Please help me figure out what I need. Schematic included.

[dm88]

Hi all.  I posted an initial post a few weeks ago to see if this is something I want to do and I think I can handle it.  I have run wires through attic and crawl spaces before for other things and can patch my own holes.  And I work in the IT field so hopefully the technical aspect will be something I can handle too.  So I think I may go more toward a hardwired system rather than wireless to save a lot of money.  So here is the layout of the house:



First off, there was an existing system in the house.  The panel was mounted in the main floor closet that is shown in the diagram and there is a cluster of wires going to it.  Using a continuity tester, I have traced wires going to the recessed sensors in the two sliders in the family room and to the front door (to the left of the kitchen).  There was also a motion sensor located in the lower left corner of the larger bedroom in the basement and one in the hallway on the main floor (it doesnt really show on the diagram but it is right above the doorway going into the mater bedroom).  I got rid of the sensors a couple years ago but the wires remain there and I tested them and they are all good.  There is also a wire running to where the keypad used to be, which is in that small hallway where the front door is.

So from that, does that all sound like it is fine to reuse and to mount the panel in that closet again?  I don't know how old those sensors are in the door, but they worked when I opened and closed them and had the tester on them.  Do those type of magnetic recessed sensors have a life span?

My first order of business would be just to get those existing doors hooked up and to hook that basement door up.  Then as I have time, I will probably add sensors to all of the windows as follows:

The family room has 5 tall vinyl windows with sliders at the bottom.  I can run wires to those easily because there is a crawl space below them.  The kitchen also has a vinyl window and I should be able to run a wire pretty easily to it.  Can you point me to a link for a good sensor to use in vinyl sliding windows?

The rest of the house has all old wood casement windows that I plan to replace eventually.  I may not get to some of them for awhile, so I might end up putting sensors on them anyways for now.  The living room and the two bedrooms next to the living room all have windows that don't open or are at the 2nd story from the point they are and would need a ladder to access them so they don't need sensors.    That leaves the master bedroom, the bathroom, and the basement.  If you could either point me in the direction of a window sensor that works well for wood crank out windows, or, if you could show me good motion sesnor locations for now, that might be another option.  I am a little leary on motion sensors as I am afraid of false alarms, but if they are pretty reliable, I might use some.

The basement door is double all glass french doors.  Is it best to put a recessed sensor in each door, or just the one that opens first?  Do I need a glass breakage sensor, or do people typically open doors or windows once they break the glass in them?

The other question I have is for the siren locations.  I have a good place outside up on the roof to mount one, but where is a good inside location?  Wouldn't an inside siren be very easy for someone to disable by just smashing it?  

Where is a good place to plug in the transformer?  Do you want that in a somewhat hidden or tough to access place?

Finally, there is no access from the garage to the house.  There is just that man door in the diagram and the big door.  I might put a sensor on that door to protect the garage.  Also, we typically park the car in the garage and just go to the house without using that man door.  Is it a good idea to put a keypad in the garage?  Is it necessary to have 2 keypads?  I know a lot of people put one in the bedroom, but since my bedroom is pretty close to the front door, is that necessary?

In summary, I want to at least get the existing doors and that basement door set up for now so the main entry points are protected.  Then I can add the rest as I have time.   Any input on anything is helpful (such as what types of sensors to use, where to place them, etc.).  I'm not set on a system or anything either, but have been checking out ones such as the Vista 20.   I look forward to hearing from you and to start this project!

Edit: Image size and location

[Old EW Tech]

You've obviously given the installation a lot of thought and I think your overall approach is sound.

I would suggest reading the article entitled Home Security System Component Layout that is located about halfway down the forum's Home Page.  The article should answer many of your questions relating to locating components (panel, keypad(s), siren(s), motion detectors, transformer, etc); be sure to read the pop-ups and follow the links to relevant FAQ's.

Can you point me to a link for a good sensor to use in vinyl sliding windows?

No, vinyl windows vary so much in size, construction and warranty stipulations that contact selection is frequently made on a case-by-case basis.  The forum's search feature may provide some insight (search term "vinyl window contacts").

The basement door is double all glass french doors.  Is it best to put a recessed sensor in each door, or just the one that opens first?

We generally install contacts on both doors.

Do I need a glass breakage sensor, or do people typically open doors or windows once they break the glass in them?

That depends upon the level of security that you feel will meet your needs.  Again, the above referenced article provides food for thought.

