ELK-6050 — Wireless Smoke Detector Installation Instructions

Overview

The ELK-6050 is a wireless photoelectric smoke detector with a built-in fixed-temperature and rate-of-rise heat sensor, designed for use with Elk's two-way wireless line (ELK-M1XRFTW Transceiver and ELK-M1 Control). It's suited for residential and light commercial applications and is powered by two 3V lithium CR123A batteries providing both detection and wireless transmission power. Built-in self-diagnostics monitor sensitivity and drift-compensate over time to reduce nuisance alarms and extend cleaning intervals.

Specifications

Two-Way Communications

When multiple ELK-6050 detectors are enrolled on the same Control, they communicate bidirectionally: if one alarms, the Control broadcasts a "Sounder On" signal so all enrolled detectors sound together (except a detector still sensing smoke won't silence until it clears). Signal types include:

• Alarm — 6050 → Control, sufficient smoke/heat detected
• Trouble — 6050 → Control, internal fault, may need service
• Low Battery — 6050 → Control, batteries need replacement
• Test/Silence — 6050 → Control, Test button pressed; also silences that detector's alarm
• Sounder On/Off — Control → all enrolled 6050s, activate/silence sounders
• Trouble Off — Control → all enrolled 6050s, silence trouble chirps (low-battery chirp restarts after 24 hrs if unresolved)

Where to Install

Follow NFPA 72 (Chapters 2, 3, 5) and NFPA 101 plus local codes. General placement guidance:

• At least one detector per level in multi-level homes/basements; in hallways outside bedroom entrances; an additional detector inside each sleeping area for new construction.
• Choose locations between 40–100°F, 0–90% non-condensing humidity, at least 5 ft from bathrooms, and away from vents/drafts.
• Ceiling mount: center of room/hallway, at least 4" from walls.
• Wall mount: top of unit 4–12" below the ceiling.
• Sloped/peaked ceilings: mount at least 3 ft down/away from the highest point.
• Suspended ceiling tile mounts must use a fastener that prevents tile removal.

Locations to Avoid

• Ambient temps over 100°F; dirty/dusty/insect-infested areas
• Near combustion particle sources (kitchens, garages, furnaces, water heaters, gas heaters)
• Damp/humid areas or near showers; near fresh-air inlets/returns or drafty spots
• Dead-air spaces at peaked ceiling tops or wall/ceiling corners
• Within 10 ft of fluorescent light fixtures; not for outdoor use

Mounting

1. Before permanent mounting: enroll the detector into the Control and hold it at the intended location, press the alarm test button ~4 seconds, and confirm the Control receives the signal and sounds the Fire Alarm. Relocate and retest if the RF signal is weak or absent.
2. Mount the baseplate with the supplied screws and anchors. Never attach to a removable ceiling panel without a span support bracket — mount directly to the metal grid support instead.
3. Insert batteries (required — the unit cannot attach to the base without them), then align the alignment tab on the detector with the arrow on the base and turn clockwise ~15° until it snaps in.
4. Retest communications: press Test for 4 seconds, verify alarm sounds at both the unit and Control, then silence/reset by entering a valid User Code at the keypad.

Normal Operation & Indicators

• Normal: Alarm/Status LED flashes once every 16 seconds.
• Alarm: LED solid red.
• Trouble/maintenance mode: LED off.
• RF ACK LED (near Test/Silence button, inside the heat sensor cavity): flashes green on successful communication to the Control, orange/red if unsuccessful.

Silencing: press Test/Silence to silence the sounder or a low-battery chirp — it resumes after a few minutes if smoke is still present. Tamper: removing the housing from the backplate sends a Fire Trouble signal; press "*" at the keypad to silence, then enter a valid User Code once restored to clear it.

Battery Replacement

1. Remove the detector from its baseplate (twist counterclockwise) — this triggers a Fire Trouble; press "*" to silence temporarily.
2. Slide off the battery compartment cover, remove and recycle the old batteries.
3. Wait at least 20 seconds before installing new batteries.
4. Insert two new 3V lithium CR123A batteries with correct polarity (never reuse old batteries or mix battery brands/types).
5. Replace the cover, realign the detector on the baseplate, and test.
6. Clear the trouble condition at the keypad with a valid User Code.

Full-Alarm & Sensitivity Testing

Full-alarm test (recommended annually): notify your Central Monitoring Station first. Use canned test smoke (e.g. GE/Interlogix/UTC SM200 "Smoke! in a can") or a smoldering punk/cotton wick directed into the smoke entry openings for ~20 seconds. The LED should illuminate, the sounder should emit a temporal-3 pattern, and the Control should show a Fire alarm — fan clear and reset with a valid User Code.

Detector sensitivity test: press and hold Test for 4 seconds; count the LED flashes:

Local (non-alarm) testing is also possible via the Control's Walk Test mode (User Menu #3) — this checks RF communication and signal strength without triggering a full Central Station alarm.

Enrolling into the Control

Via keypad programming: confirm the M1XRFTW Transceiver is powered and enrolled with the M1 Control. In Installer Programming, go to Menu 14 (Wireless Setup) → sub-menu 3 (Learn Sel Wireless Transmtr), select an unassigned wireless zone, then insert batteries when prompted to capture the TXID. Set Loop ID to Type 2 (required — the 6050 will not communicate otherwise) and Supervision Type to 3 (Fire Supervision, ~64-minute check-in interval). Finally, program the zone definition to Fire (Def=10) via Keypad Menu 5.

Via ElkRP software: create/expand a wireless zone group (in groups of 16, starting with Group 2 for the M1XRFTW), enter the detector's TXID (printed inside the detector's back label), set Loop to Type 2 and Supervision to 3 (Fire Supervision), enable the sensor, and save. Set the zone definition to Fire (Def=10).

Maintenance & Cleaning

Service life is approximately 8–10 years. Perform an annual full-alarm test and periodically check LED flashing / run a sensitivity test. To clean the interior optical chamber: notify Central Monitoring, remove the detector, remove batteries, pry off the alarm cap with a flat-blade screwdriver, squeeze and discard the old optical chamber cap, blow out dust/debris, snap in a new optical chamber (UTC part #211), reassemble, reinsert batteries, remount, clear the trouble at the keypad, and rerun the sensitivity test.

Troubleshooting

Warranty

2-year warranty against defects in materials and workmanship from date of manufacture. Batteries used with wireless devices are not covered. Refer to Elk's website for the full warranty statement.

Manufacturer: Elk Products (OEM agreement with UTC Fire & Security) — PO Box 100, 3266 US Hwy 70 West, Hildebran, NC 28637. Tel: 828-397-4200. FCC ID: TMAELK-6050.