Smoke alarm keeps going off please help

quinnd6 · 30-07-2017 09:43AM #1

We have a smoke alarm that is hooked up to the ceiling and it keeps going off for no reason.
There is no fire or smoke.
Its been going off constantly I press the button and it goes off again everytime.
It was doing it all last night and is still at it.
I coudn't fet any sleep and have a headache.
It's torture.
I can't get the damn thing disconnected.
I screwed off the top and its wired to the wall.
Is there anyone I can call to help me?
I'm in the midlands.

Atlantic Dawn · 30-07-2017 09:47AM

Is it 100% a smoke alarm and not a carbon monoxide alarm?

Mr.Crinklewood · 30-07-2017 09:47AM

Could it be dust?

quinnd6 · 30-07-2017 10:09AM

I took it out.
I managed to get the white plug thing to disconnect from it and took the battery out.
That was absolute hell.
Those alarms should be easier to remove than that.
That was flipping ridiculous.
I feel like crap.
What a nightmare that was.

iwillhtfu · 30-07-2017 10:12AM

Quackster wrote: »

You can disconnect it from the wires (preferably with a screwdriver but snip them with a scissors if you have to); they're low voltage so no risk of electrocution.

Christ wept Do not do this!!!!!!!1

They are not low voltage if it's a relatively new house there will be 230v at connected to it and a battery as a secondary supply.

OP it's more than likely the battery is going in it. Replace the battery

Risteard81 · 30-07-2017 01:57PM

iwillhtfu wrote: »

Quackster wrote: »

You can disconnect it from the wires (preferably with a screwdriver but snip them with a scissors if you have to); they're low voltage so no risk of electrocution.

Christ wept Do not do this!!!!!!!1

They are not low voltage if it's a relatively new house there will be 230v at connected to it and a battery as a secondary supply.

OP it's more than likely the battery is going in it. Replace the battery

Well, actually they are low voltage. They aren't extra-low voltage (apart from the signal cable for the interconnect). But if the smoke detectors aren't working correctly have them replaced by a competent person with the correct type - certainly don't remove them.

Bruthal · 30-07-2017 02:34PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

Well, actually they are low voltage.

At least that will ensure the scissors advice might seem safe...

JustAThought · 30-07-2017 03:05PM

quinnd6 wrote: »

We have a smoke alarm that is hooked up to the ceiling and it keeps going off for no reason.
There is no fire or smoke.
Its been going off constantly I press the button and it goes off again everytime.
It was doing it all last night and is still at it.
I coudn't fet any sleep and have a headache.
It's torture.
I can't get the damn thing disconnected.
I screwed off the top and its wired to the wall.
Is there anyone I can call to help me?
I'm in the midlands.

I had this problem -same as yourself -integrated into the electricity - took it off the lx supply & it kept beeping, took out the battery & it kept beeping - & didnt stop -ended up asking the local firebrigade who solved the mystery. The alarm work by battery or lx but the chemical in it that reacts to the smoke has a lifespan also - when this expires some (fancy) alarms keep beeping to warn you that the whole unit needs replacing. I bet if you check the expiry date on the alarm system (not the battery) you will see that it is past its date! My yoke beeped non stop for about three months - I hid it in the shed under a roll of rugs and from time to time I could hear it still beeping away aith no battery or mains connection. Drove me mental.

iwillhtfu · 30-07-2017 03:07PM

Bruthal wrote: »

Was that one necessary?

No not really to be fair but there's always the few that this should apply to. Myself included on some threads but I generally avoid this forum as it can be full of pedantic pats.

Bruthal · 30-07-2017 03:18PM

iwillhtfu wrote: »

No not really to be fair but there's always the few that this should apply to. Myself included on some threads but I generally avoid this forum as it can be full of pedantic pats.

The post you refer to was a bit pedantic alright. Correct phrases more important than clear information for non electrical persons it seems.

Risteard81 · 30-07-2017 03:22PM

Bruthal wrote: »

iwillhtfu wrote: »

No not really to be fair but there's always the few that this should apply to. Myself included on some threads but I generally avoid this forum as it can be full of pedantic pats.

The post you refer to was a bit pedantic alright. Correct phrases more important than clear information for non electrical persons it seems.

It wasn't pedantic - it was correct terminology which helps to alleviate confusion. I also offered further advice in my post.

iwillhtfu · 30-07-2017 03:36PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

It wasn't pedantic - it was correct terminology which helps to alleviate confusion. I also offered further advice in my post.

It was entirely pedantic and not required. A lay person would assume low voltage and particularly when it is also mentioned that there is no risk of electric shock to be safe to handle.

We all know the correct terminology but as I said a lay person would have no reference to ELV and have more than likely never heard of the acronym.

On that note I'll be away again.

Cloudio9 · 30-07-2017 03:41PM

These always seem to have a short life. If it's going off it can be dust. Try hoovering it or just spend a tenner on a new one.

The ones in my house have a rectangular push and click plug connecting it to the mains.

17larsson · 30-07-2017 03:56PM

Cut the cables with a scissors? That is some crazy advice!

Have a look at the end of life date on the back of the alarm. I've seen alarms (in new builds) which were manufactured 10 years ago and wouldn't stop going off until disconnected

Bruthal · 30-07-2017 05:41PM

Risteard81 wrote: »

It wasn't pedantic - it was correct terminology which helps to alleviate confusion.

Just in case someone thought the smoke detector was 10kv supplied was it?

quinnd6 · 30-07-2017 07:13PM

Just to be a bit more clear there was a connector that looked a bit like a molex connector colored white with wires coming out of it connected to the alarm and it was blocking off the battery opening.
So anyway I turned off the electricity where the smoke alarm was located and fit my finger nail in between where the molex like plug was connected to the alarm and pulled on it and it came off.
So I didn't do any damage to the connector or the wires.
Then I got the battery out no problem.
Its just a badly designed smoke alarm really not user friendly at all.
They're probably not all like that.
It kept ringing last night and even when I pressed the button it wouldn't stop so that was bloody torture.
I was trying to remove the effing thing when it was ringing in my ear so my left ear has some very slight ringing in it today.
So when I turned off the electricity it went back to reacting to my button presses and would shut off for about 5-10 minutes.
I'm not sure if I want to use smoke alarms anymore to be honest after that.
I'm glad it's over.

30-07-2017 07:45PM

Mod note:
@ iwillhtfu please post in a more courteous and respectful manner or don't post at all.

People should remember that this is a DIY forum. When it seems likely that another poster has little or no electrical experience answers to this person should be tailored accordingly.

Smoke alarm keeps going off please help

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