Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - Replacing smoke detectors

After over a year of moving into my house, I decided I should check the smoke detectors that I "thought" were wired into my Ademco Vista 10.
The detectos did work, but the alarm pad never made a noise, just the detector.
Hmmm....I pull the detector off the top of the wall, and it's not tied into my alarm at all. It's hardwired to 115v 12gauge wire.

Seeing thing, is there a detector that will work with Ademco that has hardwire ability and wireless?

I am trying to avoid running additional wiring from the alarm box to each detectors work box. Any help would be great.

I have yet to see a 110v powered wireless smoke detector. The wireless devices have batteries to power them.

depending on your local codes you could replace the hardwired smokes with wireless ones and have what you are wanting to do. These devices, if properly programmed into the panel, will let you know when the battery is getting low.

Also remember that the NEC code and the Fire code require that if you add or change smoke detector type you must comply with the code fully.

This requires that you have one smoke detector inside and outside of every bedroom and one on each floor. Probably going into to much detail here but that means if you have two bedrooms on one end of a hall way you will need 3 smokes. (inside each bedroom and one in the hall.)

Also, you need a wireless reciever on the system with sufficinent zone slots left to accomodate your new devices. If you don't have a alphanumeric keypad (not the "fixed alpha"), you will need that as well for this type of upgrade.

Thanks for the input. I am aware of the NEC/fire code to have hardwired smokes, which these are. I am going to leave them in place, and just get some wireless.

I currently have the Vista 10SE, with (6) wireless devices already. 3 of my doors (front, inside garage, and outside garage) are connected to each other (hardwired). Meaning, if either of these doors opens, it's the same zone.

All (6) of the wireless are the window/door sensors (5817's).

The rear door is on it's own zone.

Saying this, should I have enough wireless zones to accomodate (3) wireless smokes?

Also, I have my new 6160 in the mail as we speak, so I will be doing any programming.

according to the spec sheet on the Vista 10SE you should have a total of 22 zones available if you have the 5881ENM receiver. 6 hardwire and 16 wireless.

if you have the 5881ENL you would have only 8 wireless zones.

so, you either have 2 or 10 available zones depending on which receiver you have.


Good luck.

the sticker on the receiver says 5881M?

you should have 10 available zones on your wireless receiver since you have 6 on it now.

Plenty of room....