Is it possible to use 4 core alarm cable instead of 2 twisted pair telephone cable?

Question

i have no twisted pair cable available so is 4 core alarm cable a viable option? can you provide a website if possible to comfirm your answer, thanks.

Answer 1

The reason to use twisted pair cable is to reduce noise and capacitance between pairs on the same cable, and to minimize the amount of noise received from the outside world.

The definition of a capacitor is two conductors separated by an insulator.  Capacitance between wires increases with length and with closer proximity.

Twisting the pairs helps to keep the wires from being right next to each other for a long length, and, like the answer I linked below, keeps the wire out of one plane, to minimize outside interference.

http://www.faqs.org/qa/qa-10863.html

Answer 2

core has many meanings. I think you mean 4 wires.

Yes, any 4 conductor cable would probably work if the distances are not too long. But twisted pare is very cheap, why fool around? If you have single twisted pair cable, just combine two of those.

Do you want to have to replace the cable when you have a problem and the alarm company refuses responsibility because you used the wrong cable, to save a few dollars?

no web site, just engineering common sense.

Answer 3

I would guess this is for a phone. You can use any wire. They use twisted pair cable for its noise immunity. If you don't have any other cables close by you don't need twisted pair wire.

Answer 4

yes it is possible. You are dealing with voice grade communications, I've seen people use zip cord for voice before (dumb people, too cheap to let a phoneman install, but figure they will try themselves first).

Try to keep your colors consistant.

Standard house wiring, the grey 3/16inch wire with red/green/yellow/black is not twisted pair either.