How to Wire up a Smoke Alarm? Ask questions and find answers to many subjects relating to electrics and electrical work

[Griffin78]

I had a pre installed smoke alarm when I moved into my property 7 yeas ago. I wasn’t sure it was working so purchased a battery operated one.
I know believe it was working so want to rewire it and add the battery one elsewhere in the property.
The problem is I’m unsure how to rewire it!
The smoke alarm has numbered terminals with screws to attach the wires rather than an ‘N’, ‘L’ etc. Attaching a pic to show you.
Also when I touch the wires hanging down through the ceiling the house alarm goes off, presumably due to how the house has been connected!?

[Mr White]

What you have there is a BRK smoke detector for connection to an Intruder alarm. It runs on 12 volts not the mains. (which is why it only has numbers)
When it detects smoke it activates the intruder alarm.

Smoke detectors should be changed every 10 years, the detector you have I would say is at least 15 years old.

I would suggest you buy another battery operated smoke alarm and install it where (or close to) the BRK detector was.

[Griffin78]

Thanks for your response. What you suggest was my intention when buying the battery operated alarm. I didn’t know the current one was connected to the intruder alarm! Presumably I can push the old wires back through the ceiling and cover with the new battery operated alarm.

[Mr White]

To be definitive would need more information regarding your intruder alarm, so the short reply has to be "Try it and see"