changing smoke alarms

jackreacher

howdy,

im in the process of changing out my smoke alarms at the moment and not sure how to isolate the mains line for just the smoke alarms.

would they be on the lighting circuit or would they have their own tripswitch?

same question on changing me doorbell what tripswitch would it be on?

anyone got any pointers.

thanks

meercat

could be on either circuit
mostly on a 10amp tripswitch(lighting circuit)
if in doubt turn main switch off

bassey

I was taught to put the smoke alarm on a lighting circuit as if the lights fail you know the smoke alarm is gone. Easy enough to confirm with a continuity test.

meercat

bassey wrote: »

I was taught to put the smoke alarm on a lighting circuit as if the lights fail you know the smoke alarm is gone. Easy enough to confirm with a continuity test.

something in the back of my mind says they have to be on separate circuit now though(open to correction on that though)

bassey

Hmm.. I'll have to check the regs. But I did phase 2 after the current regs were brought out and I'm sure we would have been told to put the smoke alarm on a separate circuit for the practical if it was in there. Must check the latest amendments

Bruthal

Lighting circuit is the best place to connect the smoke detectors.

But anyway, if you look up at them there should be a green LED visible in the detectors to show they have mains power. Turn off and back on each circuit until you see this go off.

For the door bell, get someone to keep pressing it while you try one MCB at a time like for the smoke detectors.

Then label them properly for future reference.

jackreacher

thanks for the replies folks. ill have a gander amarach.

M cebee

robbie7730 wrote: »

Lighting circuit is the best place to connect the smoke detectors.

But anyway, if you look up at them there should be a green LED visible in the detectors to show they have mains power. Turn off and back on each circuit until you see this go off.

For the door bell, get someone to keep pressing it while you try one MCB at a time like for the smoke detectors.

Then label them properly for future reference.

yes -agreed

imo run a separate radial but double it up with a lighting circuit at the board

-prevent people switching off the alarms easily when batteries run out and also you'd be aware if they're off as bassey said

the rules may say different


i think there have been cases where irresponsible adults simply remove the batteries and knock off the breaker-with kids in the house

Stoner

M cebee wrote: »

the rules may say different

Jack Reacher never cared much for the rules M cebee, also Jack Reacher would never stay in a place long enough for the batteries to waste anyway.

I agree that they are best on their own MCB, but identifying them should be easy enough if you follow the above advice.

I have one on my intruder alarm, so it's also battery backed up too, it's additional and it's monitored on my alarm.

jackreacher

nicely played stoner.
smoke alarms are on the lighting circuits
doorbell was on upstairs lighting circuit.