There are a number of things you need to consider when wiring an alarm siren. These include whether you want a single-tone or dual-tone siren, and what power wires to use.
The wires in a siren are usually black for negative (-) power and either red or yellow for positive (+) power. Depending on the type of siren, you may need to use a separate power supply or relay, but that’s not always necessary. If you’re simply adding a siren to your system, it’s usually best to use the black wire for negative and the red or yellow for positive.
A siren will usually need to be wired into a control panel so that it can be triggered. The control panel can be a standalone unit or it can be connected to a security camera, window and door opening sensors, motion detectors, or even a smart video doorbell.
Once you’ve decided where to mount the control module and siren, it’s time to hook up all the wiring. Take great care to route the wires in a safe, secure way and to ensure that they’re out of sight.
You should also encase the wiring in protective loom so that it’s out of reach from a thief. Leaving the wiring exposed or unprotected will only make it more likely that an intruder can cut through and disable the system.
Connect the alarm siren’s power and ground leads to the brain, taking care to route the wires in a neat, organized way. Once the connections are complete, test the siren.
If the siren has a built-in battery, place it in the battery box and turn on the power. If you’re using a power cord, plug it into a wall outlet or extension cord.
Generally, the siren’s power and ground leads should be connected to the alarm output terminals on a Vista Series control panel. The red wire is 12V negative and should be connected to terminal 4, while the yellow wire is positive and should be connected to terminal 3.
You can also connect a siren with a power cord directly to the alarm output. That’s typically easiest for a simple siren setup.
For a more complex system, you can connect a siren to the alarm outputs on a Vista Series control panel by using a dry-contact relay. The relay can be powered by a 12V DC power adapter, or it can be hooked up directly to the siren’s power and ground leads.
The relay can also be tied into a key-sense wire in your car’s dome light switch, so that the siren sounds only when the driver’s door is opened. This will help prevent thieves from bypassing the alarm and gaining access to your car.
It’s important to follow the instructions in your owner’s manual to ensure that your siren is operating correctly. Failure to do so can cause your siren to malfunction and may result in costly repairs or replacements.