how to install smoke alarms?
Answers:
FIRST,IF YOU CAN RUN A 14/2 ROMEX WIRE FROM YOUR ELECTRIC PANEL,(IF YOU HAVE AN EMPTY SPACE FOR A SINGLE POLE 15 AMP BREAKER OR FUSE.) TO THE ATTIC TO WHERE YOU WANT TO INSTALL THE SMOKE DETECTOR,INSTALL A BRACKET BOX BETWEEN THE STUDS CUT OUT CEILING FOR BOX,PUT WIRE IN,RUN ANOTHER 14/2 ROMEX TO THE NEXT ONE AND SO ON. REMEMBER TO INSTALL OUTSIDE BEDROOM DOORS,LIVING ROOMS, DINNING RMS., DENS,HALLS,MAKE SURE ITS AWAY FROM THE KITCHEN.WIRING IS SIMPLE,GROUND WIRE IS BARE COPPER,COMMON IS WHITE,BLACK IS HOT. SO WHT-WHT, BLK.-BLK.,BARE COPPER-BARE COPPER. INSTALL ALARMS.IN PANEL WHITE WIRE TO WHERE ALL THE WHT WIRES ARE,COPPER(BARE)TO GROUND BAR &BLK.WIRE TO BREAKER OR FUSE HOLDER. ANY PROBLEMS peterperilli@yahoo.com. P.S. 25 YEARS EXPERENCE
Other answers:
there's hardwired and battery installed i prefere battery they just screw into the drywall and if its hard wired and the powers out and there's a fire your S.O.L
there's hardwired and battery installed i prefere battery they just screw into the drywall and if its hard wired and the powers out and there's a fire your S.O.L
Actually I would recommend using 14/3 romex. All modern line voltage smoke detectors come with the third red(or orange) wire in them that allows for interlinking of all the smoke det. in your home. wire themup blsck to blsck, white to white,red to red(orange) and greens.This is in the case that there is a fire in your mechanical room in the basement and your bedroom is upstairs this will set off the smoke det. in your room through the linking and vice/versa. It will actually trigger all the smoke det.
I also wouldn't bother finding a stud to fasten to. There is an electrical box called a cut-in box. They come both in plastic and in steel, the first coupple might be a bit tricky but you will get the hang of it quickly if you have some mechanical acumen. Just trace around the box, making sure with a stud finder that there is no stud where you intend to do it and then using a drywall saw cut the opening for the box, slip the box in and using the screws on the plastic box start screwing it in. There are wings attached to the screws that flip out when you start and will gradually clamp on to the drywall, as long as your hole is not too big. Also be sure to stay more than a foot from the wall. Smoke does a curious thing in corners called an air gap. The smoke leaves a 12" space in corners and a smoke det. may not sense the presence of the smoke. Also be sure you get the battery backup kind. that way you are covered in the event of a power failure.
I would also recommend getting a dedicated circuit form the panel, but in the event it is full pick a circuit that doesn't have much of a load on it to avoid nuisance trips, like on a major appliance circuit.
And of coarse there is the old standby of calling a professional electrician to do the install, they will get in and out quicker than you will and you will have your weekend to enjoy. Besides do you really want to go crawling around in that insulation in the attic??? It is especially annoying when you are very hot and sweaty.