Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - More On My Problem Interconnecting 3 New Kidde Smokes
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Robert111
04-20-05, 01:58 AM
Hello:
This relates to the problem I've been having in getting 3 new Kidde PI 2000
(wired in) smoke dectors to talk to each other. They replaced 3 very old detectors which were apparently wired together also. As described in my previous posts, when my new ones were hooked up to the third wire (red) they all just cycle on and off.
So, I guess there are two main possibilities, as folks have mentioned:
a. that there is perhaps another detector on the line somewhere that I am
not aware of. But, I really looked all over, including the attic, and cannot
find any other. Still, it is just about impossible to trace the wires, and maybe there is one that was plastered over, or... ? 30 yr old house, so anything is possible.
b. I disconnected the red wires from Each detector to the red interconnect
wire interconnecting the 3 new detectors, and measured the voltage appearing between the interconnect wire and the white neutral.
Couldn't believe it. Seems there is about 2 volts AC appearing.
Of all the weird voltages, this is a tough one.
It certainly isn't inductive coupling, but might be "leakage" from
"something"
Was wondering if any one might have any thoughts on this.
What uses 2 V AC ? RFI ?
Sure has me stumped. Becoming an intellectual challenge by now.
Haven't looked into this yet, but just had the thought that perhaps the
thermal safety cutout (that little downward facing wheel coming out of a 4" gang boxy the furnace) on the power to the gas forced hot air furnace we have, is connected back to the alarms to indicate if it is ever tripped.
Perhaps leakage thru this if wired in to the detectors ?
Anyone here ever run across anything like this ?
Is this something, or a wiring(wired in) scheme, they may have used way-back-when, or not very likely ? Using a forced, gas, hot air furnace - do they ever put any kind of detector in the ductwork that might be wired onto the interconnect chaion ?
Any thoughts or suggestions regarding this 2 V AC, or the problem in general would sure be appreciated. Would really like to interconnect them, if I can only figure out what is preventing it.
Thanks again,
Bob
This relates to the problem I've been having in getting 3 new Kidde PI 2000
(wired in) smoke dectors to talk to each other. They replaced 3 very old detectors which were apparently wired together also. As described in my previous posts, when my new ones were hooked up to the third wire (red) they all just cycle on and off.
So, I guess there are two main possibilities, as folks have mentioned:
a. that there is perhaps another detector on the line somewhere that I am
not aware of. But, I really looked all over, including the attic, and cannot
find any other. Still, it is just about impossible to trace the wires, and maybe there is one that was plastered over, or... ? 30 yr old house, so anything is possible.
b. I disconnected the red wires from Each detector to the red interconnect
wire interconnecting the 3 new detectors, and measured the voltage appearing between the interconnect wire and the white neutral.
Couldn't believe it. Seems there is about 2 volts AC appearing.
Of all the weird voltages, this is a tough one.
It certainly isn't inductive coupling, but might be "leakage" from
"something"
Was wondering if any one might have any thoughts on this.
What uses 2 V AC ? RFI ?
Sure has me stumped. Becoming an intellectual challenge by now.
Haven't looked into this yet, but just had the thought that perhaps the
thermal safety cutout (that little downward facing wheel coming out of a 4" gang boxy the furnace) on the power to the gas forced hot air furnace we have, is connected back to the alarms to indicate if it is ever tripped.
Perhaps leakage thru this if wired in to the detectors ?
Anyone here ever run across anything like this ?
Is this something, or a wiring(wired in) scheme, they may have used way-back-when, or not very likely ? Using a forced, gas, hot air furnace - do they ever put any kind of detector in the ductwork that might be wired onto the interconnect chaion ?
Any thoughts or suggestions regarding this 2 V AC, or the problem in general would sure be appreciated. Would really like to interconnect them, if I can only figure out what is preventing it.
Thanks again,
Bob
MrRonFL
04-20-05, 02:22 PM
It's possible that you are seeing a "ghost" voltage effect that sometimes appears when using a digital meter. However, two volts would probably be enough to trigger the interlink.
I think that you may have some type of special wiring configured for your old smokes (the name of which comes up dry in my database searches). Normally, that interconnect goes directly from one detector to the next, with no stops or detours in between. I don't know if you have access to the wiring path between the smokes, but you may need to run a new interconnect wire.
I think that you may have some type of special wiring configured for your old smokes (the name of which comes up dry in my database searches). Normally, that interconnect goes directly from one detector to the next, with no stops or detours in between. I don't know if you have access to the wiring path between the smokes, but you may need to run a new interconnect wire.