The best wire runs for detection devices
For the most optimal home alarm system wiring there are some key things to take note of.
First, more devices take 4 wires than that take only 2. Second, there is barely any difference in the cost of 2 conductor over 4 conductor in this small gauge. Third, some devices like the power transformer and sirens call for 18 gauge wire. Since these devices only take two wires, you can double up the two pairs and meet this requirement.
For fire detection devices you are supposed to use 18 ga fire wire. Though it varies by local code, you are generally required to also use fire wire on all sirens, strobes, power transformer and keypads when you have any fire devices on the system. If your system is burglary only you do not have to do this.
As a rule each device should be on its own zone. The exception is smoke detectors and perhaps windows. You can of course loop multiple "like kind" devices to a single zone but it is really not considered good practice and can make troubleshooting more difficult should you have a problem later unless you can separate the loop.
Two wire type smokes of course always have to be daisy chained out from the panel from one to next. Four wire smokes should be done this way too, though I recommend having a separate chain for each floor (if you have multiple floors) so you can and possibly the fire dept. can get a more detailed location of a possible fire should they ever trigger.
Though individual windows can each be ran to their own zone, I generally prefer to group them on a per room basis. I do recommend you do this one of two ways though. Unlike smoke detector runs, either run a wire from the panel to an area near the room that you will always have access to such as a gang box, then home run each window in that room to this same point also and loop them there in series. Or the second method is to simply home run each window back to the main panel. You can them loop them in series there as you wish.
As for hardwiring, the easiest homes to install alarms in have an attic and or crawl space / unfinished basement. Things to keep in mind:
An independent research group took a poll of American families. They asked what were their biggest fears were when it comes to safety and security. Terrorism topped the list but a surprising second was the rising number of Occupied Home Break-ins and Home Invasions.
This makes the importance of home security alarms systems but before you go out and by one Become An Educated Consumer.
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