Hard wired smoke detector
#1
01-31-05, 11:38 AM
Hard wired smoke detector
I have been doing some remodeling to my 22 year old house and decided to change the original smoke detector with a smoke/co2 detector.
The old one is hard wired and there is another one like it in the basement.
I removed the old one upstairs and installed the pigtail (with the red wire) and then connected it. Once I did, BOTH alarms went off and would not silence.
Did I do something wrong. The Kidde detector says it can be connected with up to 16 other devices. It does not say if all the devices have to be the same brand or not.
Any ideas here?
The old one is hard wired and there is another one like it in the basement.
I removed the old one upstairs and installed the pigtail (with the red wire) and then connected it. Once I did, BOTH alarms went off and would not silence.
Did I do something wrong. The Kidde detector says it can be connected with up to 16 other devices. It does not say if all the devices have to be the same brand or not.
Any ideas here?
#2
01-31-05, 11:53 AM
Member
Every smoke detector I've ever seen contains instructions that say that the interconnect only works properly if all the devices are the same make and model. I'll bet if you reread those instructions, you'll find this restriction too.
#3
01-31-05, 12:08 PM
I've installed different brands hard wired smoke detectors without any problem. In my house I know I have BK and a differnt brand (can't think of it at the moment). In total I have 6 SD and a combination SD/CO detector all hardwired (the CO detector talks 
).
How did you wire them? You probably connected the trigger wire to the hot.
).How did you wire them? You probably connected the trigger wire to the hot.
#4
01-31-05, 01:07 PM
Hmmm...
I wired it just like the diagram.
White to white (neutral)
Black to black (load)
Red to red (interconnect)
Here is the link to the adobe pdf file.
http://www.kiddeus.com/ss900-0114.rsf
It says "Up to 24 KIDDE devices". So I guess I have to replace the unit in the basement too.
Funny, I have replaced my Mom and Dad's detectors with 2 different brands. I don't think either one is a KIDDE brand.
White to white (neutral)
Black to black (load)
Red to red (interconnect)
Here is the link to the adobe pdf file.
http://www.kiddeus.com/ss900-0114.rsf
It says "Up to 24 KIDDE devices". So I guess I have to replace the unit in the basement too.
Funny, I have replaced my Mom and Dad's detectors with 2 different brands. I don't think either one is a KIDDE brand.
#5
01-31-05, 01:23 PM
Member
There is some limited interoperability. For example, the same company makes both BK and First Alert, so those two brands are generally interoperable. There might also be some accidental interoperability between brands, but neither brand is going to certify it because they don't implement to a standard interface, and they don't test with other brands.
The listed lifespan of a smoke detector is ten years. After that, they are not as reliable So if it's been ten years, you should plan to replace them, and you should replace them all as a set.
The listed lifespan of a smoke detector is ten years. After that, they are not as reliable So if it's been ten years, you should plan to replace them, and you should replace them all as a set.
#6
01-31-05, 01:37 PM
Yes
Which is why I wanted to replace the original.
I don't have a problem replacing the 2nd one, provided that fixes the problem!
Do you think I just need another Kidde detector or do they both need to be the same model?
If I get a regular detector and with the smoke/co2 I already have, were is the best location for the smoke/co2? In the basement in the furnace room or upstairs right outside the bedrooms?
Thanks
I don't have a problem replacing the 2nd one, provided that fixes the problem!
Do you think I just need another Kidde detector or do they both need to be the same model?
If I get a regular detector and with the smoke/co2 I already have, were is the best location for the smoke/co2? In the basement in the furnace room or upstairs right outside the bedrooms?
Thanks
#7
01-31-05, 01:56 PM
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Check with the manufacturer's reccommendation, but I usually tell people to put it upstairs. Less chance of a nuisance CO alarm...if it goes it's probably for real.
But either place works.
But either place works.
#10
01-31-05, 02:23 PM
Member
Since it's already there, you might as well leave it there and see what happens. It's false alarms you have to worry about, and maybe you won't have any. Read all the fine print that came with the detector.
