Smoke detectors not working together

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Stevenfyeager

Senior Member
Location
United States, Indiana
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electrical contractor
9 Kidde smoke detectors not testing together. Checked the red wire nuts connection in each box. Each one tests only by itself. Same model we always use for many years. Drawing a blank .... Thanks!
 
I removed 3 in case 8 is too many (I already through away the boxes and paperwork). Kidde on the phone toold me take two down, nut them together and test. They do both ring when testing one of them. I’m still at a loss, thanks.
 
Are you only pressing the test button on one unit, or different ones each time? If you're only pressing one test button on one unit, it may be the interconnect on that one has come loose.
 
At beginning and at end of the line of 9 units, I ran a temporary wire. No. 1 detector to no. 9 detector. And also using the original red wire. No communication. BUT when I disconnect the original red wire and just use the 40 ft temp cable, the two detectors work together like normal. Cd there be a nail in the original wire interfering? That original wire tests continuity.
 
Stevenfyeager said:
BUT when I disconnect the original red wire and just use the 40 ft temp cable, the two detectors work together like normal.
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Question - during the test with your temp wire AND the red wire in the 14/3, are any or all of the other smoke detectors still in the circuit?

Just thinking out loud - your successful test with just the temp wire connecting #1 and #9 not only removes the red wire from your test but also any other detectors "hanging" on the circuit. I am wondering if there is a problem with one (or more?) of the detectors in the middle which causes the interconnect feature to fail? Can you repeat the test with #1 and #9 using the red wire only but unplug all the others in between. If that works, one of the ones you removed is the problem. Plug each one back in one at a time to find the culprit.

Good luck.
 
MD Automation said:
Question - during the test with your temp wire AND the red wire in the 14/3, are any or all of the other smoke detectors still in the circuit?

Just thinking out loud - your successful test with just the temp wire connecting #1 and #9 not only removes the red wire from your test but also any other detectors "hanging" on the circuit. I am wondering if there is a problem with one (or more?) of the detectors in the middle which causes the interconnect feature to fail? Can you repeat the test with #1 and #9 using the red wire only but unplug all the others in between. If that works, one of the ones you removed is the problem. Plug each one back in one at a time to find the culprit.

Good luck.
Click to expand...
Thank you, in the morning I will try that. One of the 9 detectors this morning was defective, it started beeping each time we energized the circuit, I took it back and HD exchanged it free. The new one did not do that. I suppose there could be another bad one with a different symptom.
 
If you know how the NM is run (mapped out), start by hooking up just two units.... A and B. Take all the others off the circuit. Does pressing either test button cause the other alarm to sound? If not, you've got a wiring problem between them. If they do work properly, start connecting units up one at a time until a problem rears it's ugly head.
 
Sounds like something is holding the Red line "low" or close to zero volts (defective wiring and/or detector). Typically the one that goes into alarm puts out about 9 volts onto the Red line. Test one on the bench and you will see.
 
With all detectors removed, check continuity to ground, should be open, if showing shorted, divide and conquer until short is found. If not, short red wire to ground, and check continuity to ground at each detector location, should have continuity, if not, circuit is open. Divide and conquer again to locate open. P.S, make sure red wire has not been taken all the way back to the panel and terminated on a breaker. Have seen that done before.
 
I had one case where there was no communication between smokes, not saying its the same with yours. I had a helper that had done some wiring before and could terminate fine, I was puzzled why they all worked but not communicating. Pulled one down and found the reds hadn't actually been connected. When questioned, helper stated (quite sincerely) that he thought the red leader on the smokes wires were an antenna because of the plastic cap on it and not bare like the other wires. Had him take them all down and terminate the reds and it then worked. My fault for not watching I guess, also he never asked. Still pick on him for that one, he'll laugh Cuz he now gets on the newbies over "duh" moments.
 
Remove all smokes and start checking the red wire for continuity. Maybe it's a factory defect and the red wire has a series of opens in it. I've seen splices in NM before.
 
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