How to Wire Smoke Detectors Together

Smoke detectors need to be wired together to create a complete system. With hard-wired detectors, a single smoke detector going off will set off the others — ensuring that everyone in your home is alerted to hazards. Hard-wired detectors are also able to run off both power and batteries, making them extra secure. Additionally, they can detect home-wide threats such as carbon monoxide that could otherwise go completely unnoticed.

Nevertheless, because they deal with electricity, you need to be very careful when installing them.

Materials you will need

The process of installing a wired smoke detector is similar to installing a home security system. You’ll need:

• A voltage detector. This will protect you by ensuring that you aren’t working with live wires.

• A wire stripper. Wire strippers can remove the insulation from a wire without damaging the wire.

• Wire connectors. You need 3 wire connectors per alarm — many alarms will come with them, so check the box.

If installing completely new detectors:

• A drywall saw

• 12-2 NMB and ground wire

• 12-3 NMB and ground wire

Simple steps to smoke detector battery replacement.

Connecting wires

Understandably, the main difference between a wired smoke detector and a battery-powered smoke detector is that a wired detector connects directly to wires in your walls. Whether you’re simply replacing existing detectors or creating a new network, you’ll need to know how to connect a wire. Connecting a wire is done by stripping approximately 1/2 of an inch of wire at the very end and then placing the two wires to be connected into a wire connector. The wire connector is then twisted until both wires are held firmly within. This creates a safe and solid connection. Once the connector has been screwed down, no wire should remain exposed.

If your fire alarms are installed incorrectly, they can actually become a fire hazard. And while the irony may be fun, the consequences won’t be. If you’re uncertain at any time during this process, consult a professional.

If you already have a setup

Many homes already have smoke detectors setup. In this situation, the wires will already have been run and the boxes will already have been cut — you simply need to replace old detectors with new ones. You can do this by:

• Turning the power off in your home. You can do this by switching all of the circuit breakers to the “off” position.

• Use a voltage detector. Make sure the power to the wires is off.

• Disconnecting the old alarm. Remove the old alarm: there should be a black, white, and red wire.

• Connect the new alarm. Black goes to black; white goes to white, and red goes to red.

• Mount the new alarm in place using the mounting brackets included by the manufacturer.

• Turn everything back on and press the test button of your alarm. You can then reset it after it has gone off.

There’s only one caveat: you may find that your old alarm only had two wires. Simply connect the wires that exist and leave the last one unconnected.

Finding a place for your smoke detectors

If you don’t have a setup, you’ll first need to mark off areas for your smoke detectors. Generally, detectors should be mounted on the ceiling or near the top of a wall. Use the cut-in box of the smoke detector as a guide; mark off an area and use a drywall saw to cut around it.

Running and installing wires

Turn off your power completely before attempting to connect your smoke detectors. Every time you work with wires, you should check them with your voltage detector first. When running wires, you will need to get into your walls and ceiling — which may require some specialized equipment, flashlights, and other tools. You should also be careful to avoid disrupting other electrical wires, HVAC systems, and structural features.

A 12-2 NMB with ground wire will need to be run from your electrical panel to the first smoke detector. From there, a 12-3 NMB wire will need to be run to the second detector, and so forth to each subsequent detector. When making the connections, black wires should be wired together, and white wires should be wired together. Any red wires should be connected to the interconnect wire with the smoke detector, which is usually a yellow wire and should be listed in the manufacturer’s manual.

Once the electrical wires have been attached, you can strip the ground wire and connect it to the ground bus.

Testing your setup

Once you’ve completed connecting your wires, you can turn on your breakers and test the smoke detector. When turning on your breakers, you should stay as far away from the panel as possible and look away, as it can be dangerous if there are issues. Now you can test and reset your smoke detectors if necessary.

Wiring smoke detectors together is relatively simple, but because it does involve electricity it can be very dangerous. This guide is not intended to replace manufacturer’s directions and the manufacturer’s manual should be carefully reviewed before installation. Different smoke detectors may have different setups, such as the way in which they mark their ground bus or their interconnect wires. It’s important to follow these directions and any included labels and diagrams.

Wireless smoke detectors

If you aren’t confident in your abilities to install a network of wired smoke detectors, or you’d just prefer a more convenient option, wireless smoke detectors are an option worth considering. Today, there are a number of smoke detectors on the market that are wireless and can work as part of a smart home system. These smoke detectors can notify you, each other, and even a home security system when they have detected a problem. This can provide more safety and convenience for you and your family.

If you have questions about home automation or smart home systems, call Brinks Home™, or check out the Brinks Home website. Brinks Home can provide you with a free quote for a system that can protect against fire, carbon monoxide, flooding, and other hazards, and we offer 24/7 monitoring for these systems, so in case of a disaster, emergency services can be notified within minutes.

Lauren Slade is a Dallas-based writer and editor.