Fire alarm wiring -Twin wire converted to addressable system

David54 · May 28, 2018

At the moment this block of 9 flats has a Twin Wire system with communal areas wired and one detector in each flat . I have been asked the possibility of fitting a addressable type system but using the same cables. This is to identify the flat where the alarm has triggered.
The addressable system I have looked at uses loop wiring so not sure if a radial circuit would work.
Has anyone had experience with these systems or can recommend a suitable system.

gaz101 · May 28, 2018

2 wire addressable
ID2-KIT2
Nice and easy to set up

Discount fire
01792 452 700

Deleted member 26818 · May 28, 2018

Addressable systems should be able to be wired any which way you want.
I believe you will have to change the smoke heads, etc. for addressable items.

Toneyz · May 29, 2018

How many devices on each leg as we had about 15 on a radial only as a temporary until they could go on the new loop. I take it you can not run a return leg back.

Deleted member 26818 · May 29, 2018

Yes you can run a leg back.
Many systems will allow up to 30 items per loop or zone.
The idea of running a loop, is that if one leg fails, then the other leg will still carry signals.
Programmable systems allow you to identify each item, so you could for instance program a smoke head as being male toilets ground floor, or stair well 2 first floor. This can be really helpful, if you have voids which require smoke heads.

David54 · May 29, 2018

Thanks for the helpfull replies. There are 12 detectors- which would changed to the addressable type, as it is a posh bock of flats running a new return back would be difficult - just wondering if it would work without the return leg- or do we just bridge it out, not sure how they monitor the loop. Any suggestions on a addressable system which can be installed without buying windows software to set it up.