Looking for a good smoke detector

Required by code here.

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I understand interconnected smoke alarms in new construction with multiple floors/areas that need multiple smoke/CO detectors. We live in a house that was built in 1992 and is a little over 1200 square feet. Our travel trailer has its own smoke detector and separate CO/LP detector.

:+1: - AND a code requirement here. I have (7) total units - all handle smoke and fire, four also handle Carbon Monoxide.

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In case, that powering from external source (not from battery) is not needed, Heiman sensors could be considered,

Heiman smoke sensor
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005004595402112.html

Feguson smoke sensor (not no-name, this is quite known brand), sold in Poland
https://allegro.pl/oferta/czujnik-dymu-ferguson-fs2sd-13019948004

As you see, they looks in almost identical way, with difference of brand name printed on them, they have monoxide sensors too.

Heiman monoxide sensor
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003434944721.html

Ferguson monoxide sensor
https://allegro.pl/oferta/czujnik-czadu-tlenku-wegla-co-fs2co-ferguson-smart-10011815695

and they have gas detectors too (not battery powered!)
https://www.aliexpress.com/item/32840620167.html

... and looks like (by looking at descriptions and reviews), that they have nice compatibility with gateways.

If you have idea, how to handle "non-inteligent" devices, then look for Kidde detectors (gas, smoke, monoxide), they are one of absolutely the best sensors, with very good reputation, with batteries lasting many years, etc.

Can’t stress enough, purchase a smoke detector intended for sale in your country. Not from another region of the world. Regardless of power source.

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I would have to agree. Related to the general discussion here, for me HE integration was a nice-to-have, getting the best possible smoke detector (wired/linked) was a must-have. Really most important that my family is safe. Always possible to do something like @rlithgow1 w/Ecolink to kick off an automation via HE in addition if desired.

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We just had a false alarm last night. Quite annoying.
I attribute it to spiders in a BRK photoelectric sensor.
It happens once in a while.

I think there's a possibility of too many detectors.
I read some article years ago about how ionization alarms weren't good for certain fires, and you needed photoelectric as well, blah blah blah.

Tell that to the spiders.

It's annoying trying to find the offending detector. I've taken to using a mirror so I don't get my neck out of joint, looking for a little led light flash. I like the leak detector type of setup where it tells you which sensor is alarming.

We have to hardwire interconnect here though.

Is there any way to put some intelligence in these dumb detectors so you know which one alarmed? I haven't heard anything about the voice models.

PS: I'm very close to getting rid of the PE alarms.

If you have Nest alarms they will tell you exactly which detector has been triggered.

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I learned from Kidde that they recommend to take them down at least annually and vacuum them to remove dust and bugs.

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Yeah. That's another reason not to get too many. :slight_smile:

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Code in my area requires one in each bedroom and at least one in common area like hallways per floor.

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Like I said, I read a couple articles on the web, and added a photoelectric detector to each of the ionization detector I had...doubling.

Nest is the best. No comparison. It’s smoke and CO in a single detector, detects both fast and smoldering fires (not a common feature in a single detector), has false alarm protection against steam, has automatic nighttime lighting (path light), interconnects via Nest thread, regardless of whether or not it’s an AC version. AC versions have battery backup too. They test themselves and send you a report. They have a heads up feature, so you have a chance to clear nuisance smoke from cooking for example, instead of just getting an alarm. Batteries are energizer AA lithium, and you can replace them yourself obviously. The battery version gives you about five years of battery life with the path light set to low brightness.

I have 8 of them. Three are wired, the rest are battery powered. They have never given a false alarm. Having a good smoke detector should be number one, while connecting it to your smart home system should be secondary. I do have mine connected through HomeKit by using a homebridge plug-in. I used to have them connected to Hubitat, but I don’t bother with that anymore.

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Tell that to my wife... :joy: She's set off the one in the kitchen a few times cooking when boiling large post of water. Note: We have 10 foot ceilings! LOL.... She's also set off the one in our bedroom from the shower...

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What technology do the Nests use? Photo, ion, or a combo?

Probably has both photoelectric and ionization. Photoelectric is good for smoldering, ionization for fast burning fires.

Ionization detectors are prone to alarming from cooking or shower related steam.

Some newer (dumb) detectors from First Alert/BRK and Kidde use both as well, not sure if any are combined with CO detection though.

I once did an autopsy on a problematic (as in a lot of off-hour false alarms) photoelectric detector and I actually found the remains of a spider's nest in the sensor.

PS: We're not overrun by spiders.

Is this detector mounted on a ceiling with attic above? If yes bugs can easily get into the gang box from the holes for the Romex. Any brand detector will have similar issues which is why it’s important to pull them down and clean them every year. I used compressed air first and then vacuum around the detector.

No.

They use a unique type of photo electric detector for fast burning fires. I’m not aware of another brand that uses the same technology. There explanation of their technology is actually quite interesting.

@velvetfoot They also seem to have some type of unique way of protecting against spiders, although they do recommend vacuuming it out just like every other detector. However, we used to live in an area that had a whole lot of little spiders and I never found one in these detectors, but I did when we had first alert and kidde detectors. :man_shrugging:t3:

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