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from experience, too much heat,moist or dust affect the performance of smoke detectors and can easily activate the detector.

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Q: Why would hard wired smoke detectors sound if no smoke is evident?
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Do wired smoke detectors mount on electrical boxes?

Hard wired smoke detectors have to have a junction box behind them. These detectors use 120 volts as a working voltage. These types of detectors should be wired with 3 conductor #14 wire. The detector uses the black and white wires for the 120 volt source. Detectors these days have an output signal wire that can be connected to other detectors so that if one trips it will sound the alarm in other detectors that are on the same circuit. This output wire can be connected to other detectors by the third red wire in the 3 conductor cable.


What are the advantages of hard wired versus battery only smoke detectors?

If the battery dies the smoke detector sill works, that the biggest advantage to using hard wire.


Do smoke detectors have to be on a desginated circuit in bedrooms?

Putting smoke detectors on a designated circuit is a good design policy. One of the features of a designated design is that the smoke detectors can be all looped together. The smoke detectors of today have a third terminal where if one detector trips all of the detectors on the circuit have the ability, if connected, to alarm. All of the detectors are wired with a 3 conductor #14 cable. The black and white wires are used for power to the detector and the third red wire is used on the third terminal to alarm all of the detectors on the circuit when one smoke detector trips. With all detectors in an alarm mode it is hard not to hear or sleep through any emergency because of closed doors blocking the sound. Using this method of connection it is recommended a detector in each bedroom and above the stairwell between floors. Keep away from the kitchen area or the whole house will know when someone burns the toast.


Where can you buy smoke detectors?

Check out the smoke detector installation section of this link for more information. Its in section 3. There are many guidelines that may vary from state to state, so you may have to get a local codebook for your state or territory.


Can you change a hard wired smoke detector with the electric on?

It is not a good idea to work on any electrical circuits with the voltage on. Depending on the year when your smoke detector was installed it might have a quick disconnect to change out the device without having to physically having to undo any wire connections. Earlier models had screw terminals that connected to the circuit. Turn the circuit breaker off that supplies the voltage to the smoke detectors. Copy on a piece of paper the wire colours that are on the specific terminals of the detector. Replace the wires on the same terminals on the new detector. Turn on the breaker, the smoke detector will beep and then go quiet, They are now monitoring your home again. Don't forget, when you have the power off, vacuum the other detectors to get rid of built up dust that can cause nuisance tripping.

Related questions

Do wired smoke detectors mount on electrical boxes?

Hard wired smoke detectors have to have a junction box behind them. These detectors use 120 volts as a working voltage. These types of detectors should be wired with 3 conductor #14 wire. The detector uses the black and white wires for the 120 volt source. Detectors these days have an output signal wire that can be connected to other detectors so that if one trips it will sound the alarm in other detectors that are on the same circuit. This output wire can be connected to other detectors by the third red wire in the 3 conductor cable.


Hard wired smoke detector versus battery operated smoke detector?

Hard wired detectors are generally better. Some have back up power sources should the city power go out. It depends on how much you want to spend. Hard wired detectors are more expensive to install and are generally built better.


What are the advantages of hard wired versus battery only smoke detectors?

If the battery dies the smoke detector sill works, that the biggest advantage to using hard wire.


Do smoke detectors have to be on a desginated circuit in bedrooms?

Putting smoke detectors on a designated circuit is a good design policy. One of the features of a designated design is that the smoke detectors can be all looped together. The smoke detectors of today have a third terminal where if one detector trips all of the detectors on the circuit have the ability, if connected, to alarm. All of the detectors are wired with a 3 conductor #14 cable. The black and white wires are used for power to the detector and the third red wire is used on the third terminal to alarm all of the detectors on the circuit when one smoke detector trips. With all detectors in an alarm mode it is hard not to hear or sleep through any emergency because of closed doors blocking the sound. Using this method of connection it is recommended a detector in each bedroom and above the stairwell between floors. Keep away from the kitchen area or the whole house will know when someone burns the toast.


Advantages and disadvantages of an ionization smoke detectors?

Cheap and effective when maintained properly. Smoke detectors will run out of battery over time as they are not wired in to the houses electrical system. Statistics show that far fewer people die in house fires when smoke alarms are present. When the smoke alarms are placed to close to bathrooms steam may interfere with the detector, triggering false alarms. Ionization detectors seem to respond better with high flames which could be a problem under certain circumstances.


Why do hard wired smoke detector activate alarm?

A smoke detector is designed to activate an alarm if smoke is detected. It does not matter if the unit is hard wired or battery operated. This is its job. In a hard wired system you can interconnect the alarms if a three wire is used between units. The black and white wires are used to power the unit and the third red wire can be inter connected to the alarms in each one of the other detectors in the same system. Hence if one smoke detector alarm trips, the horn alarms in all of the other detectors will go in to an alarm state. This is a very good safety factor and units should be wired this way. For example if a detector trips in the basement at night and there are closed doors between floors you might not hear the alarm in your upstairs bedroom. If all of the alarms sound upstairs and down no matter which unit tripped, you are bound to hear them, no matter what part of the house you are in.


Does an electric smoke alarm have a battery?

It depends on your city's fire codes, most likely yes. "Wired" alarms could either mean "wired to AC power" or "wired to an alarm panel" or both. Start by calling your local fire alarm installer or electrician. Assuming that the detectors are wired to a central hub in the house/building (fire alarm control panel), the panel would normally have a battery back-up installed. For individual units wired to AC, having a battery back up would be safer, no matter what the laws. Some units will automatically remind you when the battery is low, even though the unit is on AC power, since the smoke alarm must continue to function if power is off for some reason.


What kind of smoke alarm will monitor another floor and alert you at the floor you are on?

This would be one kind of "interconnected" smoke alarm. It is also possible to have any number of smoke or heat detectors wired to a Fire Alarm Control Panel, which can have an "auxiliary" display at your location to indicate which sensors have been triggered, if any.


Said wired for sound?

Who sang Wired for Sound?Cliff Richard


Where can you buy smoke detectors?

Check out the smoke detector installation section of this link for more information. Its in section 3. There are many guidelines that may vary from state to state, so you may have to get a local codebook for your state or territory.


When was Wired for Sound created?

Wired for Sound was created on -9-05-27.


Can you change a hard wired smoke detector with the electric on?

It is not a good idea to work on any electrical circuits with the voltage on. Depending on the year when your smoke detector was installed it might have a quick disconnect to change out the device without having to physically having to undo any wire connections. Earlier models had screw terminals that connected to the circuit. Turn the circuit breaker off that supplies the voltage to the smoke detectors. Copy on a piece of paper the wire colours that are on the specific terminals of the detector. Replace the wires on the same terminals on the new detector. Turn on the breaker, the smoke detector will beep and then go quiet, They are now monitoring your home again. Don't forget, when you have the power off, vacuum the other detectors to get rid of built up dust that can cause nuisance tripping.