Hardwired Smoke detector wiring

whisper

Most jurisdictions require 14/2 from a 15A circuit to the first detector then 14/3 to each one in the chain beyond. While they need far less current than this circuit would provide, I was told the practical reason for this was the difficulty of finding 5 amp breakers to protect lighter wire- and also if you take the feed from a lighting circuit the wire size must match. Sounds reasonable to me.
What would make more sense (since I dont believe the Smoke detectors use the gound) is to allow 14/2 wire (w/ ground)to interconnect them using the ground wire for the 5V /low current signal leg. (Perhaps taping this bare wire red or yellow). Does anyone know if this would meet code?

BTW- Biloxi MS requires 12/3 for the smoke circuit! Go figure.

jbfan

Using the bare ground wire for anything other than the ground is not legal.
Do it the proper way and run the 3 cable between the smokes.
You are not the only one that is required to use #12 wire. I can't use #14 for anything!

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JohnJ0906

That ground is the fault path if there are any problems with that circuit. Just because a smoke detector doesn't connect to it doesn't mean it isn't necessary.

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John from Baltimore
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