sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Security, Alarms and Paging Ademco Vista-20P DIY install & me the newbie

Hi all, first want to say what an excellend forum you all have going here. I stumbled upon it on my quest for knowledge DIY home alarm system installation and am impressed with the wealth of knowledge that is shared. Along those lines, I am hoping for some serious newbie help as I have jumped of the edge into a home installation of a Vista-20P alarm system (Using a 6160 to program & awaiting version 5.2 of the board). My home was prewired around 1990 or 1991 and this is my first adventure involving alarm systems. I have set the system up on a desk so I can play and learn while having easy access and once the principles are solid in my mind I will venture out into my real world. Can anybody suggest any good books, articles etc on the fundamentals that are suitable for a newbie like me?

Here is where I am a bit stuck. I am becoming familiar with the use of the EOLR for supervision which makes sense in theory but I am confused as to the concepts of loops, finding the last device on the loop and finally the application of the EOLR as some items mention in series or in parallel. I have searched for pictures to assist but I am not having any luck. This might make more sense if I was more familiar with the wiring but as mentioned my house was prewired many years ago for the original owner. Any assistance, pointers or direction would be very much appreciated. Thanks for taking the time to read this

Hello and welcome to the board NTT.
I do not know of any books that would help but you may want to check your local Radio Shack. Over the years I've found books there on many of my DYI projects that were very helpful.

Using EOLR's can be very confusing as you have discovered. The type of switch you will be using determines how the resistor is to be connected. If you are using Normally Open (NO) switches you connect the resistor in parallel. If you are using Normally Closed (NC) switches you connect the resistor in series.

PM SENT

Going by memory here but isn't there a picture of different EOL wiring in the installer book? It's on the same page as the picture of the main board showing terminal wiring.

If your house already has the door contacts wired, you will either have to pull one out or use an ohm meter to determine what the original installer did.

There are different levels of EOL supervisory wiring, some requiring more than one resistor. The way Bobby explained it above would be the simplest and best for residential.

TP you are correct their is a full picture of the layout in the manual