ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area smokes

Another vote for the lighting (or other commonly used) circuit.

I agree with the lighting circuit too, how many times do you check if the LED is lit up on your smoke? How many times do you notice if the lights in your bathroom don't work?

It's done both ways in the U.K. The rules don't say how the detector(s) must be fed, just that new buildings require AC-powered smokes.

I've usually wired them on a lighting circuit for the reasons already outlined.

Definition:

Receptacle Outlet. An outlet where one or more receptacles are installed.

Don,

On the utilization equipment.

Al,
Yes, but not on the outlet. The code section is not correctly written. The device installed at the outlet has a rating, but the outlet itself does not. The wording should be: "All 125 volt, single phase, 15 and 20 ampere branch circuits that serve dwelling unit bedroom outlets shall be protected by an AFCI."
In the current code wording the ratings modify "outlet". They should modify "branch circuit". Outlets don't have voltage and ampere ratings, branch circuits do. This problem came about because they didn't watch what they were doing when they deleted the word "receptacle". Those that support the AFCI requirement should submit proposals to correct this for the '05 code. The current wording would not standup in court challenge.
Don

i always tie my smoke alarms into the basement or kitchen lighting circuits. if there is a problem with the alarms homeowners will call you and have it fixed, because they can not live without their lighting. keeps them from leaving the breaker off.

Bob,

If your jurisdiction is using the 1999 NEC code only the Receptacle Outlets are specified to be AFCI protected (in Bedrooms)

BTW, My vote is not to put smokes on a dedicated circuit. I've had customers ask for it (so they could turn them off) but I have always managed to talk them out of it.

Bill

On putting the smokes on the basement lighting circuit: I have tried that but I also put one receptical on that circuit in the basement. Having to have GFCi and having the AFCI requirement sounds sticky. ANy ideas there, I guess Ill have to run a seperate branch down for the recepticals...