Have a hard wired Smoke detector in laundry room with a light fixture about 2 feet away. Im adding another light fixture and centering the lights in the room. If I center the present fixture it will be right next to the smoke detector (within a few inches). The fixture will just be a regular ole inclosed fixture containing CFL(s). Question is...how close is too close to put a light fixture next to the smoke detector? Thanks

Hello All, Looking for advice/suggestions here....I have browsed dozens of threads but haven't yet found the info I am looking for and my electrician hasn't had the time to stop by, holding me up on insulating my new room. I'm at the wiring stage in a new 24 x 24 family room I've built onto my home this fall. I'd like to install two ceiling fan/lights (48-52") with the dimmer/fan control operated from a wall switch (they do not need to be independent of each other although I'm not against it either). I have 7 slots open in my house breaker box (10+ available in my garage box) and I figured to dedicate 4 circuits for this room alone....one dedicated for both ceiling fans, one for a woodstove blower and shared w/2 wall plugs on the same wall, one for the entertainment center and one to supply power to 4-6 more wall plugs around the room. So here are my questions... 1.) Is there a problem having both ceiling fan/lights wired up on the same circuit? (I read a post where someone suggested they each need an independent circuit) I'd like the "church" affect...when I dim the lights, both lights dim the same and the same with the fans....when I change the fan speed I'd like them to be at the same speed. 2.) Ultimatly I'll have my electrician make the connection at the breaker box....but to save him time and me money I'm going to pull the wires and make all the connections in the room....leaving them all open for his inspection before making them hot....as we have done in some recent room rennovations. When I pull the wire for the ceiling fans I go from the breaker box to the location for the dimmer/wall switch....then add another wire from the wall switch to both ceiling fan boxes....yes/no....and I going in the right direction? 3.) The room will be finished with 3" V-Match T&G....the ceiling is a 9 1/2 foot cathederal style ceiling with a 5/12 pitch...I was thinking about running either a 2x4 or 2x6 down the center of the peak to attach these fans but am looking for other suggestions that will box up well and secure these light/fans when I start putting the T&G finishing touches on. Thanks in advance for any advice given....now watch,my electrician will show up first thing tomorrow morning now that I've asked you all for advice. -DB