Attic light off fire alarm?

[mattgriff88]

Hi,

At the moment I have 2 x led strip lights up my attic.
They are attached to a plug and I have to plug it in to one of the sockets in my bedroom. It works just a bit of a pain everytime I need to go in to the attic.

I want to put a switch up the attic so I can use this instead. I have pulled some of the insulation up and found the wire that goes in to the fire alarm. Would I be able to get power from this and run to a switch to operate the lights?

Picture of the wiring for the fire alarm.

 

[westward10]

That isn't safe those unenclosed connectors, are they not interlinked?

 

[mattgriff88]

That isn't safe those unenclosed connectors, are they not interlinked?

No. I pulled the insulation up and this is how I found them. Guessing they should be in a junction box. Haven't long bought the house.

 

[westward10]

It isn't safe and I suspect if there are more they will be the same, can you show a pic of the detector?
Is it a brand new house?

 

[mattgriff88]

It isn't safe and I suspect if there are more they will be the same, can you show a pic of the detector?
Is it a brand new house?

House is 10 years old. I will get a pic of the detector when I'm back there tomorrow.

That's the one upstairs. There is another down stairs.

I will get a junction box in the morning.
Something like this will do the job I'm guessing?

 

[westward10]

The cable needs wiring direct those wires should not be exposed unless the type of detector does not permit that. The disconnected black is the interlink which sets the other off should one activate at present it does nothing.

 

[mattgriff88]

The cable needs wiring direct those wires should not be exposed unless the type of detector does not permit that. The disconnected black is the interlink which sets the other off should one activate at present it does nothing.

I think the wires were coming directly out of the alarm but will double check tomorrow.

 

[littlespark]

Some alarms require a back box to have any connections like this.... some are wired directly into the detector itself.

To find this in a 10 year old house is troubling.... If its newly purchased, can you ask the vendor or estate agent to have an EICR done.

This might not be the only problem

 

[mickegh]

I was posting that but wasn't sure

Some have a separate back box and it's often omitted but those wires from detector look like they could be solid

Maybe they're fine-stranded tinned enabling them to be shoved into the wago,that's the way they're usually supplied anyhow

 

[littlespark]

looks like a square hole cut in the plasterboard ceiling.... but no box??

Whatever... it needs fixed.



To the OP question, yes you can come off the detector, if the detector already comes off the lighting circuit.

It would need to be RCD protected.... which it might already be

 

[mattgriff88]

Some alarms require a back box to have any connections like this.... some are wired directly into the detector itself.

To find this in a 10 year old house is troubling.... If its newly purchased, can you ask the vendor or estate agent to have an EICR done.

This might not be the only problem

Yeah we had an EICR. Everything was fine except a couple of downlights needed changing because they wasn't fire rated. We had these changed straight away.

 

[mattgriff88]

looks like a square hole cut in the plasterboard ceiling.... but no box??

Whatever... it needs fixed.



To the OP question, yes you can come off the detector, if the detector already comes off the lighting circuit.

It would need to be RCD protected.... which it might already be

Thanks

 

[UNG]

looks like a square hole cut in the plasterboard ceiling.... but no box??

Not seeing the square hole, it looks like a hole punched in the plasterboard alongside the joist that the detector is fixed to

Only practical way to fix that would be to move the detector over slightly onto a circular dry lining box

 

[westward10]

Sort the detectors first we can advise when we see pics but if they have been in situ for 10 years they should be replaced. If they are on a dedicated circuit I would not be connecting lighting from them.

 

[mattgriff88]

Sort the detectors first we can advise when we see pics but if they have been in situ for 10 years they should be replaced. If they are on a dedicated circuit I would not be connecting lighting from them.

I don't think the alarm is 10 years old to be honest. Looks quite new. Think it was Nest or something like that. Guessing the previous owner had it changed at some point.

The fire alarms do have a separate RCD switch on the consumer unit as I remember seeing it when we bought the house. Guessing it's a no go then. Can I ask what is the reason for this please.

Thanks