1000-Feet 18/4 Stranded Alarm Wire

For hardwired alarm systems, 18-4 wire represents some of the most popular and widely used cables you will encounter. This type of cable consists of four (4) inner wires that are rated at 18 AWG of thickness. When considering 18-gauge wire, it allows for wire runs that long enough for virtually all home and small business security setups. It is also quite flexible and easy enough to maneuver and adjust as needed. This makes it a great wire choice for both new and experienced installers alike. However, if your wire runs are going to be particularly short, then you might be better off going with 22 AWG wire. This will give you greater flexibility and control over the wire and make it easier for you to make the connections nice and secure.

The four (4) in the name 18-4 refers to the fact that this is 4-conductor cabling. This means that there are four (4) inner wires inside the cable. You generally use this type of wiring for 4-wire connections. Most equipment that transmits both data and power will use a 4-wire connection, assuming that it is not wireless. This type of equipment includes devices like keypads, motion detection sensors, glass break detection sensors, and more. You will have four nice and convenient wires inside the cable for completing various connections. However, if you have devices requiring 2-wire connections, then you would need to leave two of these inner wires loose and unconnected. That can look a bit tacky, so many users prefer making sure that 4-wire connections use 4-conductor wires, while 2-wire connections use 2-conductor wires.

We also recommended stranded alarm wire over solid core alarm wire for most installations. Stranded wiring is more flexible and forgiving, which makes it less likely to break when you are making tight connections. This is because the inner copper wire is split up into multiple strands, which makes the wire more flexible. The alarm wiring packages listed here are all for 1,000-foot rolls of stranded alarm wiring. With more strands opposed to one big solid core, the wire is made more flexible, and you will be more likely to achieve a successful connection if you are new or inexperienced with alarm wire. Most professionals also prefer stranded wiring, simply because it is the easiest to work with.