swapping mains-powered smoke alarms

[xAlex]

Hallo

my mate has 2 mains-powered smoke alarms which are not working properly and also are due for replacement according to a sticker on them.

Can he just remove them and use battery smoke alarms, or is there any kind of regulation re. removing mains-powered alarms?

The house is an old one (as opposed to a new build). There are 2 alarms - hall and landing, interconnected. The is no identified way on the CU, so is the power likely to be supplied from a ceiling rose?

thank you.

 

[electronicsuk]

Why would you want to replace mains powered alarms with battery powered ones? This is surely taking a step backwards. If the house was built or extended recently then it's fair to assume that the detectors were installed for building regs compliance, and probably shouldn't be removed.

 

[holmslaw]

..

 

[xAlex]

OK, so if we get replacements, are they all the same connections...ie 3 core and earth - live, neutral, switch live and earth?

 

[flameport]

Line, neutral, link and earth.
Smoke alarms do not have a switched line, for obvious reasons.

What make of alarm are they? - some have a separate mounting plate, so replacement is just a case of removing the alarm from the plate and putting the new one on - no wiring required.

 

[xAlex]

Line, neutral, link and earth.
Smoke alarms do not have a switched line, for obvious reasons.

What make of alarm are they? - some have a separate mounting plate, so replacement is just a case of removing the alarm from the plate and putting the new one on - no wiring required.

'll ask him what type of alarm they are. Although the 'replace-by' date on the units is nearly reached, the main reason for replacing them is that they are faulty - the battery goes quite quickly apparently, and they should just be for back-up purposes.

 

[flameport]

The battery not lasting would suggest some problem with the mains supply, such as it not being connected, or being switched off for whatever reason.
This can happen when light fittings are replaced by buffoons, such as not connecting the cable to the smoke alarm, or even connecting the smoke alarm to the switched line.

 

[starspark]

It doesn't matter how they are supplied, but they must be capable of being interlinked.

And yes it is most likely they are fed via the lighting circuit.

im sure the manufacturer would have something to say about that if they were supplied by bell wire perhaps? a ring final circuit? a shower circuit?an off peak consumer unit?

 

[starspark]

Yeah! you tell him starspark!

errr ok!!