Re: Ademco Vista 20P or Vista 50P system?

["Robert L Bass" <Sales@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

"4Technology" wrote:
>
> We have a 4500 sq. ft home + a 500 sq ft garage along with a 1500 sq ft out
> building. We have two existing smoke/fire detectors circuits in
the home now, for a total of 20 detectors (at least one per room and two
hallways have two each). All of the detectors are hard-wired with
battery backup. We would like to simple add "monitored" detectors in a few of
the primary areas; we may need to increase to 6.

That's a fairly common request.  Most existing homes already have adequate
sensors to wake the family and get them out.  Adding a few monitored detectors
will give some additional protection while the family is out during the day.
Just be sure you install the detectors properly and use the correct wire.  Since
your smoke alarm system is already in place, you can go over what you have in
light of the following guidelines to make sure it's complete.  Then add whatever
you need to accomplish the stated goal and to make certain the system covers all
necessary elements.  Here are a few excerpts from fire alarm manuals.

-------------

"Do install smoke detectors as follows:
-- At least one smoke detector should be installed directly outside each
sleeping area. If there is more than one floor, additional smoke detectors
should be installed on each level, including the basement. The living-area and
basement smoke detectors should be installed near the stairway of the next upper
level.

-- For increased protection, additional detectors should be installed in areas
other than those required, such as the dining room, bedrooms, utility room,
furnace room, and hallways. Heat detectors, rather than smoke detectors, are
recommended in kitchens, attics, and garages due to conditions that may result
in false alarms and improper operation. Large areas and areas with partitions,
ceiling beams, doorways, and open joists will require additional detectors.

-- Refer to NFPA Standard No. 74 (National Fire Protection Association,
Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269) for additional information, including
proper mounting of detectors.

Do NOT Install Detectors in the Following Areas:

-- In or near areas where particles of combustion are normally present such as
kitchens; in garages (vehicle exhaust); near furnaces, hot water heaters, or gas
space heaters.

-- In very cold or very hot areas.

-- In wet or excessively humid areas, or next to bathrooms with showers.

-- In dusty, dirty, or insect-infested areas.

-- Near fresh air inlets or returns or excessively drafty areas. Air
conditioners, heaters, fans, and fresh air intakes and returns can drive smoke
away from the detector.

-------------

> We would like to install a siren on each end of the home (external) and one
> near the soffit (hidden) of the out building. I imagine there are limitations
> on the length of the wire to feed the external sirens.

There are length limitations which vary with the guage of the cable being used.
Larger cables (smalle gauge number) can go farther.

> We have 4 extra cat5e wires that are running from the house to the outbuilding
> at this time (approximately 100 feet of wire in length
from central point we would like to install the alarm base). We do not have a
lot of immediate neighbors, so the extra sirens may assist in
getting noticed. :-)

CAT5 cable is not adequate for most sirens.  The 24-gauge conductors can't
handle the current for anything larger than a piezo type sounder.  For a
100-foot run to a typical siren (for example, an ELK-SS30 which draws just over
1 Amp at 12 VDC), you'll need at a minimum 18-gauge cable.  If you can't run new
cable and if you have not yet chosen a system, consider using a system with the
capability of remotely powered sirens.

I've done this on a number of occasions using Napco's P9600 system.  What we did
was install a keypad in the remote building using doubled-up CAT5 cable (each
pair was used as one wire).  A relay expansion module and local power supply at
the out building provided power for detectors, a siren and strobe.  This allowed
us to protect each of several buildings independantly (some structured armed
while others were disarmed) yet keep everything on one system.  Personnel in the
main building can arm and disarm any or all areas simultaneously.  We gave some
staff codes that could control everything while others could only control the
area for which they were responsible.  In a home environment this would be used
similarly for the maid or babysitter.  Similarly, the lawn care person could
have access to the garden shed but can not enter the house.

Napco handles this kind of thing well though there are other manufacturers that
can also do it if you have the right modules.

--

Regards,
Robert L Bass

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