ACbling for linked fire alarms

[ruston]

Yes , they are worth their weight in gold, especially over three storeys.

 

[Midwest]

Shame you can only get that in grey. I've found similar in red but silly prices.
No requirement to be a different colour for my install so I may just slide heat sleeves on at all the ends over the outer to make it clear they are different.

Why? As far as I remember, the vanilla flavoured Aico alarms have live, neutral & interconnect. As others have said, when I had an extension done a few years ago now, smoke alarms appeared on the drawings all over the house, not just the extension. That said, if I was doing it again I would put more in....as long as you have one of those control switches!

 

[Pat H]

No need for Co2 detectors.
Will look at control panel but the multi sensor alarms are supposed to trip less.

Around £30 so not bad. Can't see the need for the locate button. I know where I'll have installed them. I don't expect them to wander

 

[Pat H]

Why do you want it a different colour? It really isn't necessary! And I would seriously consider putting them on a lighting circuit! I know you can put them on a dedicated circuit, but putting them on a lighting circuit is actually far more preferable, even when starting from scratch (in my humble opinion).

Well my organised mind likes the idea of a separate feed just for the alarms. Marked up in the CU.
I already have 2 lighting circuits and will have 3 when the loft cabling goes in so each alarm would be on a different lighting circuit so a different RCBO in the CU.
That does mean if any one circuit fails the other 2 will still be on. But with the modern alarms having 6 month battery backup power failure really isn't a consideration.

If I use the lighting circuits I can't use a control wire easily so would have to go with the radio links.

 

[Octopus]

I think you are over complicating matters.......... hugely.

 

[Pat H]

I think you are over complicating matters.......... hugely.

I certainly am. But that's because the build is still 3 months away and I have time on my hands to plan and consider. As I'll be doing it myself and there are more cable runs to go in the only real difference is the cost of the extra cable and an extra RCBO. Still got 3 months or more to ponder it...

 

[Octopus]

So this is an extension to YOUR house?

 

[Pat H]

Yes my house.

 

[Octopus]

So what else have you got planned?

 

[mattg4321]

Why on earth would you specify radio link bases at a design stage!?

Feed them from their own RCBO or a lighting circuit - up to you, but for gods sake just link them with some 3 core and earth!

 

[Midwest]

The control switch, is

Can't see the need for the locate button. I know where I'll have installed them. I don't expect them to wander

Don't think you understand the purpose of these control switches. If you have more than one interconnected alarm, when one sounds, they all sound. Invariably or hopefully, when they do sound its because of a false alarm. You can press the locate button and it will isolate all but the alarm activating, to aid you narrowing down the activation. You can also use the switch to test all the alarms, rather going round testing each one individually, with a step ladder. You can also use the switch to silence the alarms, if you can't clear the false alarm, burnt toast syndrome. In the case of a real activation, you won't be hanging around using the control switch.

A very useful device IMO.

PS If you do use radio links, there is a radio link control switch.

 

[Pat H]

Thanks I saw the info on the radio link. Yes it does look handy.