[dm88]

Thank you for the advice.  That article was very helpful.  A couple things I am uncertain of:

First off, is that closet where the existing panel used to be a good place?  It seems close to the front door, but does that really matter?  Secondly, it says in the article that the transformer can be placed in the same area as the control panel.  Doesn't that make it easy to disable by unplugging, or does the battery take over and run the siren if it is unplugged?

I did look at the different types of magnetic contacts.  So it looks like the ones with just the rare earth magnet would work good for vinyl windows, as you don't have to drill into them.  These windows are not that new so I don't know anything about the warranty on them.  But to me those contacts seems like they would be good for all windows.  Why would you want a longer magnet recessed into something?  7/8" long or whatever seems like a lot, unless it is going into a wooden door.

And one more thing I may as well ask.  I did read the article on EOL resistors.  I notice my old wiring has resistors at the end of the wire at the panel.  According to the article, that is not a good place for them.   The contacts in the existing doors are painted over and probably have been there for awhile so I don't want to go tearing them out to put a resistor there.  Is it better than nothing to have them at the panel, or what?

[Old EW Tech]

First off, is that closet where the existing panel used to be a good place?  It seems close to the front door, but does that really matter?

Did you notice the location of the panel in the referenced article?  That location meets the recommendations given in the following FAQ:

Where should I install the control panel for my alarm system?

Remember, the assumption is that the panel, transformer and interior siren are located inside a protected area.

As an aside, yes, the standby battery will power the system for a limited time if AC power is lost.

If your old system had EOL resistors located in the can, then it will be easy for you to remove them to accommodate the new system and/or your personal preference.

If, after reading the FAQ, you still have questions on EOLR's it would be best to start a New Topic on the subject (better yet, wait until you have selected a particular system and post the questions in the appropriate forum).

[dm88]

Thank you.  I did a little more searching on EOLRs and understand them a little better now.  I will probably just put them back in the can.

As far as that man door on the garage, even though it is kind of like a separate building (since there is no access to the house from it), would you recommend just putting that on a separate zone and treating it like any other door?  As I mentioned, its only really used when I want to get something out of the garage during the day (when the alarm would be off).  When we are leaving the house or coming home, we always open the big door.

And as far as keypads, what I have read is to have a second one in the bedroom so you can see what is going on without having to go to the other end of the house to look at that keypad.  Since there is already a wire going to that hallway coming in from the front door (next to the kitchen), I plan to put the keypad there.  Do you think I should still put a second one in the bedroom, considering it is not that far away from the front door?

[Old EW Tech]

Yes, given the usage that you describe, you could put the garage man door on a separate zone.  If your usage should change in the future or if the operation seems cumbersome, it would be a simple programming change.

I would place a second keypad in the master bedroom.

[dm88]

I think I am going to go with the Vist 20 kit I mentioned in another post which includes the wireless keypad, even though I don't plan to use a lot of wireless.  I may just use the wireless contacts included with the kit on the garage door and one of the windows that it will be hard to run a wire to.  Anyways, at first I was thinking of not having any motion detectors but from what I am reading, it sounds like they are not too prone to false alarms so here is what I am thinking.

In the basement, I am going to put wired recessed contacts into those double french doors.  I was going to put contacts on the windows, but if I can hold off on it and get by with a sensor, I might do that for now until I replace the windows.  These are wood casement windows (the bottom pushes out) and I am thinking they would be hard to open up without breaking anyways. And even if they were open, it would be hard for someone to fit through them anyways, so I think they would have to be broken to get through.  If I mount a motion sensor in that hallway right above the double french doors, would that cover everything?  If they come in through that bedroom, they will get picked up by it in the hallway when they come out the door.  And if they go through the rec room, the sensor should pick them up because they will cross the path of that doorway on the left side of the rec room.  (Looking at the diagram, I am talking about putting it in the upper left corner of that hallway right above the double doors).  Does that sound right?

As far as upstairs, I will probably put contacts on all of the windows that are accessible at ground level, but should I put a sensor in the hallway above the door to the master bed?  It seems like that would cover a lot of traffic areas there.  Or is that even necessary since I will have the windows all protected?  The family room should be ok because it will have contacts on all of the windows and doors in there.

Would a sensor like the IS2535 be good for these?

Edit:  merge posts

Actually now that I look at it, I may put the panel in the basement under the stairs now mainly because my wife my want shelves in that closet and the panel would be in the way.  It is pretty easy to run the wires down to the new location.  Is it just simply splicing those wires in a junction box and running them to the new spot?  Any other concerns?