wiring alarm monitoring system with RJ31

[kontech]

Hi All,

I'm working on a commercial wiring project and I was approached to wire alarm monitoring system with two telephone lines (POTS) though RJ31 jack.
There are two ribbon cables coming out of the alarm box each with RJ45 end, already wired inside. The way I wired is was I used RJ45 jack and used pairs 1 & 8 to wire the telephone lines - per this thread:

http://www.tek-tips.com/viewthread.cfm?qid=959010&page=9

Can someone confirm of this will work? TIA

http://www.kontech.net

 

[KZ9Y]

Just make sure that dial tone is on the center two pins of each "biscuit block" mounted outside of the cabinet. Let the alarm system people take it from there. Mount blocks outside of the cabinet to provide a demarc for testing of the lines without getting in to the cabinets.

>****

 

[kontech]

I do have a dial tone on both Cat5 jacks and the two middle pairs are used. I tested with with the butset. I guess that's all I need then. Thanks.

http://www.kontech.net

 

[allisland]

An RJ31X jack should be wired as follows-
T&R ( Dial tone in from demarc)in on 4&5
T&R out (dial tone back to phones) on 1&8
X designates shorting bars to take dial tone thru jack back to phones with nothing plugged into jack
What this does is when alarm normal dial tone goes in and back to phones thru contacts in alarm,when alarm active opens contacts so line is only used by alarm.
The RJ31X allows a test point by removing cord from jack dial tone loops back to stations

 

[kontech]

This is helpful, though it made more confused.

Right now, I have a two POTS coming from Dmarc, each terminated on RJ45 on pair 1 & 8.

I just was told by the contractor (how doesn't know much about it) that I need to terminate one of the telephone lines using pair 4 & 5 and the other on 1 & 8. I have no way of contacting the alarm people...

Why do they need two separate telephone lines coming to the alarm system? Backup?

Will the two RJ45 jack work in this case? Again, there are two ribbon cables coming out of the alarm box that are supposed to be plugged into these two jack? Perhaps I need two RJ31X wired as described above?
Please advice. Thanks.

http://www.kontech.net

 

[SYQUEST]

What your alarm device has is 8-POSITION MODULAR JACKS! NOT RJ45s, "RJ" anything is not a jack but a wiring arrangement for specific modular jack hardware. The term "RJ" stands for Registered Jack and was part of an FCC program from the 1980s for Customer Provided Equipment. The type of modular jack needed for an RJ31X wiring arrangement is a 635A type which is equipped with shorting bars.

To connect your alarm equipment to the lines you will need two 8-conductor modular cords. Typically fire alarm systems require two phone lines one for backup.

One company that make this hardware is Suttle Apparatus, their website is

http://www.suttleonline.com

You may also find the USOC wiring guide for various "RJ" wiring arrangements in their catalog.

Hope this helps!

....JIM....



Too many terms in this industry get misused, and this is one of them that is VERY misused!

 

[kontech]

Thanks, for clarifying.
Need to get RJ31's now.

http://www.kontech.net

 

[AWGoodson]

allisland (Vendor)is correct. If you are going to use the line for other uses then you need to make sure it is a RJ31 and that it it wired like allisland (Vendor) said or the line WILL NOT BE ABLE TO DISCONNECT from a devise if in use to call in an alarm!

Allan Goodson
Estimator
3D Datacom, Inc.

http://www.3ddatacom.com

 

[kontech]

Picked up two RJ31x by Allentel yesterday and wired the two phone lines for the alarm. Thanks again for guidance in this project.

http://www.kontech.net

 

[BTBZ]

Two RJ31 is fire alarm panel. I wounld not want to wire like all saying it yours which is your problem if does not work. {Liable for problem if something goes wrong} You need to check with you insurace company regarding liable.

RJ31 Jack Pin 4 & 5 Red & Green Wire

RJ31 Jack Pin 1 & 8 Brown & Gray Wire

***BEST IF JUST LET ALARM COMPANY WIRE THERE OWN JACKS**

**YOU DO NOT WANT TO BE LIABLE IF THERE A PROBLEM**

**JUST BRING THE LINE FOR THE ALARM CO TO SET-UP**

T

 

[LkEErie]

What possible liability would you have for wiring RJ-31x jacks? If you miswire them you *should* be held liable.

Since my RJ-31x jacks are Suttle, I use insulation displacement jacks and just go by pins and not colors. Plus, if I wire them, I know they're done properly and some fool didn't put his fingers in *MY* demarc.

Liable indeed.

LkEErie

 

[kontech]

I have already wired RJ31s and I believe the alarm system test/inspection passed OK.

http://www.kontech.net

 

[btbzz]

The liability is the build burn down NO Signal to Central Station which monitoring the panel. Who are they go ask who hook-up the phone line to panel. Now you said you believed the alarm tested.INSURANCE CO. will try to hold you part libale why the signal did not get to the central station.
$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.

 

[kontech]

I was just going pretend that I'm not concerned with all liability aspects as it was the first time I did this kind of wiring...

I'm not so clear who the liable party would be in a case of potential failure in a fire situation as the system was fully tested and certified by the alarm company. That means that they thoroughly tested the system, including line failover. Don’t it?

They have two lines coming to the alarm box, one of which is dedicated, not used by anything else.

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[brianinms]

If the alarm is tested and certified I wouldn't have much concern for liability. I mean you can't control if something happens to it after the certification.

 

[LkEErie]

Since it's tested at least 2 or 3 times AFTER I put in the jacks, I'm sure my insurance company would find a way to excuse us from any lawsuit that was filed. Geeze, that's what I pay premiums for.

LkEErie

 

[jacassc]

Also......FACPCommunicators are designed to continually supervise talk battery, test the Hz. dialtone along with other system status parameters and send a 24 hr. test report to the monitoring office recievers, inturn recvs. are designed to alert the office on which communicators didnt report in.

But anything after the fact is a possible FUBAR, especially
with the power of the internet and open forums that allow or encourage the unskilled an opportunity to make attempts or mistakes