does connecting the plugs to the cable require any special tools?

Any advice would be gratefully appreciated.

In response to your first question. Yes you can join the alarm cable as you suggest. However, when you sever the cable you will probably set the alarm off as one pair will be devoted to the tamper-loop. So, when it goes off you would simply cancel the alarm, but don't reset it until you have rejoined the cable otherwise it will continue to sound the alarm.

Your second question regarding the coax cable sounds ok to me and I don't think you need any special tools for the job.

SmartRRRR

Simple answer is yes. Both of your ideas of what is required are correct.

The co-ax cables could be extended using ready made aerial flyleads of the plug to socket type (the kind that you would use on the loop - through on a video recorder). They are available in different lengths (2m & 5m from Maplin).

The alarm cable is available by the metre from Maplin, connectors with leaf inserts to protect the wire from the screws would be best. I used a BD51F (Maplin part number) which is a telephone connection box, it is neat and compact.

bookduck

The second part: it should be ok providing you have a good signal. ~ Every joint on coax reduces the signal, so if it not too bigger job I'd replace the coax with a new length.

Stantheman

Thanks all. I can now cancel the alarm company who were gonna charge me £60 just to have a look:eek:

cajef

Steve_xx wrote: »

However, when you sever the cable you will probably set the alarm off as one pair will be devoted to the tamper-loop. So, when it goes off you would simply cancel the alarm, but don't reset it until you have rejoined the cable otherwise it will continue to sound the alarm.

If the tamper alarm is tripped the system will have to be reset and they will need the engineers code, simply switching off and back on will not cancel and reset the alarm.

BillTrac

Sorry Cejef you are wrong. A tamper is a local alarm, customer can reset. Unless the tamper was broken whilst the system was armed.Then either engineer reset or remote reset as reason of alarm known.

Usually code once to silence and second time to reset if fault cleared.

The only time an engineer reset was ever needed (discounting the old castle units etc which needed an engineer if the wind changed!!)was when the systems signalled to a remote centre. To comply with regulations you had to contact your alarm company following an alarm activation..

Nowadays with remote reset being inbuilt in most good-quality control units then calling for a reset code is classed as complying

Bill

Stantheman

Yeah tamper alarm went off. It was 10pm (i know:rolleyes: ) and all the kids jumped out of bed:rotfl: . Used my usual code to turn it off. Once again thanx all for your help.

Steve_xx

Stantheman wrote: »

Yeah tamper alarm went off. It was 10pm (i know:rolleyes: ) and all the kids jumped out of bed:rotfl: . Used my usual code to turn it off. Once again thanx all for your help.

I thought it would do. Glad all's well now though.