False smoke alarms

[DaveBowden]

I know this isn't a code issue, but I don't know where else to post this.
We have 2 jobs we completed recently where the smoke alarms are sounding for a couple of seconds in the middle of the night. They are connected to the arc fault circuits for the bedrooms ( I believe they have to be since they are outlets in the bedrooms. )
One job has 7 detectors and the other job only has two. They are wired together with 14/3 romex.
They both have a home run going to the first detector in the series.
On the job with only 2 we've replaced them both twice with the same brand (USI) and once with a different brand (Code One).
The engineer from USI was no help. His only expanation was that the foam seal on the back of the mounting plate had been removed. It hadn't. Then he recommended I disconnect them from the circuit and let them run just on the battery back-up. I can't bring myself to do that - it feels unsafe to me.
They only seem to go off in the middle of the night.
Any ideas?

 

[Energize]

This same issue came up earlier last month and here were some suggestions. Hope it helps!



http://forums.mikeholt.com/showthread.php?t=88170&highlight=smoke+alarms

 

[gndrod]

false trigger

false trigger

Another false alarm origin can be from a momentary light reflection. Testing combo alarm detectors on a high ceiling can be done without a ladder. Just shining a direct beam of light on the unit will set it off.

 

[don_resqcapt19]

Testing combo alarm detectors on a high ceiling can be done without a ladder. Just shining a direct beam of light on the unit will set it off.

Then that is a vey poorly designed smoke alarm.
Don

 

[gndrod]

Then that is a vey poorly designed smoke alarm.
Don

No contest. Try using a 1 meg candle power beam. Works on most units.