BRK electronic CO5120BN User Manual Download Page 3

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BEFORE YOU BEGIN INSTALLATION

This unit is designed to be mounted on any standard wiring junction box up to a 4-inch size, on either the ceil-
ing or wall. Read “Where to Install CO Alarms” and “Where Not To Install CO Alarms” before you begin installa-
tion. If a junction box is not already in place, install one using standard #12 or #14 gauge copper wire.

This Alarm must have AC or battery power to operate. If the AC power fails, the battery back-up will
power the Alarm for a short time if the 9V battery is fresh and correctly installed. If AC power fails, and
the battery is dead or missing, the Alarm cannot operate.

Find the pair of self-adhesive labels included with this CO Alarm. 

• On each label write in the phone number of your emergency responder (like 911) and a qualified appliance

technician.

• Place one label near the CO Alarm, and the other label in the “fresh air” location you plan to go if the

alarm sounds.

NOTE:

A qualified appliance technician is defined as “a person, firm, corporation, or company that either in person

or through a representative, is engaged in and responsible for the installation, testing, servicing, or replacement of
heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) equipment, combustion appliances and equipment, and/or gas fire-
places or other decorative combustion equipment.”

PARTS OF THIS CO ALARM

1

Mounting Bracket

2

Mounting Slot and Screw*

Locking Pins (break out of
bracket)

Hot (Black) AC Wire

Neutral (White) AC Wire

6 Interconnect 

Wire 

(Orange)

Lever to Open Battery
Compartment

8 Swing-Out 

Battery

Compartment

9 Quick-Connect 

Power

*Not Included

1

2

3

2

9

8

7

3

5

6

4

HOW TO INSTALL YOUR CO ALARM

INSTALLATION, continued

Tools you will need:

Standard/Flathead screwdriver.

ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD. Turn off power to the area where you will install this unit at the circuit
breaker or fuse box before beginning installation. Failure to turn off the power before installation may result
in serious electrical shock, injury or death.

To install this unit:

1. Remove the mounting bracket from the base. Position the screw slots on the mounting bracket over the

screws in the junction box. Tighten the screws.

2. Using wire nuts, connect the power connector to the AC power.

3. Plug the power connector into the back of the CO Alarm.
4. Position the base of the Alarm over the mounting bracket and turn. The Alarm can be positioned over the

bracket every 60°. Turn the unit clockwise (right) until the unit is in place.

5. Check all connections.

STAND ALONE ALARM ONLY:

Connect the white wire on the power connector to the neutral wire in the junction box.

Connect the black wire on the power connector to the hot wire in the junction box.

Tuck the orange wire inside the junction box. 

It is used for interconnect only.

INTERCONNECTED ALARMS ONLY:
Strip off about 1/2” of the plastic coating on the orange interconnect wire on the power connector.

Connect the white wire on the power connector to the neutral wire (usually white) in the junction box.

Connect the black wire on the power connector to the hot wire (usually black) in the junction box.

Connect the orange wire on the power connector to the interconnect wire in the junction box. Repeat for
each unit you are interconnecting. Never connect the hot or neutral wires in the junction box to the orange
interconnect wire.

STAND ALONE ALARM ONLY:

If you are only installing one unit, restore power to the junction box.

INTERCONNECTED ALARMS ONLY:

If you are interconnecting multiple Alarms, repeat Step 1-5 for each Alarm in the series. When you
are finished, restore power to the junction box.

ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD. Do not restore power until all Alarms are completely installed. Restoring
power before installation is complete may result in serious electrical shock, injury or death.

SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCONNECTED CO ALARMS 

•   Failure to meet any of the above requirements could damage the units and cause them to mal-

function, removing your protection.

•   AC and AC/DC CO Alarms can be interconnected. Under AC power, all units will alarm when one

senses CO. When power is interrupted, only the AC/DC units in the series will continue to send
and receive signals. AC powered CO Alarms will not operate.

Interconnected units can provide earlier warning of a CO problem than stand-alone units, especially if the prob-
lem starts in a remote area of the dwelling. If any unit in the series senses CO, all units will alarm. To determine
which CO Alarm initiated an alarm, refer to the table.

On Initiating CO Alarm

Red LED Flashes Once per Second

On All Other CO Alarms

Red LED Does Not Flash Once per Second

Interconnect units within a single family residence only. Otherwise all households will experience unwanted
alarms when you test any unit in the series. Interconnected units will only work if they are wired to compatible
units and all requirements are met. This unit is designed to be compatible with: 

BRK Electronics

®

Smoke Alarm

Models SC6120B, 4120, 4120B, 4120SB, 4919, 2002RAC, 100S, 5919, 5919TH; 

BRK Electronics

®

Heat Alarm

Models HD6135F, HD6135FB; 

BRK Electronics

®

CO Alarm Models SC6120B, CO5120BN, CO5120PDBN; and

First Alert

®

Smoke Alarm Models SA4120B, SA4121B, SA4919B, SA100B.

