Replacing Wired Smoke Detectors?

[Homerboy]

I have 2 wired smoke detectors in our house that should be replaced (10+ years old)
I don't suppose it's as easy as some universal connector, is it? The 2 I have are 3pin arranged in a sort of "block triangle".

 

[Micrornd]

You have the internet at your disposal.
Have you considered just replacing them with the exact same unit?

 

[Homerboy]

You have the internet at your disposal.
Have you considered just replacing them with the exact same unit?

Well, I am using the internet. I'm online asking questions.
It's sort of hard to find "the exact same unit" of a 10+ year old smoke detector...

 

[UsandThem]

Well, I am using the internet. I'm online asking questions.
It's sort of hard to find "the exact same unit" of a 10+ year old smoke detector...

I was in the same boat when I bought my house. I just decided to disconnect them and cap the wires, and put a new unit its place. The replacement ones I bought at Home Depot had sealed batteries that are supposed to last 10 years I believe.

Home Depot also had some direct wire ones, but they looked kind of cheap (what builders would buy to keep costs down). Those might work for you, but since I didn't go that route, that's just a guess.

 

[BoomerD]

Our last house had old Kidde wired detectors. A couple had stopped working, so I contacted Kidde with the model numbers, they recommended some replacements that would work with the existing wiring. I bought the replacements from Amazon.

 

[Greenman]

It's elementary wiring, red to red, black to black, white to white. This isn't as tough as changing a car tire.

 

[boomerang]

There is an advantage to having all the smoke detectors in the house connected through the red wire. If one goes off, they all go off.

There are detectors out there that come with several adapters to connect the replacement smoke detector to the connector already wired in place.

https://www.firstalertstore.com/sto...smoke-alarm-with-adapter-plugs-sa9120bpcn.htm

The OP has two wire detectors so this may not be helpful to him, I post this for the rest of you.

 

[NutBucket]

You have to read carefully. He has two detectors and they each have 3-wire connectors.

 

[Greenman]

You have to read carefully. He has two detectors and they each have 3-wire connectors.

Every 120v smoke detector I've ever seen has three connections. The red wire isn't used if it's a single installation.

 

[Micrornd]

Well, I am using the internet. I'm online asking questions.
It's sort of hard to find "the exact same unit" of a 10+ year old smoke detector...

What brand and model # do you have now that you are trying to replace?

 

[bbhaag]

I believe Greenman is correct. If your current detectors use a proprietary connector that is incompatible with newer models it is fairly simple to swap in new ones.

In your sub panel locate the breaker that supplies power to the detectors and flip it to the off position. Once you have done this simply remove the old detectors and their wiring and install the new detectors in their place. You should have existing wiring in the detector box use these wires and the pig tail wiring supplied with your new detectors. Just match the colors up and make sure there is no bare wire visible.
After you finish the install go back to the sub panel and flip the breaker back on and then test the new detectors to make sure they function properly.

 

[mindless1]

Well, I am using the internet. I'm online asking questions.
It's sort of hard to find "the exact same unit" of a 10+ year old smoke detector...

Check whether newer models from the same brand use the same connector. it's likely.

However as others mentioned it's merely a matter of swapping the three wires to the new base plate if it needs a different connector.

 

[Thump553]

I was in the same boat earlier this year. As others mentioned the wiring is simple-and I'm a klutz at electrical stuff.

BTW I purposefully bought the same brand and supposedly successor model for my smoke detectors. Of course they changed both the bases and the wiring connectors-evil b*stards.

 

[C1]

If you value compliance with your fire insurance as well as possibility of getting a non-compliance city ordinance fine, then the first thing is to look up the "Fire Marshall's" approved list of detectors for your city/state and the detector requirements (eg, numbers, locations and types needed).

You may need a combination fire/smoke/CO2 detector system.

Just go with 10 year LiON throwaway systems since you will find that detector sensors are specified to be replaced at intervals not to exceed 10 years (and sometimes only five years) because sensor effectiveness degrades over time due to typical home environment contamination.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I replaced mine with Nest protects. The old connectors were just connected to 3 wire 15A cable with some little 4 pin pigtail. I just capped the red cable because the Nest protects don't need it to talk to each other.

 

[Greenman]

I replaced mine with Nest protects. The old connectors were just connected to 3 wire 15A cable with some little 4 pin pigtail. I just capped the red cable because the Nest protects don't need it to talk to each other.

I wonder if those meet code? Smokes have to be connected together, but I don't recall if hard wired is actually stated.

 

[ch33zw1z]

I wonder if those meet code? Smokes have to be connected together, but I don't recall if hard wired is actually stated.

No idea. They work together just fine, there's no hardwire method of connecting them.

Edit: found this https://support.google.com/googlene... Wired (120V or,issue, add more Nest Protects.

Second edit: https://www.mass.gov/service-details/preparing-your-home-for-a-smoke-and-co-alarm-inspection

That's for my state. It seems as though wireless interconnect is ok

 

[Greenman]

I'll have to dig out my code book and read the relevant sections.

 

[zinfamous]

In MD, it is now law to use the 10 year battery smoke detectors. I think that is spreading to other states as well.

....might as well go ahead and install those now.

 

[Scarpozzi]

I recommend the brk first alert ones. They also have carbon monoxide combos. In my addition, I had to add 2 detectors...one in the stairwell and one upstairs in what may be used as a bedroom. I went ahead and wired them downstairs to a unit in my kitchen so most of the house is up to code.

 

[lykaon78]

Its been 5 years but after 10 years in my home I replaced my wired smoke detectors with replacement wired detectors with CO detection. I picked them up from Lowes. The "block triangle" you described seems to match my situation and the wired smoke detectors I purchased accepted the old wiring in my home.

 

[BoomerD]

Its been 5 years but after 10 years in my home I replaced my wired smoke detectors with replacement wired detectors with CO detection. I picked them up from Lowes. The "block triangle" you described seems to match my situation and the wired smoke detectors I purchased accepted the old wiring in my home.

The problem with smoke detectors that double as CO detectors is that the two detectors should be mounted in opposite places...smoke up high...CO down low.