wiring mains smoke alarms

sloth

probably an obvious answer ( and i think i know it!) but would like to check. I am doing a loft conversion on my bungalow and have to have two mains smoke alarms, one downstairs (optical) and one upstairs (ionisation). i have bought the optical one already (kidde) with lithium backup. my question is, I don't have to buy the same make for the ionisation alarm, do I? i.e. if i buy an EI ionisation alarm this will work fine with the kidde alarm because they are only connected by a bit of 3 core and earth cable

thanks for any help

Sloth

sloth

can anyone help please?

Alias_Omega

from what i believed when i was in the trade, was that each smoke alarm has a permanent live, a neutral and the earth.

Then between each alarm was the link cable, which sets them all off it the alarm sounds.

You need to find out if they all work the same, dont want 1 alarm kicking out 10v to activate the others, when they require 15-20v to do so.

How about replace all 3.?

sloth

thanks for the response

i am wiring the first one into the landing light using 3 core and earth, and then a further bit of 3 core and earth to the next one downstairs. as far as i know they will all work and be powered from the landing light connection. just really trying to work out whether i need the two alarms to be the same make or not

thanks again

matbe

most smoke alarms are usually ok with each other

however they should be on their own circuit wired to consumer unit

also if buried in the wall should be on an rcd

if you are going to do this you either need to be part p registered or notify building control because you would be installing a new circuit.

hewhoisnotintheknow

surely the ones that fit into a light fitting are so much less hastle?

sloth

matbe wrote: »

most smoke alarms are usually ok with each other

however they should be on their own circuit wired to consumer unit

also if buried in the wall should be on an rcd

if you are going to do this you either need to be part p registered or notify building control because you would be installing a new circuit.

thanks for the response, however i thought that only mains smoke alarms without battery backup had to be on their own circuit. i am getting two with battery backup (which admittedly i didn't specify in the op) so they are ok wired into the lighting circuit? i have checked all this out with a part p electrician and he is happy with everything. just really trying to find out if the make of the two alarnms have to be the same and as per your first line it appear sthey don't (as i suspected/hoped)

thanks again