Smoke alarms

[daveturnbull]

i want to have smoke alarms connected to the mains and was wondering if i can spur off a light in 2 separate locations or do they have to be interlinked?

Just trying to do it with least amount of mess.

 

[Spark123]

You'll probably find they need to be interlinked using 3c+e cable.

 

[Jim2287]

some do radio link now .... "Aico" is a brand name that do it

http://www.aico.co.uk/smoke_160.htm

http://www.aico.co.uk/smoke_radio.htm

The bases are the radio part ... think its quite expensive and dont know how reliable the radio link is, since never used it

 

[Welshy]

i want to have smoke alarms connected to the mains and was wondering if i can spur off a light in 2 separate locations or do they have to be interlinked?

Just trying to do it with least amount of mess.

They have to be "Interlinked" with 3 core. They can be "Spurred" off of the lighting cct.

It is preferred to have their own circuit, but this isn't always possible.

The AICO EI range are pretty good and easy to instal. Another would be the Kidde Click range.

My preference is the AICO.

 

[Welshy]

Just trying to do it with least amount of mess.

In that case - Battery operated ones will do you.

 

[Jim2287]

if u call fire service then they come and install battery operated smoke detectors for free, and talk through fire escape routes, safety advice etc

 

[jpdw]

They have to be "Interlinked" with 3 core. They can be "Spurred" off of the lighting cct.

Presumably they are best on their own cct, is then the lighting cct method an "acceptable compromise" when retro-fitted ??

If they are on their own cct, are they normally on the rcd side or not?
(slightly OT the original question, but it's always good to learn... )

 

[Jim2287]

supposed to have dedicated circuit now, but better fitted on lighting circuit than no smokes at all
.... if u fit on lighting circuit they must have battery back-up


shouldnt be on RCD side due to nuisance trips... but new regs most domestic properties will be 30mA on all circuits anyway (unless earthed-metal protection in walls)

 

[Pensdown]

IIRC the preferred method is fed from the lighting circuit and not from a dedicated circuit. If they are going to be fed from a dedicated circuit provision for mains fail indication maybe required.

 

[plugwash]

iirc the requirement is for a local lighting circuit or a dedicated circuit and for interlinking. The problem is the same lighting circuit isn't everywhere and interlinking alarms on different circuits is probablly a bad idea (do the manufacturers document how thier interlinking systems work and whether this is safe? if so where?).

 

[ColJack]

gererally, you interlink with 3 core and earth.. which supplies mains and the interlink..

so you connect to one lighting circuit only...