Thread: What is this "alarm device"?

I saw this device mounted on the wall in the furnace closet adjacent to the garage. I'm guessing that it my be for a fire alarm type system but I have not ever seen one like this.Please let me know more about this. Thank you.

Similar Threads:

• "Trying to do the American Dream thing..."
• Smoke alarm placement
• Who needs 6" of clearance for single wall
• White "powder" at furnace exhaust tube
• Porch Re-Roof - How Should This Be "Flashed"

Looks like a heat sensor for fire rather than smoke detector. Not sure.

If you blow up your pic you can read the label where it states it is a fire alarm rated at 135*F.
HTH

Originally Posted by Bob Harper

If you blow up your pic you can read the label where it states it is a fire alarm rated at 135*F.
HTH

Actually ... it states Alarm Device Mfg Co and then 135 degrees F Open Circuit.

Which indicates to me that it is a heat sensor as Tom said which opens the circuit it is on at 135 degrees F.

That would then shut down whatever it is connected to, probably the furnace.

As the others said, heat detectors. Looks like Rate of rise detectors.
The way these are mounted and the type of cable used, they are almost, if not completely useless.
Before they would trigger an alarm, you would have
(insert # of occupants) dead people.

"Actually ... it states Alarm Device Mfg Co "

Alarm Device Mfg Co = ADM/ Ademico

"and then 135 degrees F Open Circuit Which indicates to me that it is a heat sensor as Tom said which opens the circuit it is on at 135 degrees F. "

On fire alarm circuits, the circuit is Normally OPEN, and Closed on Alarm.
So the label is saying it is an open circuit


It's about time we talked about something I have at least some knowledge of.

" I saw this device mounted on the wall in the furnace closet "

That is the proper type detector for that location.
But still not installed properly.

I've seen similar devices controlling a smoke damper in the the duct when the furnace was installed in the basement/garage of a 3 story townhouse. Is that what this one is controlling?

Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell

"Actually ... it states Alarm Device Mfg Co "

Alarm Device Mfg Co = ADM/ Ademico

"and then 135 degrees F Open Circuit Which indicates to me that it is a heat sensor as Tom said which opens the circuit it is on at 135 degrees F. "

On fire alarm circuits, the circuit is Normally OPEN, and Closed on Alarm.
So the label is saying it is an open circuit


It's about time we talked about something I have at least some knowledge of.

Glad somebody knows what they are talking aobut.

"Glad somebody knows what they are talking aobut. "

Due to a previous post (you may remember),
I did not say I know what I'm talking about,
only that, I have at least SOME KNOWLEDGE of.

Originally Posted by Vern Heiler

I've seen similar devices controlling a smoke damper in the the duct when the furnace was installed in the basement/garage of a 3 story townhouse. Is that what this one is controlling?

I do not know what this controls. I was doing a termite inspection and just found this thing curious.

Have a great day.

Jonathan

As for location, it is too close to the corner. Whether mounted on ceiling or wall, you tend to get a cold corner effect as heated gases mushroom up. If they mushroom from the center of the room, they push out to near the wall then push down avoiding the corner. If the fire is located near the wall, it rises up the wall then curls out to the ceiling again avoiding the wall. There is an eddy churning in those corners, which makes them poor choices for ANY type of sensor or alarm.

Most alarms use 18" down or out as the min. std. from a corner.

OK, it is a Heat Sensor to/ used as a fire alarm-- howzzzat?

Ditto on the N.O. circuit. What woudl be interesting to see is if this is 110vac or 24vac. If you trace it back there should be a panel where you can tell what it is. There should be a sticker with the contact info. for the alarm co.. Also, there should be some sort of visual and audible signals throughout the home. I guess it could be connected only to the heater without audible/ visual alarms signals but that wouldn't be very effective. In that case, I'm betting it is wired N.C. to the power to the heater. Please advise us if you find out.
Thx,

Bob

Originally Posted by Bob Harper

Most alarms use 18" down or out as the min. std. from a corner.

The requirement for fire alarms and smoke detectors is minimum 4" from the edge of the unit to the wall if ceiling mounted, or minimum 4" from the edge of the unit to the ceiling if wall mounted.

So, yes, those are too close.

"What would be interesting to see is if this is 110vac or 24vac."
110VAC Notta, Low Voltage wire (<30v), not 110v
24VAC Notta, alarms are DC
24VDC Could be, but not likely as most 24v systems are only installed in large fire detection systems
12VDC Most likely
6VDC Due to the apparent age, could be.


"I guess it could be connected only to the heater...
In that case, I'm betting it is wired N.C. to the power to the heater."

Cannot be wired NC, only NO, but could be wired to a relay/controller that would do the same thing as being NC.


The 125vac/ 1 amp is the rating of the contact, not the operating voltage

It's been a VERY long time since I actually read it, so I may be incorrect.

BETWEEN 4"-12" down from ceiling on walls and 12"or> from corner of wall.

When mounted on the ceiling ,
within the uppermost 1/3 and 4"or> from wall.

Originally Posted by Rick Cantrell

"What would be interesting to see is if this is 110vac or 24vac."
110VAC Notta, Low Voltage wire (<30v), not 110v
24VAC Notta, alarms are DC
24VDC Could be, but not likely as most 24v systems are only installed in large fire detection systems
12VDC Most likely
6VDC Due to the apparent age, could be.


"I guess it could be connected only to the heater...
In that case, I'm betting it is wired N.C. to the power to the heater."

Cannot be wired NC, only NO, but could be wired to a relay/controller that would do the same thing as being NC.


The 125vac/ 1 amp is the rating of the contact, not the operating voltage

And you just thought we hired you for your good looks!

Yes, if lower voltages, it would be N.O. through a relay and yes, DC---cerebral flatulence...