Interconnected units must meet ALL of the following requirements:

• A maximum of 18 compatible BRK Electronics

® 

Smoke, Heat or CO Alarms may be interconnected. No

more than 12 of the 18 can be Smoke Alarms per NFPA 72.

• The same fuse or circuit breaker must power all interconnected units.
• The total length of wire interconnecting the units should be less than 1000 feet. The interconnect wire

should be Type 18 gauge AWM or larger, rated at least 300V. If an interconnect wire is not already part of
your household wiring, you will need to install one. This type of wire is commonly available at Hardware
and Electrical Supply stores.

• All wiring must conform to all local electrical codes and Article 760 of the National Electrical Code. Refer

to NFPA, Chapter 2 and/or your local building code for further connection requirements.

6. Make sure the CO Alarm is receiving AC power. Under normal operation,the red indicator light will shine continu-

ously. If the red power indicator light does not light, TURN OFF POWER TO THE JUNCTION BOX and
recheck all connections. If all connections are correct and the red power indicator still does not light when
you restore the power, the unit should be replaced immediately.

7.

ACTIVATING THE BATTERY BACK-UP

Activate the battery back-up by removing the “Pull to Activate Battery Back-Up” tab. You do not need to
open the battery compartment and reposition the battery during installation. 

DO NOT remove the battery

activation tab until AC power is turned on to conserve battery power.

8.

Test the CO Alarm.

Press and hold the test button on the cover until the alarm sounds: 4 beeps, pause, 

4 beeps, pause. In a series of interconnected Alarms, you must test each Alarm separately by pressing and
holding the test button. Make sure all units alarm when each one is tested.

If any unit in the series does not alarm during testing, TURN OFF POWER and recheck connections. If it does not
alarm when you restore power, replace it immediately.

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7

8

4
3

1

5

4
3

1

5

2

A

B

}

}

A. Unswitched 120VAC 60 Hz source

B. To Additional Alarms, Maximum = 18 Alarms

1. CO Alarm
2. Ceiling or Wall
3. Power Connector
4. Wire Nut
5. Junction Box
6. Neutral Wire (White)
7. Interconnect Wire (Orange)
8. Hot Wire (Black)

Summary of Contents for CO5120BN

Page 1: ... gas at the sensor Carbon monoxide gas may be present in other areas This unit does not work without power If the AC power fails the battery back up will power the alarm for at least 7 days provided the 9V battery is fresh and correctly installed The Silence Feature is for your convenience only and will not correct a CO problem Always check your home for a potential problem after any alarm Failure...

Page 2: ...f the bedrooms For added protection install additional CO Alarms in each separate bedroom and on every level of your home If your bedroom hallway is longer than 40 feet 12 meters install a CO Alarm at BOTH ends of the hallway In a Single level Home Install at least one CO Alarm near or within each separate sleeping area For added protection install an additional CO Alarm at least 20 feet 6 meters ...

Page 3: ...K HAZARD Do not restore power until all Alarms are completely installed Restoring power before installation is complete may result in serious electrical shock injury or death SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS FOR INTERCONNECTED CO ALARMS Failure to meet any of the above requirements could damage the units and cause them to mal function removing your protection AC and AC DC CO Alarms can be interconnected Under...

Page 4: ... the circuit breaker or fuse box Next remove the battery from Alarms with battery back up Finally press and hold the test button for 5 10 seconds to discharge the branch circuit 1 Remove the CO Alarm from the mounting bracket If the unit is locked to the bracket see the section To Deactivate the Locking Feature 2 Disconnect the power connector by gently prying it away from the back of the CO Alarm...

Page 5: ...rs the low battery chirp will resume Replace the battery as soon as possible to maintain protection in the event of a power outage THE LATCHING ALARM INDICATOR The Latching Alarm Indicator is activated after a CO Alarm is exposed to alarm levels of carbon monoxide After CO levels drop below alarm levels the red LED will begin to flash once every 5 seconds It will continue to flash or latch until y...

Page 6: ...use they can trap exhaust in your home Since these conditions can come and go they are also hard to recreate during a CO investigation HOW CAN I PROTECT MY FAMILY A CO Alarm is an excellent means of protection It monitors the air and sounds a loud alarm before carbon monoxide levels become threatening for average healthy adults A CO Alarm is not a substitute for proper maintenance of home applianc...

Page 7: ...ay reads Err Based on its Self Test diagnostics the unit has detected a malfunction The unit needs to be replaced Make sure a fresh 9V battery is installed If unit still isn t functioning REPLACE IT Units under warranty should be returned to manufacturer for replacement See Limited Warranty for details CO Alarm sounds frequently even though no high levels of CO are revealed in an investigation The...

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