Our house has a wired smoke alarm set up where an alarm near our kitchen should communicate with an alarm near our bedroom. Definitely ideal!

However, the wiring to these alarms does not have a red wire for communication. Just the standard romex with black, white, and ground.

The new hardwired alarms I've purchased take batteries of course. By hardwiring these alarms, will it prolong the life of the battery? Or are they going to be basic battery alarms.

Also, anyway to get them to communicate? I can't run new romex. It is from 1st story to 2nd story and I'm sure stapled in many places.

You'd have to post specs on the smoke alarms and any other equipment associated with the system before anyone could answer that question.

If you can't run new wire, I dont see how they will be able to communicate. You have to have that red tracer. You just have hardwired devices. In my opinion, you have two options:

1.) Use it as it, being hardwired, but not communicting.

2.)There is this, if nothing else works out:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kidde-Battery-Operated-Wireless-Inter-Connectable-Smoke-Alarm-RF-SM-DC/100655041

Personally, I would opt for communicating over hardwired. At one time I thought there was some code requirement for hardwired....or maybe that was just with ADT to install additional ones or something.

EVen my hardwired smoke detectors need new batteries more often that I like....probably as much as the one loaner NON hardwired one, so......

quote:

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If you can't run new wire, I dont see how they will be able to communicate. You have to have that red tracer. You just have hardwired devices. In my opinion, you have two options:

1.) Use it as it, being hardwired, but not communicting.

2.)There is this, if nothing else works out:

http://www.homedepot.com/p/Kidde-Battery-Operated-Wireless-Inter-Connectable-Smoke-Alarm-RF-SM-DC/100655041

Personally, I would opt for communicating over hardwired. At one time I thought there was some code requirement for hardwired....or maybe that was just with ADT to install additional ones or something.

EVen my hardwired smoke detectors need new batteries more often that I like....probably as much as the one loaner NON hardwired one, so......

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Haha, that was my fear! If that is the case, I'm debating changing the outlet to a receptacle where I can plug in my CO detector. This is an ideal location as it is right below my hot water heater and A/C furnaces.

Hmm looks like nobody makes a wired (120VAC, no red wire), with wireless communication smoke AND CO alarm, except Nest (which I hear are annoying)

My hardwired ones need batteries changed every 6-12 months.