No more chirps in the night

[Masterlu]

I recently upgraded all my smoke detectors to the First Alert P1010 atoms. They each have a sealed battery guaranteed for 10 years, and are much smaller and easy to install. Highly recommended!



https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A0...=ATVPDKIKX0DER

[Cohibaman]

Smoke detector? What's that???

Good call Ivan. Also, I highly recommend getting at least one carbon monoxide detector for every floor as well, especially during winter when furnaces are running.

[djwhog]

Why the hell do they only chirp at night never a daytime issue. Is the NSA hacking these too so we are sleep deprived or is it a temperature thing. I hate smoke alarms.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by djwhog

Why the hell do they only chirp at night never a daytime issue. Is the NSA hacking these too so we are sleep deprived or is it a temperature thing. I hate smoke alarms.

Dave... there is a scientific explanation;

Most smoke detectors operate on batteries, or have a back-up battery. When these batteries fall below a certain voltage, the detector warns us by chirping. Electricity is produced by a chemical reaction inside the battery. As with most chemical reactions, lower temperatures cause the chemical reactions to occur more slowly. This results in reduced electrical output.

As we all know temperatures drop during the night. When you have a battery that is near the end of its life, it may produce just enough power during the warmth of the day to satisfy the detector. However when the evening temperatures drop enough to slow the chemical reaction of the battery, and thus the electrical output, the detector warns that the battery is too weak to function. And that is why they almost always wake us up in the middle of the night.

Chirp. Chirp.

[bart]

The NSA explanation is more exciting though...

[djwhog]

All seriousness, Ivan thanks for the link I am ordering 22 of these, I am so tired of these puppies going rouge at night. I just replaced the batteries when we rolled the clocks back in the fall, and already 3 of them just went to hell in the past 2 weeks.

Seems a 9volt Duracell or ever ready should last longer than that right? Maybe my el-Cheapo contractor put some very crappy units in 12 years ago and they drain the batteries very fast?

[djwhog]

Ivan what do you add these or replace the existing units with them? if I was to leave the original ones is there a way to just disable them?

They are diff sizes and I hate to remove repaint etc. Would prefer to just add these and turn the old junkers off!

Thanks

[jdandy]

I use Lithium 9V batteries in my smoke detectors. Since the smoke detectors are linked and powered with 120 VAC, the 9V batteries are strictly for backup if the utility power fails. I perform annual maintenance by gently cleaning each detector once a year and test all of them every couple of months. They are working perfectly. The Lithium batteries are good for 10 years but I will replace them after about 8 years just to be safe.

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by djwhog

Ivan what do you add these or replace the existing units with them? if I was to leave the original ones is there a way to just disable them?

They are diff sizes and I hate to remove repaint etc. Would prefer to just add these and turn the old junkers off!

Thanks

Dave... I just add the new ones; they are super easy to install.

[GaryProtein]

My wired into my home alarm system smoke/CO detectors are a pain in the ass. The smoke detectors upstairs go off if I am having a wild cooking session and it gets smoky in the kitchen.

I finally had the last straw. I called the alarm company to have them service my system. I want them to install an on/off switch for the smoke detector causing the annoyance. (When it goes off, the central monitoring station calls to make sure the house isn't burning down.) I am ready for them to tell me that would be an illegal modification, so I just want them to show me the wires in the basement going to the control panel and I'll put a switch in myself so I can cook with impunity. Climbing a ladder to put a plastic bag over the detector when needed as a preventive isn't exactly convenient.

I can't stand all this mechanization. I know I sound cranky, but I want what I want and I intensely dislike things powered by batteries that could easily be wired in an not require battery maintenance.