How to hook up AC-power smoke detector?

[sh00ter]

I have an original that went bad and the replacement I bought has a different plug. Do I need to cut wires and swap out the harness OR is there a way for me to get exactly what I already had for plug and play???

ALSO, if I do have to cut, I assume I need to shut off breaker AND is the red wire on the replacement harness interchangeable with the yellow wire on the original?

ALSO is this low voltage/amps or is this dangerous? I HATE electrical work and lightening for that matter

 

[Big House]

120V, so watch what you are doing. Did you purchase the same brand as was originally installed?

 

[MilitantBEEMER]

120V, so watch what you are doing. Did you purchase the same brand as was originally installed?

When I switched mine out I bought the same brand so I did not need to worry about the connector.

 

[KOPBET]

I would cut the old one off of the Romex and the connect the new one using Wago or Ideal lever nut connectors. Done in minutes.Probably have to change the mount as well.

 

[Snattlerake]

Do you have an alarm system? This can be determined if your system shows a trouble condition on the fire zone right now while it is disconnected. Are your smokes integrated into it or are they a builder's special to meet code for a new home?

 

[RickN]

You are going to have to replace the plug. Make sure the breaker is off and that wife, kids, anyone in the house knows what you are doing and to l,eave the breaker alone, or tag it. Whatever keeps your eyes from lighting up the hard way.

And yes your wires should go white to white, black to black, and red to yellow unless you have a really weird one..

 

[sh00ter]

Do you have an alarm system? This can be determined if your system shows a trouble condition on the fire zone right now while it is disconnected. Are your smokes integrated into it or are they a builder's special to meet code for a new home?

I do have an alarm and I believe it is integrated somehow because one time we had a false carbon monoxide alarm from one of the detectors and it caused the whole house of detectors to beep. So from that I assume the answer is yes?

 

[turkeyrun]

1. Get same brand detector with matching plug.
2. Change out connector on new detector with old one. (My preferred option, no worry of hot wire)
3. Cut off plugs and hard wire. (Least preferred)


Correct wiring is wht/WHT, blk/blk, red/yellow.

 

[John6185]

You could use either of these: I'm not sure what the electricians among us would say about the second item. It'd be interesting to have them tell us about it. I've been thinking and there should be a separate plug-in/connection that you will connect to 120v then you can connect your smoke alarm to that plug. Look in the box it came in and I believe you'll find the wiring.