Re: Doubled up connections to security sensors? was Re: Z-WAVE question

[Frank Olson <Use_the_email_links@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Marc F Hult wrote:

> What are the caveats to wiring two alarm systems in parallel to the same
> sensor?  (This is different that what you describe above if I understand
> correctly.)

You can't.  You would either have to install another switch adjacent to
the first (if your alarm installer ran 22/4 to each door/window, this
shouldn't be a problem).  Otherwise, you'd need contacts with double
pole switches.  GRI manufactures them which I've used on occasion
(http://www.grisk.com/specialty/aa-ac.htm)
(and yes, this is quite different from what I described in response to
the OP).


>
> My situation is that I have a complete, satisfactory Napco security system
> for which the wiring was professionally installed long ago with the usual
> mix of smokes, contacts, motion detectors, beams etc.
>
> When I set up the HA system in this house 7 or so years ago, I tried to use
> the built-in 'lighting vector' (aka "lighting path") feature of my
> CyberHouse HA software. This uses multip[e sensors to determine the location
> and direction of travel of a detected person  to turn lights on and off as
> the person walks through a space. But the Napco firmware is slow in
> reporting out through the RS-232 port to the HA computer. I've also tried
> using Napco relays to follow the sensors but this was also too slow. So I
> now I plan to use a different faster controller to create the lighting path
> function and so would like to 'double up' on some of the motion detectors.

It may be possible to accomplish what you want on the PIR's as well (as
long as the negatives of both systems are common to the zone "common"
terminals and you connect *both* systems aux power negative together.  I
can diagram this for you if you like.