TIL something about home fire alarms

[Red Squirrel]

In many (most?) applications that would be best for the environment. But correct me if I'm wrong but primary cells are still best as far as long shelf life.
For fire alarms in particular, a lithium primary cell is a great solution since the alarm should be replaced every decade anyway.

Yeah true, and NES/SNES cartridges use primary cells and some of them still work to this day. (for game saves) Though in such an application a rechargeable cell would have worked too as it could just charge when you play the game, but then it would eventually die if you don't play for years. So yeah I guess there are still some application for 1 time use cells.

As a side note those 10 year detectors made me realize how old I am when they started to die on me. I remember installing them and thinking "wow 10 years, I'll be in my early 30's by then" when I first set them up after buying the house. And low and behold they started to die on me... in my 30's. At first I thought "wow these things didn't last" then I started to calculate when I bought the house and realize they actually did.

 

[MrSquished]

I have a hardwired Kidde that I looked up the model and it's supposed to be one of the ones that doesn't go off from cooking smoke overly easily. But it does.

Any better options?

 

[Exterous]

Bonus if it's on a vaulted ceiling, and the ladder is in the garage.

On a rack that requires another ladder to get to. Because you only use it to get to the vaulted ceiling fire alarms and LEDs.

And that's why I replaced 6 instead of 7. The 7th? Already replaced because it wouldn't shut up. At 3am. On a high ceiling I needed a ladder to get to. On the second floor.

(Although it wasn't a 10 year worry free one. Fresh battery didn't shut it up so I ended up just taking it down)

 

[Red Squirrel]

I've never had the smoke detector go off from ordering pizza. 😛

 

[Red Squirrel]

And that's why I replaced 6 instead of 7. The 7th? Already replaced because it wouldn't shut up. At 3am. On a high ceiling I needed a ladder to get to. On the second floor.

(Although it wasn't a 10 year worry free one. Fresh battery didn't shut it up so I ended up just taking it down)

For something like that I'd be tempted to wire some long leads to a small battery pack that sits in a closet or something. The problem is if the fire ends up burning those leads before the smoke detector goes off.

 

[skyking]

I put in First Alert combo smoke CO detectors that connect to my Ring alarm system. They use AA batteries. They work fine...but are a tiny but too sensitive. A couple of years ago, I was helping make breakfast...cooking bacon and making toast. I turned away from the bacon pan for a minute...it started to smoke...smoke alarm went off, Ring alarm went off, phone started ringing...Ring alarm monitoring was calling...then came a knock on the door. The system notified the fire department and a cop came to make sure everyone got out...fire trucks were already on the way. 😳

answers the door, steps back to the kitchen and comes back with a plate " I hope you like your bacon crispy"..

 

[snoopy7548]

I have a hardwired Kidde that I looked up the model and it's supposed to be one of the ones that doesn't go off from cooking smoke overly easily. But it does.

Any better options?

You might have an ionization type, which respond faster to flaming fires (kitchen cooking) rather than smoldering fires, but in an apartment building it's probably what you want to have. Photoelectric responds slower to the flaming type of fires.

I have these in my house, which I installed three years ago. They're the same model that were installed when my house was built and I've never had a problem, but the closest detector to the kitchen is in the entryway through a short hallway. The original ones lasted about 7 years before giving the chirp of death.

Bedrooms (smoke)

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000H3AGZO/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&th=1

Hall/entryway/basement (smoke and CO)

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-Detector-Hardwired-SC7010B/dp/B0080I9TJ2/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=First+Alert+BRK+SC7010BV&qid=1647870326&sr=8-5