What is this thing, and how can I either restore it to a working state, or if it's useless then remove it entirely? Whatever the case I want to stop it looking like this.I think it's an electric smoke alarm, but there doesn't seem to be anything there but a plastic casing. It's on top of a 9ft+ tall ceiling so it's hard to get a proper look at it, never mind mess with it.
Other side view.
It very much looks like the plastic case of a smoke alarm. However I was not aware you could get them hooked up to the electrical system, was only familiar with battery powered ones.
>>1575017Probably a hardwired smoke alarm.
>>1575021Most are hardwired, and with an extra wire so if one alarm goes off it can set off the others.
>>1575017As others have already implied, it's a wired smoke detector mounting bracket. Battery ones just have a metal plate screwed to the wall, which you can twist the detector off and on to. Wired ones have a complicated looking plastic base like this, so when you twist it off and on you connect it. Wired ones may do fun stuff like connect to a fire panel that automatically calls the fire department when it goes off... So if you're in an apartment/condo you may want to hire an electrician instead of DIY replacing it
