Timeline for What do I need to do to safely reconnect an A/C-powered smoke detector?
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
15 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
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| Dec 1, 2011 at 11:21 | history | tweeted | twitter.com/#!/StackDIY/status/142201578462523392 | ||
| Dec 1, 2011 at 10:40 | history | edited | sharptooth | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
cropped the connector photo
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| Dec 1, 2011 at 10:39 | comment | added | shirlock homes | I think you can buy the pigtail connector only for some brands. You would have to go to an electrical supply store rather than a box store. Box stores won't carry parts. a whole new unit usually only costs about $20. Since you may replace it anyway, consider a smoke/fire and CO detector in it's place. | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:55 | vote | accept | James McNellis | ||
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:55 | vote | accept | James McNellis | ||
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:55 | |||||
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:54 | comment | added | James McNellis | @lqlarry: Thanks for the tip; I'll investigate the brand and see what's up. As for the incident, the detector was chirping so I was trying to remove it from the ceiling to replace the battery; my chair wasn't quite tall enough so I couldn't see there were clips holding the connector in-place and I just tugged at it a bit too hard :-O. My BA in philosophy did not prepare me for this part of life. ;-) | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:52 | comment | added | James McNellis | @NiallC.: /facepalm. Oh, I understand now... I didn't realize the wires coming out of the ceiling were really part of the in-ceiling fixture. I'll just buy a new one then. That sounds easiest. | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:43 | comment | added | lqlarry | With the red wire coming down I would almost bet you have another detector in the house and they could be inter-connected, meaning if one goes off then the other(s) will too. You might have to replace it with one of the same brand for the interconnection which might be code. Is the accident where you used the smokie to time your cooking?:) That's how my wife does it. | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:43 | comment | added | Niall C.♦ | If you look through the hole in the ceiling you can see the electrical nuts that connect the detector's wires to the house wiring; they'll screw off, leaving the wires which should be twisted together. Use pliers to untwist them and you'll be good to install the new detector. Turning off the whole house is overkill; the circuit should be labeled at the service panel | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:27 | comment | added | James McNellis | @NiallC.: Ah, I suppose that would help :-S. I'd be okay with replacing it, but even if I do that, I still have live wires coming out of my ceiling, and I'm not sure what to do to connect everything together safely. I guess if I bought a new one and mounted it it might have installation instructions, though... or I suppose I could just get a battery powered one and cap off the wires... | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:24 | history | edited | James McNellis | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
added 110 characters in body
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| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:07 | comment | added | Niall C.♦ | A photo of the broken part would be useful (and might invalidate the first part of my answer). | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:06 | history | edited | Niall C.♦ | CC BY-SA 3.0 |
Use smaller image; add link to full size.
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| Dec 1, 2011 at 6:03 | answer | added | Niall C.♦ | timeline score: 5 | |
| Dec 1, 2011 at 4:25 | history | asked | James McNellis | CC BY-SA 3.0 |