Questions and Answers about Wiring Smoke Detectors

Summary:
Electrician Answers Questions about Smoke Detector Problems.

Home smoke detector problem

Question: Some of our smoke detectors have lost AC power. I've tried looking for loose connections in adjacent detectors and close-by receptacle/switch boxes, but have found none.

Question: My hard wired smoke alarm system has red black, white wires leading to the smoke alarm. Does the red have power to shock me? Should I connect the third wire in the smoke detector to the red wire (inter-connect)? I have connected white to white and black to black.

Smoke detectors that sound at night

Question: I have an electrical smoke alarm and it'll sound off in the wee hours of the a.m. It doesn't happen every night, but it happened this morning.


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Electrical Codes for Smoke Detectors
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Electrical Tip

The Safest Way to Test Electrical Devices and Identify Electric Wiring!

The Non-Contact Electrical Tester
This is a testing tool that I have had in my personal electrical tool pouch for years, and is the first test tool I grab to help identify electrical wiring. It is a Non-contact tester, [amazon.com], I use for the detection of Standard Voltage in Cables, Cords, Circuit Breakers, Lighting Fixtures, Switches, Outlets and Wires. Simply insert the end of the tester into an outlet, lamp socket, or hold the end of the tester against the wire you wish to test. Very handy and easy to use.

Questions and Answers about Smoke Detectors