How to Wire and Install a Security Alarm System (DIY Tips: Door Contacts)

When you are ready to layout your alarm system design, for installation you must first decide where to mount the alarm control. If you have an unfinished basement, you will be drilling down and running your wires in the rafters to the area that you select for the panel. Most often this will be the mechanical or furnace room.

If you are working on a single story building, you will be running your wires up into an unfinished attic and dropping your wires down to the control.

If you are in a commercial application you will run your wires on top of drop ceilings or along beams or possibly through exposed conduit.

If you are in a place where there is no place to run all these wires and hide them then you are a prime candidate for a wireless system.

You want to make sure that wherever you decide to mount your alarm control panel, that you have a device such as a motion detector or door contact to protect it. Leaving the control panel in an unprotected area could make it easy to circumvent in the event of a break in. Consider running the wires through the basement, and than jumping them up into a closet, in the protected area of the house. If you are wondering "what about the exposed wires in the basement? Don't." Cutting the wires would duplicate opening of the device they are running to, and would cause an alarm condition if the system were armed.

If you elect to go wireless on your system of choice, choose a central location in the home or business that will receive a strong radio signal from all points of protection. Remember that even on wireless system there are some wires that will need to be run. Most often they are the keypad, the siren, the power supply and the phone line. Take these runs into consideration when choosing your central location.

Provide lighting for the chosen area, as this will be where you are doing most of your installation work. Lay out a tarp and place all products and tools and a trash bag in this area. I have learned over the years to come to my central location to get what I need, and return everything I