How to Wire Smoke Alarms

Smoke alarms can be installed either singularly or in an interconnected pattern. The interconnected pattern is better. It’s a bit more complicated, but has the advantage of sounding all the alarms in a home should one of the alarms detect smoke. Interconnected units should be wired to the same fuse or circuit breaker. The manufacturer will recommend a maximum total length of wire (see the instruction book) and a maximum total number of alarms that can be interconnected.

Wire nuts

Instructions

- 1
  Connect the white wire on the power connector to the neutral wire in the junction box for both interconnected and stand-alone alarms.
- 2
  Connect the black wire on the power connector to the hot wire in the junction box for both interconnected and stand-alone alarms.
- 3
  Connect the orange wire on the power connector to the interconnect wire in the junction box for interconnected alarms. Repeat for each unit. Do not connect the orange wire to a hot or neutral wire. Ignore the orange wire if you are connecting a stand-alone alarm—just tuck it away.

How to Troubleshoot an Electric Smoke Detector

Location of Smoke Alarms

Smoke Detectors