Number of Zones On a Hardwired System Cannot be Increased

In this video, Michael from Alarm Grid explains how the number of zones on a hardwired alarm system cannot be increased. The number of zones that an alarm system is capable of supporting is built into its firmware, or system logic. This max number of total zones cannot be increased. That is why it is important to get a system that will support more zones than you think you will need, just in case you ever want to expand upon the system later.

For hardwired alarm systems, there is a special consideration. The number of zones that a wired system can support brand-new out of the box without any additional hardware is less than the total number of zones that the system has the capacity for supporting and exist within the system's logic. But not every system zone is accessible right away. This is because the only zones accessible without any additional hardware are the on-board hardwired zones that are associated with the actual panel. To access the other zones, you will need wired zone expansion modules for wired sensors, and/or a wireless receiver module for wireless sensors.

When you consider the total number of zones for a wired alarm panel, you need to remember that the number of wired zones plus the number of wireless zones can never exceed the number of total zones. Also, there are some zones that can only be wired, some zones that can only be wireless, and some zones that can be both. On-board panel zones are for wired sensors only. Wireless sensors cannot interface with those on-board zones. Conversely, key fob zones are for wireless sensors only. You cannot configure a wired sensor at a key fob zone, even through the use of a wired zone expander. For the remaining zones that can go either way, remember that when you set them for one zone type, you will lose out on the ability to use it with the alternative zone type. In other words, when you set one of those zones as wired, that means that you will lose out on a potential wireless zone. But conversely, if you set it as wired, then you are giving up a possible wireless zone.

https://www.alarmgrid.com/faq/can-i-increase-the-max-number-of-zones-on-my-hardwired-security-

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