Smoke Detector Compatibility

[Charles Reynolds]

Hello all,

 

I was wondering what type of Smoke Detectors are the most compatible with alarm (intruder and fire) systems.

I've been reading up and there seem to be many types of Smokes on the market. 2-wire, 4-wire, 12 and 24V.

 

Is there one sort that is most compatible with exiting and new systems?

 

Thanks for your advice,

 

,

 

Charlie

[matthew.brough]

Hi Charlie,

 

24v detectors are generically used in 'proper' fire alarm systems that you see in commercial buildings and are powered off the fire panel hence 2 wires.

 

12v detectors are generically used on security panels and have a 12v supply (+12 & -12v) and a zone wired to the alarm, hence why refered to as a 4 wire detector as they need 4 wires. These are generically only used in a domestic situation.

 

Presuming you want a 12v one, they are compatible with all alarm systems (assuming the alarm has a fire zone) and how you get that compatibility is either by the resistor you place in it or in the case of normal alarms that don't use resistors, just by wiring 1 side of the zone to the Common termincal and the other to the Normally Closed terminal.

[Charles Reynolds]

Hi Matthew,

 

Thank you very much for the feedback!

So, if I read that right. Commercial Smoke installs tend to use 2-wire 24V detectors, and residential systems are more often 4-wire 12V set-ups? The 4-wire systems have two power and two comms lines, right? and the 2-wire smokes communicate over the 2 power wires?

 

Could you suggest a few of the most popular brands and models for both types of installs?

 

Thanks again for your help!

 

,

 

Charlie

[matthew.brough]

On the 4 wires, it isn't really comms in the true sense.

 

On the 4 wire there aren't that many out there. On the rare occasions we use them we install Aritech ones just because we use their other kit. Texecom is much more freely available online and ebay. They do some pretty decent and nice looking 12v fire detectors.

 

With regards 24v stuff, thats for the pro installers to play with. Addressable fire alarm systems for commercial premises has a lot more to it and the standard that governs it (BS5839) is very indepth.

 

If its for your own knowledge there are a few players, Gent, Ziton to name a couple but 24v stuff isn't at all designed for the domestic/DIY market place.

 

Hope this helps.

[james.wilson]

cooper, texecom, honeywell and apollo all make sensors designed for 12v intruder alarms. Some are dedicated units some are different bases designed to take the commercial type smoke / heat sensors.

 

On the bigger dedicated fire systems (as matt says the reg is BS5849 and EN54) they are either 'conventional' or addressable. We tend to use the conventional stuff for smaller jobs and the addressable for everything else.

 

We use Fike for both systems, but there are a few manufacturers. Some are closed protocol and only authorised people can work on them and some are managed protocol and some are totally open. We tend to avoid fully open systems as there is no control on who is messing with what is essentially a life protection system.

[Charles Reynolds]

Hi Matthew, Hi James,

 

Thank you very much for your feedback. Very helpful.

 

,

Charlie