Tapping off smoke alarm circuit allowed ?

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ritelec

Senior Member
Location
Jersey
Lets say you have eight interconnected 120v smoke alarms throughout a single family home. Is it permissible to tap off the hot and neutral at any or all of those smoke alarm outlet boxes to feed other lighting and receptacle outlets?

Or, does that that interconnected part of the smoke circuit need to be intact, by itself.

Just wondering.

Thank you.
 

Buck Parrish

Senior Member
Location
NC & IN
We, as above include them on a outlet and lighting circuit. We usually use the Master Bedroom lights. It's not in the NEC.

It doesn't have any thing to do with the interconnected part of the smoke circuit being intact. Only the red wire is used when the alarm goes off. Our taps are on the blk and W
 
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ritelec

Senior Member
Location
Jersey
Thanks mjf and Buck,

I understand to put lighting on the smoke circuit so people don't turn the circuit off.

But I would think to feed some lighting, and feed the smoke 3 wire circ.

What I'm wondering is, is it permissible to say hit the first smoke alarm box with the circuit, from there hit all your smoke detectors, then from several smoke alarm boxes from throughout that circuit, jump out to feed several lights ???
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
Without reason or code sections to do so.

110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use
of Equipment.
(B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment
shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions
included in the listing or labeling.

110.8 Wiring Methods. Only wiring methods recognized
as suitable are included in this Code. The recognized methods
of wiring shall be permitted to be installed in any type
of building or occupancy, except as otherwise provided in
this Code.

I am unaware where 'tapping' into a interconnection of smoke detectors is ALLOWED.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
110.3 Examination, Identification, Installation, and Use
of Equipment.
(B) Installation and Use. Listed or labeled equipment
shall be installed and used in accordance with any instructions
included in the listing or labeling.

110.8 Wiring Methods. Only wiring methods recognized
as suitable are included in this Code. The recognized methods
of wiring shall be permitted to be installed in any type
of building or occupancy, except as otherwise provided in
this Code.

I am unaware where 'tapping' into a interconnection of smoke detectors is ALLOWED.

You have yet to show anything at all that even hints that it is prohibited.
 

jxofaltrds

Inspector Mike®
Location
Mike P. Columbus Ohio
Occupation
ESI, PI, RBO
You have yet to show anything at all that even hints that it is prohibited.


Branch Circuit, General-Purpose. A branch circuit that
supplies two or more receptacles or outlets for lighting and
appliances.

The first 'outlet' could be 'tapped'. The interconnection is just that - an interconnection.

I assume from the man. specs. that the 3-wire is solely for the interconnection of smokes.
 

MannyBurgos

Senior Member
Location
Waukegan, IL
Around here, our inspector requires us to install smoke/co detectors on an unswitched wire off one of the lighting circuits. I see your question as just that. Just dont tap into the communication wire...
 

jaylectricity

Senior Member
Location
Massachusetts
Occupation
licensed journeyman electrician
I know. And I say that - that wire is not 'really' part of the branch circuit.

It is solely for the smokes.

But none of that applies. The highlighted part of your diagram mentions "crossing hot and neutral" wires. Nobody is tapping off the wire to the smoke, they're tapping off the branch circuit. The wire to the smoke is also tapping off the branch circuit.
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
Branch Circuit, General-Purpose. A branch circuit that
supplies two or more receptacles or outlets for lighting and
appliances.

The first 'outlet' could be 'tapped'. The interconnection is just that - an interconnection.

I assume from the man. specs. that the 3-wire is solely for the interconnection of smokes.

I know. And I say that - that wire is not 'really' part of the branch circuit.

It is solely for the smokes.


You feel the circuit conductors beyond the first smoke alarm are no longer a branch circuit?:huh:


Whatever you are smoking please share with me. :D
 

ritelec

Senior Member
Location
Jersey
Nobody is talking about tying anything into the wire that interconnects the smokes, just the ones that power them.

I was. That was my question.

So you CAN'T tap off the interconnected 3 wire between the smoke alarms to feed other lighting and receptacle outlets.

OK, Now I really know.

Thanks
 

iwire

Moderator
Staff member
Location
Massachusetts
I was. That was my question.

So you CAN'T tap off the interconnected 3 wire between the smoke alarms to feed other lighting and receptacle outlets.

OK, Now I really know.

Thanks

NO!:D

You can tap into the black and white wire anywhere.

You can't tap into the red or yellow interconnect wire at all.
 
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