Smoke detectors

[Podooser]

Can you use two different makes of smoke alarms on the same circuit, both being mains-powered ionisation alarms with backup battery (but different makes as I said before).

 

[Lectrician]

Not if they are interlinked. Makes are not intercompatible.

 

[Podooser]

They will be interlinked

 

[rssteve]

i always pursumes the interlink just sent a voltage of 230v under activation? am i wrong?

 

[breezer]

try one and see. i wouldn't

 

[rssteve]

well considering they are run in the same 3 core cable id like to think the signal voltage is 230v. but just thinking about this if the detectors were running on battery then maby they use a signal voltahe of 9v. I think i will test one at work some time.

 

[flyingsparks]

I am pretty sure the interlink signal voltage is ELV - not 230V. Always remember being told at college NOT to sleeve it brown as it is not a live. (not live at 230V anyway) Not sure exactly what voltage, but like rssteve said probabily 9V.

 

[Lectrician]

It HUGELY depends on make. Most send at best, and E E E E ELV signal.

Older ones (going back donkeys) used to use a switched neutral (put the interconnect to neutral, all would sound). Put the interconnect to live......bang.

Molst modern ones do use an E E E E ELV type signal, but ov varying odds. You will likely frazzle one or both detectors if you try interlinking.

At the end of the day, even the best make (IMO, Aico Easyfit) are less than a tenner.