Mains Radio-Interlinked Smoke Alarms with Alkaline Back-up - Ei140RF Series

The table below shows all the units that can interlink with the EI140 Series.

Smoke and Heat Alarms - Radio

Carbon Monoxide Alarms

Ancillary Products

Wiring Explained

Mains powered Ei Electronics smoke and heat alarms require a 230V AC power supply and up to 12 alarms can be hardwire interlinked in one system.

To obtain a mains power supply, each alarm can be connected to the nearest lighting circuit using 2 core and earth cable with a separate, dedicated interlink cable connecting alarms where applicable. However, if possible it is recommended that any alarms connected via interlink cable are all powered from a dedicated circuit from the distribution board using 3 core and earth cable for safety during maintenance, as the interlink cable will carry power from live alarms on other power circuits. Please see the diagram below:-

Technical Data

This is the technical data for the Mains Radio-Interlinked Smoke Alarms with Alkaline Back-up - Ei140RF Series.

Product Datasheets

The following datasheets are available for this product.

• Ei140RC-instructions
• Ei141RC-datasheet
• Ei144RC-datasheet
• Ei146RC-datasheet
• Ei168RC-datasheet
• Ei168RC-instructions

Q. For mains powered Aico smoke and heat alarms, when the electricity supply fails and the back up battery takes over, please can you tell me how long the battery will last in this situation?

A. For mains powered Aico alarms with a new, fully charged lithium back up battery, the battery would last approx. 3-6 months without a mains supply. For mains powered Aico alarms with a standard alkaline back up battery, the battery would last up to a year without mains supply. If the alarm has been installed with an Ei168RC radio frequency base, please note that the Ei168RC back up battery would last approx 2 months if the power fails.

Q. Please could you explain how the repeater function works on the Aico/Ei radio interlinked detectors.

A. Hello. The radioLINK repeater function allows the smoke alarm to "repeat" the radio frequency signal around obstructions. This stops the signal from becoming blocked and ensures that all interlinked alarms can be reached. This repeater function is built-in to the the Ei168RC radioLINK base (with Ei140, Ei160 or Ei2110 alarm), the Ei600 series of radio interlinked battery powered smoke and heat alarms as well as the Ei262 and Ei208WRF carbon monoxide alarms as standard. When house coded, the system works itself out which alarms are to act as repeaters - it's not something you set up yourself.

Q. Does this alarm conform to BS 5446 part 1 as recommended by the Fire Service?

A. This recommendation has been superseded by BS 14604:2005. All of our smoke and heat alarms conform to this standard in accordance with the Kitemark.

Q. I have added an Ei168RC164RC wireless linked heat detector to my garage some time after the installation of various other wireless Ei160 detectors in the house. What do I have to do to get the system to recognise the new detector please?

A. To get the Ei168RC164RC to communicate with the existing alarms, you would need to housecode all the units again. Press the housecode button on the new Ei168RC base and on each of the existing units.

Q. My ceiling light is on a dimmer switch. Can I still power my radio-interlinked mains smoke alarms from this lighting supply?

A. In modern housing the lighting circuit will travel around your house with the lights being fed from it. Between the circuit and the light will be a switch (or in this case a dimmer) which will control the light. Your mains powered alarms are connected directly to the circuit and have constant power, so are not affected by switches or dimmers.
In older homes that have not had the electrics updated this may not be the case so it is advisable to consult an electrician.