If your home already has hardwired door, window, motion, or smoke sensors, you don’t need to replace them to use a Qolsys IQ Panel. A hardwire module connects your wired zones and converts them into wireless signals the panel can read.
Qolsys offers two options:
- IQ Hardwire 16-F (QS7133-840)
- IQ Hardwire PowerG (PG9WLSHW8)
This guide covers the differences so you can choose the right one for your system.
Quick Comparison
| IQ Hardwire 16-F | IQ Hardwire PowerG | |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless type | 319.5 MHz S-Line | PowerG (915 MHz, encrypted, two-way) |
| IQ Panel 5 requirement | Requires the 319.5 MHz legacy radio card | Works with the built-in PowerG radio, no card needed |
| Hardwired zones | 15, plus 1 dedicated 2-wire smoke zone | 8 built in, plus a separate 2-wire smoke input; expandable with zone expanders |
| Zone expansion | Not expandable | Up to 4 DSC HSM2108 8-zone expanders per module |
| Power supply expansion | Not available | 1 DSC HSM2300 power supply module per module |
| Hardwired keypads | Not supported | Up to 2 DSC NEO keypads (HS2LCD, HS2ICN) |
| Zone wiring | N/O or N/C with EOL resistor | N/O, N/C, single EOL (SEOL), or double EOL (DEOL) |
| End-of-line resistor | 4.7 kΩ (UL mode, default), or any 1 kΩ – 10 kΩ value using EOL Resistor Learning | 1 kΩ – 10 kΩ |
| Max wire distance to EOL | Not specified | Up to 7,800 ft (18 AWG) or 3,000 ft (22 AWG) |
| 2-wire smoke detectors | Up to 10 on zone 16 | Up to 18 on PGM2 (does not use one of the 8 onboard zones) |
| Compatible 2-wire smokes | System Sensor 2W-B, 2WT-B, 2WTA-B | DSC FSA-210 series, C2W-BA, C2WTA-BA |
| 2-wire smoke EOL | 4.7 kΩ | 2.2 kΩ |
| 4-wire smoke detectors | No | Yes |
| CO detectors | Not supported | Supported |
| Auxiliary power | 12 VDC, 500 mA | 12 VDC, 700 mA (shared between AUX1, AUX2, and PGMs) |
| Siren output | Relay (60 VDC / 1 A max), siren powered from the AUX output | Bell output, 700 mA continuous |
| Siren resistor | Not required | 1 kΩ resistor required across BELL+ and BELL− |
| Programmable outputs | None | 4 PGM outputs |
| Status LEDs | Individual LED for each zone, plus smoke, processor, RF transmit, and EOL calibration LEDs | One multicolor status LED (normal, trouble, enrollment, firmware update) |
| Signal strength test | Not available on the module | Yes, LED shows strong / medium / poor |
| Tamper | Dedicated tamper input (no resistor) | Front cover and wall tamper |
| Power supply | 16 VDC plug-in transformer (included) | 18 VDC, 2.2 A transformer (included) |
| Backup battery | 12 V, 5 Ah (not included) | 12 V, 7 Ah |
| Firmware updates | Not specified | Local update with DLS 5 or higher |
Which One Should I Choose?
Choose the IQ Hardwire PowerG (PG9WLSHW8) if:
- You have an IQ Panel 5 or IQ Panel 4 and don’t want to add a legacy radio card
- You have CO detectors, or 2-wire or 4-wire smoke detectors
- You want encrypted, two-way communication with the panel
- You need programmable outputs or a stronger siren output
- You want to keep using hardwired keypads (DSC NEO HS2LCD or HS2ICN)
- You have long wire runs or a large hardwired system and need room to grow with zone expanders
Choose the IQ Hardwire 16-F (QS7133-840) if:
- You have up to 15 hardwired zones and want them all on one module without adding expanders
- You have existing System Sensor 2-wire smoke detectors (2W-B, 2WT-B, 2WTA-B) you want to keep
- You want an LED on every zone to make installation and troubleshooting easier
- Your IQ Panel 5 already has the 319.5 MHz legacy radio card installed
Important Notes
- IQ Panel 5 and the 16-F: The IQ Panel 5 supports PowerG plus only one legacy frequency, depending on which legacy radio card is installed. To use the 16-F, the panel needs the 319.5 MHz card. See How to Install the IQ Card Legacy Radio into the IQ Panel 5.
- Check your 2-wire smoke models: Each module supports different 2-wire smoke detectors. System Sensor 2W-B models are listed for the 16-F, while the PowerG module lists DSC FSA-210 series detectors. Do not mix detector models or brands on the same loop.
- 2-wire smokes on the PowerG module: The 2-wire smoke loop uses PGM2, so PGM2 isn’t available as an output when it’s used for smokes.
- Expanding the PowerG module: Each PG9WLSHW8 supports up to 4 HSM2108 zone expanders (8 zones each), 1 HSM2300 power supply module, and up to 2 hardwired keypads. The standard PG9WLSHW8 enclosure has room for 2 expanders; using more requires a larger enclosure. Make sure both your hardwire module and panel are on current firmware before adding expanders.
- Hardwired keypads: The supported DSC NEO keypads are the HS2LCD and HS2ICN. They connect to the PowerG module’s Corbus terminals.
- Number of modules: Up to 2 PowerG hardwire modules can be used per panel.
- Fire and CO on the PowerG module: When fire or CO devices are connected to the PG9WLSHW8, the supervisory window must be set to 200 seconds.
- No CO on the 16-F: The IQ Hardwire 16-F is not for use with CO detectors.
- Siren on the PowerG module: Without the 1 kΩ resistor across the bell terminals, the module will report a bell circuit trouble.
- Metal enclosures: If the 16-F is mounted inside a metal can, the antenna must extend outside the enclosure.
Not sure which module fits your system? Reply below with the number and type of hardwired sensors you have, and we’ll be happy to help!