Any electricians about?

[thenewaveragebear1983]

Hi,
We have a mysterious cable in our son's bedroom- it was concealed behind a unit which we have moved. The electrician I called said it was a phone line- but it goes into the burglar alarm sensor in the room below. So, my question is- could it have power going through it and if not, am I safe to remove it? It comes from the roof, through the floor, into the garage and through the wall into the sensor in our dining room. What can I use to cover it, and make it safe as there's a lot of 'give' in it and I would worry about my kids swinging on it!

Can you provide a photo of the cable? Might have a better idea for you then.

Here's the cable

And here is where it ends up, we think....

Surely if you remove it your alarm will go off as a tamper mode and you will have a hell of a job getting it reset. Suggest you get an alarm fitter to remove it.

Oh and if you want to keep it chase the wall out and plaster over it.

Does it have a connection at the end or does it actually go into your alarm?
It doesn't look like a phone cable and does look more like it's part of an alarm system. You can get plastic trunking to hide the cable from little hands. Normally only a couple of pounds from a hardware store.
Without physically seeing it, I wouldn't advise cutting it. It might not have power going through it but, it might set your alarm off.

Thanks plums.
We have only just moved in and the previous owner didn't leave us any info about the alarm, so it's currently not in use, but I think we plan to keep it.
So you reckon it's not an electrical cable but removing it will set the alarm off? I might try and feed it through the hole more so it's taut as there's a lot of slack on it then try and cover it with something. It's a bit beyond my diy skills to attempt to plaster over it!

Test no connector, it seems to go through the floor into the garage below, and then horizontally through the back wall of the garage into the dining room and that's where the sensor is.

I bet it's the cable linking the alarm bell box to the system - explains why it comes from the roof space and goes downstairs. Is the alarm box on the exterior wall of that room?

Wow no, I don't think so. When you say alarm box do you mean the box where you tap the code in? If so, that's on the opposite side of the house. We have yet to locate the actual siren part of the alarm.

No - I mean the box on the outside of the house that has flashing lights and a sirem if it goes off.

Okay - so I think that's the cable that did run to the box, or the box is in the loft space, which would be odd as they are designed the be visible from outside. Has work been done which has involved replastering inside or rendering or painting outside? I'm wondering if the box has been removed at some point, but the cable left.

The thing you tap the code into is the control panel.

if it is part of the alarm, the voltage is likely to be 12V or possibly 24V, so not dangerous. But if you cut it the system might think you are a burglar and start hooting.

Take a look round all the bits you can find, especially the control panel or keypad. It is probably fed off the mains with a fused switch. It might be concealed in a cupboard, but there will be something near the main exit door.

Try writing to the previous owners and ask how to work it,

If you post some photos it might be possible to tell if it is an amateur or a pro system. It is usually quite awkward to get a pro system reactivated without paying a fair bit.

It is important to find its power supply switch. If it starts hooting and you don't know the code you won't be able to stop it. It might be connected to the phone line, possibly calling the previous owner's family, or an alarm company, but it will (should) not dial the police.

these will keep it tidy

www.screwfix.com/p/tower-self-adhesive-mini-trunking-25mm-x-16mm-x-2m/64026

This will keep little hands away from the wire.

I have found the 'siren' - I knew it was there because when we cut the power a few weeks ago it set the alarm off. I don't think it is currently 'set' though, but I hadn't considered that it may go off for other reasons so will need to contact the previous home owner.
The system appears to be very old, the box has no markings on it and the control panel and sensors all look pretty tatty.
Thanks for the link to the trunking also, that will do for now and we will have to get a specialist out to have a look at it when we can find the money!

post a photo if you can. The control panel might be recognisable, so might the siren.

Thanks pigletjohn- here's the control panel and the siren is, I think, the blue and white box under the eaves?

I don't recognise it. The position of the siren box suggests to me it was professionally fitted.

I can't see them on sale at a supplier, but there are a couple of that brand on ebay.

I suspect an alarm engineer would fit a new panel if possible, it's quicker than running new cables.

Post your pics on www.diynot.com/diy/forums/alarms-cctv-telephones/

but some of them are miserable gits who hate DIYers.

you might mind a manual on
securityalarm.com/support/links-downloads/ck-user-manuals/
(us website)

Search on C&K

Is it a 2316, 236 or a 238?