Smoke detector interconnect wire, different thread

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sw_ross

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This question is somewhat prompted by the recent thread about the interconnect wire for smoke detectors, but is mostly related to my current job.

I'm doing a small building reno, not residential, and am installing some smoke detectors for safety even though they're not required.

The panel is somewhat centered in the space. I have conduit going towards the two directions of the building (front area and back area).

For the smokes I was thinking of tapping power from lighting circuits in those areas and then have an interconnect wire go back to the panel where it gets wire-nutted together.

Essentially the smokes won't all be on the same circuit, but the interconnect wire will connect them all together at the panel.

I'm not talking about low-voltage, like in the other persons thread. This would be #12 thhn.

I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as the panel is labeled properly for the smoke detector locations?

Thanks
 
This comment is off the cuff

I did not check but i would think the smokes lets say, would be rated for 120 volts not 240 volts

than you would also have manufactured instructions
 
sw_ross said:
This question is somewhat prompted by the recent thread about the interconnect wire for smoke detectors, but is mostly related to my current job.

I'm doing a small building reno, not residential, and am installing some smoke detectors for safety even though they're not required.

The panel is somewhat centered in the space. I have conduit going towards the two directions of the building (front area and back area).

For the smokes I was thinking of tapping power from lighting circuits in those areas and then have an interconnect wire go back to the panel where it gets wire-nutted together.

Essentially the smokes won't all be on the same circuit, but the interconnect wire will connect them all together at the panel.

I'm not talking about low-voltage, like in the other persons thread. This would be #12 thhn.

I don't see why it wouldn't work as long as the panel is labeled properly for the smoke detector locations?

Thanks
Click to expand...

As I recall, the manufacturer's instructions don't allow you to power the smoke alarms (not detectors; detectors are low voltage only) from different circuits.
 
david said:
This comment is off the cuff

I did not check but i would think the smokes lets say, would be rated for 120 volts not 240 volts

than you would also have manufactured instructions
Click to expand...

Umm..., not sure what you're referring to regarding 240volt.

I'm just talking about your run of the meal residential style smoke detectors, 120v.

I'll look over the installation instructions for reference
 
Why not just pick up the same circuit that feeds the lights you're going to power the smokes up in the panel and use that, along with the interconnect, to power the rest of the units?
 
I think the signal wire only has 3-9 volts dc on it durring trigger ( which would correspond to the voltage supplied by the battery back up ) with the neutral ac wire also as common.
 
Yes it's commercial.
I'm going to have all the "alarms" on the same circuit, just using the panel as a splice point.
I was just curious about the concept of different smoke alarms getting power "locally", with an interconnect wire to tie the alarms together.

Thanks for input
 
I have never seen commercial/industrial have typical residential smoke alarms installed. Don't they typically have an alarm system and panel?
 
Little Bill said:
I have never seen commercial/industrial have typical residential smoke alarms installed. Don't they typically have an alarm system and panel?
Click to expand...

I was wondering the same thing. Why install residential smoke alarms in a commercial building. If smoke detection is required that means a real fire alarm system (smoke detectors and fire panel).
 
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