Why we use Resistors at the end of line on alarm security panels

In this video , we talk about using resistors in securrity alarm panels. Why it is important to place them at the EOL or End of line. We also look at alarm basic circuits.
The EOL allows the control panel to supervise the field wiring for open or short circuit .

[@munkeepilot]

Fascinating. Never knew what resistors actually did for alarm circuits, thanks for making this extremely easy to understand.

[@Deancepticon]

Man this video is golden for me. Apprentice fire alarm tech in commercial. And this just made things real clear for me. Thanks a lot

[@snowcatxx87]

Great video, explained it quickly and efficiently.

[@solitudeesttriste5396]

still there are a wonderful peoples in this world.thanks man for your help.

[@Krakology]

+solitude esttriste NP thanks for watching

[@rehanzahid9600]

@@Krakology can you explain about how conventional sounder activated in addressable fire system how sounder get signal from panel through smoke detector please explain or send some link for this

[@stormin2217]

thank you for taking the time to show us ,,I will say thanks for all the thousands that watch your vids.

[@MrDumonic]

Love the explanation. I just use n/c loops. Especially now with wireless. If a wire is shorting out and I can’t use a different pair, sorry time to go wireless. Resistors are mostly used for supervision in commercial circuits where someone may try and tamper with wiring. But that’s more on the really big commercial side. Residential and small commercial we don’t use EOL. I hate EOL’s cause I find it harder to troubleshoot why a zone keeps false’ing. I work better with uninterrupted circuits. I totally understand why you would do this, but it just complicates things. Dealing with resistors at the panel is much more convenient.

[@stevenweii]

this is a very useful video, i was trained before and knew the why EOL resistor is a must, but just in theory, you experiment and explain more details and prove what i was trained and told is pretty right..

[@paulburger2866]

Thanks for showing why this is better. Now it will be easier to remember whenever I'm in doubt again.

[@JohnDoe-ch5pf]

thank you for this explanation!! i have asked why to most of the people i have worked with but no one ever could tell me why.

[@MrAnhNo]

John Doe Because they don't know either or they just don't want you to know . Sad but truth :-(

[@donlackie911]

If you are in the industry and haven't figured this our on your own, you shouldn't be in the industry. It's not rocket science. The purpose of the EOL is the one of the basics.

[@dannyf4995]

I'm installing a new Alarm system in my house (Pima - Hunter PRO), and couldn't understand their explanation about the ELO resistor, till now :-). Thank you so much for helping me understand this issue.

[@DiyintheGhetto]

Hello Thank you for the video i know it's a older one but it helped me a lot. I never know what the resistors are for. But i saw a lot of other videos of people adding resistors but never say what they are for. So again thank you.

[@jacksondeans8121]

thank you, explained it so much better than my textbook

[@jdigi78]

thanks for the video, was very confused why there were a bunch of resistors at the control panel. Turns out whoever did the install years and years ago never watched this video!

[@SpewNation]

I have two words for you.... Great video! the best explanation ive ever seen. Good job

[@MrAnhNo]

Thanks for taking your time doing this video. This is my issue and I have no one to explain!! Thanks again

[@TrongNguyen1994]

Troy T Dinh hey bro. Can u explain this by vietnamese

[@cheekymonkey2400]

awesome video. I'm an apprentice. you explain it so well and make it so easy. I really don't the theory work but after watching this the theory of it is not so daunting. thanks for your video

[@Krakology]

your welcome

[@NinoNiemanThe1st]

If you're going to do this professionally, it's a good idea to learn some (very) basic electronics. Makes understanding things like the purpose of EOL resistors really simple to understand (and things like this video would take 1 minute instead of 8). Without basic electronics, you'll be rote memorizing stuff, and will then get things wrong when you forget that stuff. Basic electronics is not too difficult - just think of water instead of electricity and each component will become clear. For example, a lot of people find voltage calculations with resistors in parallel difficult to grasp. How can putting 2 resistors allow MORE current to flow, and not less. If you think 'water', it all just makes sense - even capacitors and transistors!

