HAI - Smoke detector and CO detector

[Luvien]

Hello everyone,

I'm about to buy CO detector and smoke detector and run the cables. I've read a lot of posts about it, but it's still confusing.

-I have a HAI Omni Pro
-I need all the smoke detector to sound at the same time if there is a fire
-I want to connect the detector to my HAI

My first question is, if I buy the 2 wire detector, can they be connected in serie and after that I run only 1 cable from one of them to my HAI? Also, I guess I will need only one EOL to the cable that goes to the HAI?

If I buy 4 wire, can I connect them in serie, homerun each of them to HAI and know where is the fire but they will all sound together? I understand that I will need EOL connected at each detector.

I'm in Canada, anyone know if we have to use DC or 120V detector for new houses?

Is there a compatibility list for detector and HAI Omni Pro? Can you guys suggest a few models. I need 3 smoke and 2 CO.

Thank you very much.

 

[PaulD]

The OmniPro system is not designed to drive the sounder in a smoke detector. If you read your material carefully, it is designed to use them as a "dectector" and expects you to use that as a trigger to an external sounder driven by your Omni. However, if you run a 4 wire, there is a way to add a DSC reversing module at the end of the run that can be used to drive the sounders. There are a number of threads here that discuss this. HAI has a paper that describes how to do this on their web site but it is hard to locate. Worthington has a copy posted on their web site also. See http://www.worthingtondistribution.com/sol...?questionid=170 and look at the bottom of the page for the paper.
I do not know how this may apply to the CO units.

 

[Luvien]

If you read your material carefully, it is designed to use them as a "dectector" and expects you to use that as a trigger to an external sounder driven by your Omni.

This is exactly what I want. Sorry I wasn't clear.

For example, if there is a fire, all the units sound at the same time and it trigger an event in the Omni Pro.

Luvien

 

[PaulD]

This is exactly what I want. Sorry I wasn't clear.

For example, if there is a fire, all the units sound at the same time and it trigger an event in the Omni Pro.

Luvien

Maybe I was not clear. The sounder I was refering to is an EXTERNAL sounder...not the sounder in the smoke alarms. If you want the sounder in the smoke alarm units to sound off in each unit at same time, you will need the 4 wire setup and the DSC reversing unit I refered to.

 

[pete_c]

Its interesting cuz the installation documentation that I have for my Omni Pro II doesn't really describe what I had to install for my 4 wire CO detector or what I am installing for my 4 wire smoke detectors.

As per addedum documentation I have h ad to install
1 - Polarity reversing module for the 4 wire CO and smoke detectors
2 - Power supevision relays for the 4 wire CO and smoke detectors.

I currently have one zone dedicated to each.

I believe if I want (correct me if I am wrong) to separate the smoke detector zones I would need a power supervision relay for eacy zone but could get by with only one polarity reversing module for multiple CO or Smoke detector zones.

You have to be careful installing the polarity reversing modules in your HAI box. I used double stick tape for mine in that I did not see a way to use the plastic standoffs anywhere on the boards or box. The power supervision relays are much easier to install. The added costs for the polarity reversing modules and the power supervision modules are not excessive.

I have tried to keep a majority of the labeled cabling "neat" in the box but its starting to become a bit spaghetti like.

The number of threads relating to said connectivity and function made it confusing to me but the diagram (posted above) made the installation crystal clear.

 

[Luvien]

Thank you for your answer.

I will use 2 wire smoke detector with my HAI. Is there a compatibility list somewhere that I can check? (I don't have the Omni Pro yet).

I saw this smoke detector. It has 3 wire, so all my detectors will be interconnected with the 3rd wire and it will also be connected in 1 zone in the Omni Pro? So I only need a wire going from HAI to one of the detector?

Kidde PI2000 Ion and photo sensor

Thanks,

LJ

 

[pete_c]

I thought in your first post you mentioned an already installed Omni Pro?

The Kidde PI2000 looks to be like a standard 120V / 9V backup smoke detector and would not interconnect to your HAI panel.

I asked Worthington regarding a UL approved combo style 120V / 9V backup and one that would connect to the HAI panel and they said that such a device does not exist yet on the market with UL approval.

Basically my new smoke detectors will run / be installed in the same areas as the ones the builder installed (I will have two of them in each area).

Interesting cuz I think building codes have changed a bit in the last few years. The house in the MW (built in the early 2000's) has a smoke detector on every floor (3 of them). The house in FL built 8 years ago has a smoke detector in every room of the house (8) except the bathrooms and closets.

The two wire / four wire smokes is related to using dedicated a 2-wire smoke alarm zone versus multiple 4-wire smoke zones (its really your preference) and less costly installation. But with a four wire / separate zone setup you could actually tell which zone the fire was in versus just detection as in a two-wire smoke installation.

 

[programmergeek]

I highly recomend 4 wire since they eill reset and make sure it isn't a false signal. 2 wire is a old tech. Also if you use sounder watcht hoes little sounders draw alot you will need a external power supply.

 

[chrisdias]

I highly recomend 4 wire since they eill reset and make sure it isn't a false signal. 2 wire is a old tech. Also if you use sounder watcht hoes little sounders draw alot you will need a external power supply.

i've been talking to a local shop and they recommended 2-wire because its generally easier to wire up than 4 wire. But, you are saying that the alarms will only reset with 4-wire?

I've run 4-wire in a big loop through the house, so i can do either. I just dont know what i need. i dont need to know if 1 or another went off, i just want to know if any went off. i do want sounders in the smokes.

I guess the question boils down to pros/cons for both 2-wire and 4-wire. Is there a table anywhere?

Thanks,
chris

 

[PaulD]

i've been talking to a local shop and they recommended 2-wire because its generally easier to wire up than 4 wire.

Thanks,
chris

That is because it is easier and cheaper on THEM. They don't care about functionality on your end.

 

[chrisdias]

i've been talking to a local shop and they recommended 2-wire because its generally easier to wire up than 4 wire.

Thanks,
chris

That is because it is easier and cheaper on THEM. They don't care about functionality on your end.

normally i would agree, but they are just selling me equipment, not the installation :lol:.