Smoke Alarms and Smoke Detector Wiring

How to Know Which Type of Smoke Detector to Use

Smoke Detector Types and Home Protection
Electrical Question: My house is hard wired for the smoke alarms, do I have to use hard wired smoke alarms. I have some battery only smoke alarms I could use.

Background: Rick, a Homeowner from Sartell, MN

Dave’s Reply:
Thanks for your electrical question Rick.

How to Know Which Type of Smoke Detector to Use

• If your home is wired for smoke alarms then replace them with the same type.
• If you were to replace a hardwired smoke alarm or smoke detector with a battery only type then this would prevent the whole smoke alarm system from providing the type of annunciation that is capable of providing.
• A typical hardwired smoke detector is 120 volts with a 9 volt battery backup.
• The smoke detectors are interconnected, meaning that if one goes off they all go off.
• This may sound like a very annoying type of alarm system, but believe me, this is the best system and it helps save lives and may reduce damage to the home because of this early warning alarm feature.

Smoke Detectors

Smoke Detectors
Take the mystery out of smoke detector wiring. Smoke alarms provide the earliest warning of both fire and smoke.

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