[@yousufsahib6690]

Simple and perfect explanation

[@chadrowland5234]

If it were me, I would have the panel programmed for EOL resistor operation. The resistor offers the best of both worlds. Open and closed circuit operation. And, if you are an alarm hobbyist, the resistor is a must. You can tie resistors in series and do some cool stuff. The resistor is fun to play with in alarm systems. And, especially with fire zones...the trouble condition can be demonstrated to friends and stuff about what a trouble condition would look like on an alarm system. And, you can't do that without a resistor. And, especially if you have smoke detectors in your system, the trouble condition can be used as a reminder to put the smoke detector back. Especially me...everyone has done this, you've done this, I've done this. In fact, every time I do work in my house, I stand on a step ladder or a piano stool and twist off the smoke detector and drop it in a desk drawer and then put it right back when finished. Well, if you don't have the resistor, the trouble condition won't work and then, you could easily forget to put the smoke detector back. I would highly recommend keeping the resistor.

[@TheRealAfroRick]

This was excellent. I'm putting the in now to upgrade my home wiring setup. Will ensure no issues.

[@NathanDelCamp]

Thanks for the explanation. Great work brother.

[@TomVereecke]

You can also use normal closed contacts and use 1 resistor in series with the contact and one parralel to the contact. For example if you use 3K3 resistors, in a normal non alarm state it will read 3K3, in alarm state it will read 6K6, when the conductor is cut it will read out off limit, and when it's shorted it's about 0 ohms. It's the standard way of working here. For fire detectors which are normally open we use the same method as you do.

[@shaunchetty4223]

Great explanation...thank you very much

[@alitajvidi5610]

You are an excellent teacher...

[@Brandon-qr8zz]

Very helpful and easy to understand. Thank you!

[@buzzyng]

really appreciate the explanation. Very thorough and the demo helped solidify. thanks

[@jamesrago2135]

Thanks so much for taking the time to make this video. Very helpful and informative.

[@darynweir97]

Great video helped me so much!

[@francoisashton7156]

Thanks, such a simple concept, but very effective. Well explained.

[@MiddleBencher1989]

Thank you for sharing valuable information 💖

[@rayanjan4666]

Brilliant explanation 👍

[@craigleppan7164]

Awesome man. Thanks. Nice and clear

[@MrDumonic]

Same thing with commercial cameras now a days. I’ll run the wire, install the cameras and do all the connections. But don’t ask me to get it online. Cameras are usually all plug in play. But when they want to secure it all and get it working over a local and external network, that’s up to the IT guys.

[@kenmorton2571]

Thanks for a great video,

[@babumon8677]

thank you very much man..You are an excellent teacher... Salute..

[@inspiredinvesting]

Really helpful, easy to understand. Thanks for taking the time

[@michaelstolman536]

Great explanation as to why the resistor should be at the end of the line but it is a pity that magnet manufacturers make allowance for these in the magnet switch.

[@jamesmeader2261]

Great video 👍

[@janr.9035]

thanks for your effort sir. u such a nice guy!

[@youzulf]

I understood that perfectly. Thank you.

[@apeyson1]

Very helpful, thanks.

[@tequilatyrant3992]

This video is GREAT, thank you so much

[@laneburgess1643]

Great video.

[@crystalblueocean]

Thanks for the explanation

[@bkoz319]

clear and concise, thank you

[@TCJC1213]

very nice video now I can let my tech know why this is importent

[@bignedu4871]

Thank you very much for this video.

[@lazbl1979]

Awesome video

[@akiladilusha]

This is very helpful. thank you!

[@phillipjessop2902]

Thanks. Been looking for an answer for the need for a resistor. My door contacts also have a resistor between terminals? Don't know why. Also, are resistors directional? Regards Phillip

[@Krakology]

resistors are not directional. Diodes are. For the reason for your contact to have the resistor across both terminals.. Well had to say without more info.. My first 2 thoughts.. A, maybe normally open contact, b, they are trying to correct the resistance with a seprate resistor.

[@MarkCarline]

Very useful! Thanks for this!!

[@arbit3r]

Excellent explanation.

[@ajitmacwan4974]

Very nice video

[@rudisammel8049]

Very good information. Thank you for sharing

[@MrLibbyloulou]

O.k.....i have just bought a jet ski, i need to run a wire from my house alarm panel, about 10ft long to the jet ski, am going to loop a wire too and from the ski, i suppose i would (using two wires) run say my blue out to the ski, with my red, (the wires i use) and could just wire either end to a resistor to do the same job.....? it's only like running them to a magnet.....?.....yes...? and if that would be fine, what resitor would you recommend......thank you for your help.......

