How to Add a Smoke Detector to Your Wireless Alarm System

Enter the password to access the wireless alarm system's control panel. Deactivate the system for the duration of time that you will be installing the wireless smoke detector.

Decide on a location for the battery-powered, wireless smoke detector. Open the battery compartment lid on the back and insert a compatible battery or batteries into the battery compartment. If a screw must first be removed, remove the screw with a Phillips jeweler's screwdriver.

Insert the tip of a flat-edged jeweler's screwdriver into the slot on the two click wheels and rotate them to a code setting. For example, click wheel one at "A" and click wheel two at "1." If the settings are altered with switches instead, flip the switches with the tip of the screwdriver to form a code sequence. Close the lid and reattach the screw if one is present.

Remove the paper backing from the back of the detector. Place a ladder against the wall where you are going to place the detector. Place the detector against the wall, just below the ceiling. Push the detector against the wall to adhere it to the surface; if there is no adhesive backing on the detector, attach the detector to the wall with wood screws using a Phillips screwdriver.

Reactive the control panel so that the wireless alarm system is again functioning. Select "System setup" or comparable (depending upon the make of the wireless alarm system) from the control panel's main menu. Select the "Input" section of the system menu. Add the code sequence that was input in the detector into the input section. Return the control panel to its main menu.