What Kind of Wire Do I Need to Use to Install an Interlogix Simon XTi or XTi-5?

The kind of wire you need to use to install an Interlogix Simon XTi or XTi-5 is an 18-gauge 2-conductor wire. Other sizes of wire can also be used, but the 18-gauge size offers a nice balance of insulation and flexibility. A Honeywell LT-Cable can be used to make the installation easier.

Please note that the Simon XTi and XTi-5 Systems both come with their own power cable. This cable is perfect for getting power to the system. It has pre-stripped ends which connect to "9VAC In" on the Simon panel. It also has spade connectors that fit nicely under the screw terminals on the transformer. But if this cable is lost, an LT-Cable or an 18-gauge 2-conductor wire can be used instead.

By using a Honeywell LT-Cable, no wire-stripping will be needed. One section of the cable connects to the panel itself, and the other section connects to the system's 9-volt AC plug-in transformer. The two unconnected ends of the LT-Cable then conveniently meet using a male-female plug-in connection. The LT-Cable arrives prepped and ready so that minimal effort is needed to get the system up and running.

A standard 18-gauge 2-conductor wire can also be used, but there will be some wire-stripping required. First the two inner wires will need to be exposed. In most cases, there will be a black wire and a red wire. But since AC power is being used, polarity does not matter, and either wire can be connected to either terminal on the transformer. Likewise, either colored wire can be connected to either "9VAC In" terminal on the panel. These two inner wires should be stripped about 1/4 of an inch on both ends so that a small amount of inner copper is exposed. These copper ends will connect to the terminals on the panel and the transformer.

While other sizes can be used, we find that the 18-gauge size is the easiest to work with for this type of application. However, we have heard of many users instead using 16-gauge wire or 22-gauge wire with virtually no problems. All of these wire sizes are standard, and they can be purchased from most hardware stores.

Once the connections are made and the transformer is plugged-in, the panel should then power on automatically. It is recommended that you connect the black and red wires to the proper posts on the battery just before plugging in the transformer. With the backup battery, the system will remain powered on in case power to the transformer is ever lost. If you want to power down the system, you can do so by unplugging the AC transformer and disconnecting the backup battery.