500-Feet 18/4 Solid Core Alarm Wire

Alarm wiring is something you will need if you are setting up a hardwired security system. You should also make sure to have some around the house or workshop, in case you ever need to perform your own wiring for an electrical project. The wire listed on this page is 18-4 wire, meaning that it is 18-gauge in thickness, and 4-conductor, with four (4) inner wires. This type of cabling is best used for 4-wire connections. Devices that require 4-wire connections use two (2) wires for data, and 2 wires for power. This is in contrast with 2-wire connections, which are for strictly data or power transmissions. You can use 4-conductor wire with 2-wire connections, but you will need to leave 2 of the wires loose and disconnected. For that reason, many users stick to using 2-conductor wire for 2-wire connections and 4-conductor wire for 4-wire connections.

We believe that 18-gauge (18 AWG) wire is the best wire for use with hardwired security systems because it is thick enough for long wire runs, while also being thin enough so it is easy to maneuver and work with. You can use this wire to connect all your devices to your security system, including any sensors, keypad, communicators, and more. Having a mixture of 2-conductor and 4-conductor wire is nice because you can then stay more organized. If you only get one type of wire though, 2-conductor wire is usually preferred, as you can double it up and have complete 4-wire connections without having any loose or disconnected wires. But we have 4-conductor wire available here if you decide you need some.

This is solid core cabling, which is less flexible and less forgiving than stranded cabling. We generally recommend stranded copper wiring for most DIY users. Most professional users also prefer stranded cabling, as it is easiest to work with, and it accomplishes the exact same task as solid core wire. But if you prefer solid core wiring, then we have it here available for you. The listings here are for 500-foot rolls. We also have 1,000-foot rolls available if you need more wire.