[quote=“Moshman, post:16, topic:183244”]Sorry, I don’t mean to hijack this thread but I want to contribute.
When I started looking at the smoke detectors at my house I made the assumption that I could and should tie the existing hard wired 110vac ion smoke detectors into either Vera, my DSC alarm panel or both. Turns out this is not legal or smart due to another point of failure etc. Advise is to leave them alone in the stand alone config.
After reading more I found “2 wire” or “4 wire” smoke detectors mentioned. These are also hard wired versus wireless however they are low voltage 12vdc. I searched generic smoke detector vendors and little is offered. I then figured out that they are specific for alarm panels and are known as “monitored” smoke detectors. I will check in to the DSC detectors and add one or two hard wired units to my house 2nd floor however they will be separate and combo CO2, ion, and heat detectors.
I am sure that I don’t have to stick with DSC but don’t know alternatives yet. I will tie a few more DSC branded wireless detectors into my alarm panel via the wireless keypad on the first floor, laundry and garage of my house.
Lastly, when my DSC panel detects a fire alarm it will notify Vera via the EVL3 and I will create a PLEG to trip the existing 110vac detectors. I am not sure if/how I can do this yet.[/quote]
I think your a little over worried about something. The relays that were linked are made for hardwired smokes. Adding them parallel to your system doesn’t add a failure point except the device it’s self. The smokes will still do what they already do with or without the relay working. If that relay fails you won’t get a vera alert, which is not against code nor is it supposed to be considered reliable or life and death information. All your doing is adding an extra function.
If you have an alarm panel and wanted to buy only alarm panel smokes wired or wireless and put each on their own zone that’s great. In California for new construction I think code states much all be hardwired high voltage smokes (all must sound when one goes off) and a sprinkler system. One of my older houses has neither.
If you have hardwired smokes and you want to add another one to each room just for vera, I would say your a little overboard but it will work.