[@mr702s]

Thank you

[@aksinghheikham4096]

nice explanation

[@jwj2xx4]

Usually with just one resistor at the last sensor in the loop/furthest from the panel, but some systems (like the Vista series) allow for using double loops with two resistors on a single zone.

[@marko7843]

That's a great demo! My only question is why they bothered to put the "eol" resistors in my control panel, where there's no difference between a closed switch and a short... Just a necessary current limiter?

[@Krakology]

+Mark O some panels cant be programmed to not look for the resistor.. it needs to see that load.. so people cheat and put at panel.

[@rahulmali1978]

Please load more videos related to F & G system wiring.

[@brendanchase9068]

Thanks!

[@TeamTryHardBmx]

It's really good to know this after all this time of wondering. But how come some times devices won't communicate properly without an EOL resistor? And how come some times you put them at both ends (start of line if that's such a thing, and end of line)

[@NinoNiemanThe1st]

It's not common, but the main reason for EOL resistors at both ends (if that's the way the system is designed) is not to make them add up to 2K (if that's what the circuit requires). It's to allow the alarm system to differentiate 4 states - reflecting the 4 voltages you get when one, or both resistors are shorted out of the circuit. Some high-security systems do this to try and detect burglars shorting the circuit - they can short out one, but usually not both of the resistors given they are in different locations, allowing the alarm system to pick up any interference with the circuit.

[@AliG.G]

brilliant very useful thank you

[@Justify4935]

Basically what he's saying is by using a resistor at EOL you are supervising the entire wire and device which is the correct way of wiring a security device.

[@Justify4935]

@D Smith Which is the wrong way to supervise a circuit. It's the lazy way. No disrespect, but at that point, there's no reason to have a resistor at all. You're not truly supervising anything. Resistor at EOL is actually supervising the entire zone. Resistor at the panel is not supervising to EOL device. In commercial you should not being sv at panel. Reisi I don't even think SV is necessary but to each their own.

[@jerrykr01]

Thank you for spending the time to make this. Clarified things for me alot.

[@danieldsch]

Thank you, your explanations are very clear and usefull for me, I have one question the movement detectors are wired like the smoke detector. (it has an open description). Thank you in advance.

[@mariusbronikovskis8151]

Thanks, this was really useful!

[@NinoNiemanThe1st]

Good demo with the multimeter, but the explanation was kind of all over the place with the major point not made clearly. If you understand high school physics, easiest way to thing about EOL resistors is: they allow an alarm system to detect THREE states via a voltage read instead of two. The states are: 1) Open circuit - no current/voltage, 2) Normal close, with a reduced voltage due to the resistor and 3) Abnormal close, ie. a full short without the resistor being in-line. Of course, your alarm system needs to be able to measure these 3 states, but almost all have EOL resistor detection to do so.

[@danieldsch]

Ok, I will wire it in series and see what happen. Thank you.

[@ochungochieng8863]

Good evening. Can you incorporate a maglock into the alarm panel so that we have an intruder detection as well as an access control working togethee

[@ChristopherJones242]

This isn't only about preventing wiring trouble. If I was a burglar, hell bent on getting access to a building to steal something, I could theoretically get past the alarm if I really wanted to. Perhaps the building is open during the day, I could go inside and short out some window sensors. Or at night, cut or break the glass out of a window, reach through, and short the sensor. Then, you can open the window without setting off the alarm. With the end of line resistor, if somebody were to do this, as soon as you short the wire, the alarm would go off.

[@NinoNiemanThe1st]

@Christopher Jones: I think that's what they are for in most cases, but that wasn't mentioned in the video. In fact I'm not sure the video really summarised why EOL resistors exist at all, more just a non-electronics discussion of what happens when you put EOL resistors into a circuit.

[@MrLibbyloulou]

You can't cover the RIGHT sensors like you used to...they go into tamper even with the alarm unset...

[@philharrison8857]

@@MrLibbyloulou what you mention here is anti masking, these are sensors of a high quality and grade which have this feature and are wired in line with EOL resistor wiring, an extension of it if you like.

[@RadioReprised]

Am I the last guy left who still services Morse MDC-16's!.....one of the best systems ever. And then there's the Optex-Morse Genysis POS!

