Are these live or 240V wires?

damino

I have this smoke alarm, I can see that i've removed it from its harness

I would like to know if these wires are dangerous?

http://i.imgur.com/jim9gt1.png

like, am I supposed to power off electricity in the house before disconnecting / touching that..

Are they AC? or DC?

If i'm handling something that can potentially be 240V I want to know.

It may be I am supposed to unplug that thing in order to reach the battery compartment.

WestonDave

We've got interlinked ones which run off the mains - that could be the case here with the wires being the mains plus the link wire (could be the third wire?). It may also be the case that if you slide the plug off its reasonably safe but personally I'd turn the mains off first until you find out what you are dealing with.


If the make and model are on it anywhere, a quick google might find you the old manual which could be helpful.

Ruski

Isolate the breaker in your fuseboard marked 'smoke alarm' or similar.

Disconnect the 'plug' from the back of the detector.

Change the battery

Reconnect the 'plug'

Put it back on the ceililng and turn the breaker back on.

If it makes you feel better, just switch off the whole consumer unit.

HTH

Russ

robatwork

Those wires certainly look of a size that *could* carry mains voltages. So proceed with caution.

Wires for "battery" power tend to be thinner.