smoke alarm wiring

[bcsal08]

Hi

I'm looking for some help if possible. I've bought two new smoke alarms to replace old ones. I thought this was going to be straight forward (isn't that always the case?!) but when I've removed the old ones I have two neutral wires but only one neutral connection on the new ones. Please can someone tell me if there's a simple way to wire this or do I need to get an electrician to have a look?

Thanks

Sal

 

[Taylortwocities]

So, you are saying that you have three wires (plus earth?) to each smoke alarm. If so then the alarms are proably interlinked so that they both og off in the event of one detecting smoke.

Each alarm would require live, neutral and an interlink connection. Assuming you got the correct type of alarm, that is.

What type & model are the old and the new alarms?

 

[bcsal08]

Hi TCC

I have live, neutral and an interlink on the new alarms (Kidde) but when I removed the old ones I have live, 2 neutrals and an interlink so I'm not sure what to do with two neutrals when I was only expecting to find one.

Sal

 

[breezer]

i would look for the other live.

if it has 2 neutrals, i guess one is in, one is out.

so following that ,

live in, live out.

interlink in, interlink out

perhaps if you could post a pic?

how to add a picture is in forum information

 

[bcsal08]

This is the wiring once I've removed the old smoke alarms:

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• bcsal08
• 18 Jan 2009
• 1

and this is the connector on the new smoke alarm

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• bcsal08
• 18 Jan 2009
• 1

I have an extra wire and nowhere to connect it to

 

[flameport]

What is at the other end of those old wires - they surely can't just continue like that to the next alarm?

The mounting plate for these alarms is not intended to be fixed directly to the ceiling like that - you need to fit a dry lining box first, and screw the plate to it (otherwise, there is nowhere for the connector strip to go).

 

[bcsal08]

Thanks to all for your help. I think I'll get an electrician to have a look especially if the plates are not supposed to be attached directly to the ceiling, we bought the house from new and that's how they've been installed by the contractor so now I'm worried enough to get it all checked over.

Sal