[@Krakology]

RadioReprised yup

[@RadioReprised]

LOL!...I have about 300 of them monitored and like a Radionics 41 or 61..........they just won't DIE!

[@stevegonzales4411]

Great video. Now I know that my installer totally screwed up my entire system!!

[@joshclarke7279]

Great clip. Thanks mate.

[@abdelhamidbensadoun6102]

This is helpful. thank you!

[@sleewok]

Excellent help. Thanks!

[@Krakology]

+sleewok thanks for watching

[@mgruzz]

how about wireless devices?

[@kunalnbhoyroo7994]

Thanks for explanation

[@MrLibbyloulou]

Brilliantly explained...you may of saved someone going to prison {:-) haha

[@starlite528]

The best reason for putting the resistor at the device is to monitor the wire for tampering while the alarm system is armed.

[@lelandclayton5462]

Find and dandy if you wire the building and service it. If youre just prewiring it and then its up to the home owner to decide on a monitoring service they would be lost, ive been there and it sucks.

[@jamie1400]

Hi, can you confirm on a smoke detector that the resistor goes across the positive and negative terminals. If so can I use the spare negative and positive terminals on the device itself?

[@ruiftavares]

Good afternoon, can I please ask for your help? I have a Ademco Microtech Galaxy 8 C055 alarm, and want to attach a GSM communicator to it. It can work with either NO or NC outputs. I just dont kmow in wich terminals I have to connect the communicator to the alarm, and can´t find any schematics online. Can you help me? Thanks in advance.

[@anwarktm1]

thank you very much man.. Salute..

[@Krakology]

your welcome

[@GelebFlamebringer]

Nice video thanks

[@KevinWorrell]

I think you meant to place the resistor across the normally open switch in the beginning, not series with the normally open switch. You placed it correctly with the smoke detector.

[@Krakology]

what N.O. switch? i think maybe your mistaken

[@faiznordin7339]

thnks for the lesson bro 👍😁

[@MrJasonrajesh]

thanks, it's very helpful...

[@drumrboynoid]

Thanks for the video. I'm installing my own alarm system at my house. I'm all caught up in the thing about how people can fool the magnet switches, like the ones in your video. Can you recommend a good magnet switch for me? Much appreciated.

[@philharrison8857]

There are lots of comments about magnetic switches and how to fool them, or quality. Can I just say, you should only use them as a means of being able to be sure a door is closed when the alarm sets, and to be able to initiate a countdown entry timer from the final exit door. Very rarely these days to people break doors down when breaking in, far easier, and in most cases quieter, to push a panel out of a door, or go through a window in which case the contact isn't broken and the alarm is not triggered. Motion detection is really what is required, of good quality of course.

[@globalmagicnation8464]

@@philharrison8857 Actually most break ins are people kicking in back doors. Hardly hear about window break ins. I get my info from jobs I do for the people who have gotten broken into.”

[@Krakology]

Glad i could help

[@marcisaacs9407]

Great

[@ubluis]

First time i see it can cut or open a line just only pressing the cable with a plier....can you explain that? greets

[@dstankovic973]

nice explanation tnx

[@Weaselspleen75]

This helped me thanks

[@ivorubenis3247]

thanks it was good to know

[@coloradowilderness3139]

Very nice explanation. Excuse me , What is written on Your Left Hand ?

[@Krakology]

that says jacob in Japanese . other arm says chase, My boys. i now also have aurebesh that says my daughters name as well

[@silverstangboy]

yes, im not particularly found of this system because it confuses guys that are new technicians, but it alows for two zones to be used on one set of terminals, basically turns that 8 zone panel into a 16 zone panel by looking for two different end of line resistor values... you can see how that makes troubleshooting difficult. if you really need more zones, zone expanders are cheap.

[@Krakology]

Glad it helped

[@MrDumonic]

Don’t get me started on double zones 😂. GE NETWORX. 😂. I installed this panel back in the 90’s. Double zoning, stupid programming. This is why I love the DSC’s. The rest is all overkill. Thank goodness I don’t do fire alarms. 😂.

[@rahulmali1978]

Thank you sir.

[@graphguy]

Many sensors are wired in series on one zone, not sure how a control panel would need to be or could be programmed and wired to do resistors at each sensor for an in series closed circuit zone.

[@rythem17]

commercial we always use at device also unless doing some-kinda special bypass switch or something