smoke-detectors
…without setting off the sprinklers?
I'm not sure wired detectors (on 3 floors of a condo) are connected to the in-ceiling fire sprinklers, so…
How do I determine the detectors are all working/inter-connected SAFELY? (as in, no sprinkler action)?
thanks!
I'd use a round plastic cut-in box even though you have access behind. You'll find this much easier in the long run.
Remember, smokes do not have ground connections, so just splice the grounds with a wire nut or other approved method and fold into the back of the box.
Along the lines of this:
You should find an installers manual for the main panel and read it thoroughly. But I will give you my thoughts below.
First off, your black wire is connected to the positive terminal not the negative terminal according to your picture and wiring diagram.
Secondly, I am suspicious that this detector ever worked since there is no second wire connected to the power supply terminals. According to the label it takes 12 volts DC to power it and you can't do that with just one wire.
Without seeing any installers manual, I would say the black and white are 12 volts DC power and the red and blue are the common and signal wires.
So test for voltage between the black and white wires. If you get 12 volts move the white wire to the other power supply terminal. Usually the auxiliary contacts would be for another system to be notified that the detector is in alarm. The red and blue should probably go to the ground and signal terminals and the auxiliary terminals are just that, auxiliary. Then see if the detector works.
Notice on the backs of either detector they don't show any wires connected to the auxiliary contacts.
Best Answer
These are normally two separate systems, with different issues relating to testing.
Sprinkler System
A sprinkler system is normally heat activated. This is for a few reasons, including:
A sprinkler system will often (I don't know when/where this is a code requirement - it may be related to commercial vs. residential and/or the size of the building) often trigger a flow sensor (passive relative to the actual sprinkler system, so sensor failure will not prevent the sprinkler from pumping out water on the fire) which can automatically call a monitoring service and/or the fire department.
There are ways to test sprinkler systems - e.g., measure pressure, check valves, etc. - which typically require professional knowledge & equipment.
Wired Smoke Detectors
Wired smoke detectors may be simply wired for power and to trigger as a group (which is a good thing, unlike sprinklers where that would be a bad thing). However, they may be also wired to active in other units in your building and, if so, to automatically call a monitoring service and/or the fire department.
Since you are in a condo and not a single family home, you need to find out what kind of system you have. If it is independent - only your condo and no external connections (monitoring or other condo units or common area) then you can test the smoke detectors locally. If your system is linked to monitoring and/or to other units/common area then DO NOT TEST IT YOURSELF. Systems in commercial and other large buildings (like a multi-unit condo) will typically have monitoring in place - often required by law - and those systems will also have legal requirements for professional testing/certification on a regular basis (e.g., quarterly in my area).