Mystic142
Well-known member
I recently found out that smoke detectors should be replaced every so often.
Since I also recently added a garage, I figured that I would add a new detector to the two in the house and connect them all so that smoke/fire/CO2 in the garage would also set off the whole house. The units that were currently in the house were networkable with one being only 20' from where the garage one will be.
Although I am not an electrician, I am an electronics tech and have worked with stuff up to and including 480 3 ph. I started the project by replacing the two detectors in the house and came across problem 1.
Although the detectors were capable of networking, they were only wired in using 12/2 so although they worked individually, they lacked communication. No problem, I can run 14/3 from detector one to detector two out to the garage.
I removed the first detector and found two sets of wires coming in and assumed that this was just a daisy chained circuit heading elsewhere. I was just going to connect the third set of wires and move on. While de-energizing the circuit, I came across problem 2.
Both sets of wires coming in to the box are live and fed from separate breakers. These wires were connected together and to the detector. I am assuming that in addition to not being safe it is against code. What do I do about this?
The last problem is minor. I opened up the second detector box and the wires are feeding up from the bottom so I will need to drill down from the top with my new wire. What should I do with the two sets of wires that are there that I will no longer be using?
Since I also recently added a garage, I figured that I would add a new detector to the two in the house and connect them all so that smoke/fire/CO2 in the garage would also set off the whole house. The units that were currently in the house were networkable with one being only 20' from where the garage one will be.
Although I am not an electrician, I am an electronics tech and have worked with stuff up to and including 480 3 ph. I started the project by replacing the two detectors in the house and came across problem 1.
Although the detectors were capable of networking, they were only wired in using 12/2 so although they worked individually, they lacked communication. No problem, I can run 14/3 from detector one to detector two out to the garage.
I removed the first detector and found two sets of wires coming in and assumed that this was just a daisy chained circuit heading elsewhere. I was just going to connect the third set of wires and move on. While de-energizing the circuit, I came across problem 2.
Both sets of wires coming in to the box are live and fed from separate breakers. These wires were connected together and to the detector. I am assuming that in addition to not being safe it is against code. What do I do about this?
The last problem is minor. I opened up the second detector box and the wires are feeding up from the bottom so I will need to drill down from the top with my new wire. What should I do with the two sets of wires that are there that I will no longer be using?
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