Smoke detectors that came w/ the house lasted for a number of trouble free years. Hardwired w/ battery backup. Just replace the battery every year or two.

These new Kidde replacements are dropping like flies. And to replace the replacements, I need buy a new model with a new friggin $6 wire adapter.

WTF? I'm now on my 3rd model after the initial model lasted YEARS.

I want to stop the infernal chirping so I'm just going to replace with recommended replacement.

Would LOVE to know what brand/model is better. Initial detector was the firex i4618ac.

Simplisafe generation 2. Wireless and high quality. Much better than the first generation, which I despised.

I'm replacing with sealed battery units. Why mess around with power and 9 volts?

I like First Alert and Nest.
First alerts in most paces and a Nest in the basement near the gas furnace and water heater, nest also upstairs in the hallway which is directly under the upstairs gas furnace.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
I'm replacing with sealed battery units. Why mess around with power and 9 volts?

Interconnect.
They are all wired together so if one goes off they all go off.
If a fire started in my basement shop when I was asleep I would not be able to hear the detector in there. It would burn for quite some time before I was aware.

quote:

Originally posted by konata88:, I need buy a new model with a new friggin $6 wire adapter.

The new ones should come with a pigtail. Turn off the breakers for the smokes, undo the wire nuts attaching the old pigtail to the house wiring, attach the new pigtail, turn the breakers back on.

The adapters would be convenient as you won’t have to go up and down the ladder chasing the wire nuts you’ve dropped.

I have to replace the smoke detectors in the new house. With all the remodeling that’s going on, the current ones have been contaminated with dust. I tried using a shop vac on them, but no dice. It’s a shame as they were new last year.

Interconnected is they way to go.

Looks like I can get the hardwired Kidde w/10 year battery 4-pack for $122 on Amazon. No sales tax even.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trapper189,

quote:

Originally posted by trapper189:
I have to replace the smoke detectors in the new house. With all the remodeling that’s going on, the current ones have been contaminated with dust. I tried using a shop vac on them, but no dice. It’s a shame as they were new last year.

Builders & Contractors 'should' be using protective covers on your Smoke Detectors during construction/remodeling work. They are quite similar to shower caps, but sized for Smoke Detectors. I'd be 'airing a grievance' with the Contractor on this, unless of course you are the Contractor.

^^^They did that except with painter’s tape and visqueen. Then the smokes started low battery chirping, I got tired of listening to it, and didn’t do a good job covering them back up. In the grand scheme of things, replacing the smokes is 1% of the cost of painting and .1% of the remodeling in total.

The problem w/ the detectors are that they are failing much before 10 years. The new detectors do come w/ a plug with wires that would attach to house wiring w/ wirenuts (not provided) but I don't like wirenuts. I'm always concerned that a live wire will get lose and start a fire. The house wires are like springs when you stuff them into the housing.

I heard the 10 year battery models are nice in concept. But whereas if you get a false alarm or whatever, you can unplug and remove the batteries of normal units, the sealed batteries don't shut up. I could be wrong, just something I think I read on the webz.

I'll look into First Alert. I don't want anything that hooks into wifi.

I did find that the Kidde model (on the shelf) I needed was made in either chicom or mexico. I chose the ones from mexico.

I put in Kidde 10 year sealed battery units in late 2017 when we moved into our current home and they've been 100% trouble free for me, along with (AA battery-based) CO detectors around the house. They get tested every January 1 when I go around with earplugs and a 2 foot dowel that I use to push the test buttons and the CO units get fresh batteries.

I helped my BIL replace all the hardwired smoke detectors in his house which were all 20 years old with the house when he bought it a couple years back and the previous owners never bothered to replace them. Used Wago lever locks instead of wire nuts as the new harness was not the same as the old ones in the ceilings.

quote:

Originally posted by PASig:
Wago lever locks

Damn, come to papa. Where have these been all my life. Very interested in these. Can they also be used for outdoor 12V landscape lights?

First Alert plug and play. Wired and battery backup. Pretty sure a direct replacement for Kidde.

SMI100AC

My current home I bought in 2001 had Kidde wired together smoke detectors. I ordered THESE Kidde in 2023 to replace all of them and all have been good so far.

I used First Alerts with two AA batteries instead of the single 9 volt. The batteries seem to last just as long (if not longer), are cheaper to replace, and we always have AA batteries laying around.

quote:

Originally posted by FenderBender:
I'm replacing with sealed battery units. Why mess around with power and 9 volts?

Mine lasted 12 months from its manufacture date and 10 months from date of purchase

CA requires that you use the sealed, non-replaceable battery units. You have to have one in each bedroom, and at least one on each floor.

https://www.mcar.com/wp-conten...oxide_SmokeAlarm.pdf

I went with First Alert. A Google nest and two smoke alarms came with the security package installation. The ones on the low ceiling, I installed alarms with batteries I can replace. The ones in the high volume ceiling I needed a tall ladder, I installed with a 10-year battery. Somebody else is going to need to replace that, I can’t see me doing it 9 years from now.

Same experience chasing that with “replacement” models from them.

Finally solved the issue; closing on selling that house next week!

Leaving a box of 3-4 replacements with the next victims.

You need a smoke detector adjustment tool.

quote:

Originally posted by SigSAC:
CA requires that you use the sealed, non-replaceable battery units. You have to have one in each bedroom, and at least one on each floor.

Had one of those go bad, it started wailing about 2am and would not stop, unplugging it of course no help, off to the garage and a 2 lb sledge eliminated the noise.

Replaced with First Alert and so far so good....

quote:

Originally posted by HRK:
Had one of those go bad, it started wailing about 2am and would not stop, unplugging it of course no help, off to the garage and a 2 lb sledge eliminated the noise.

I've heard this was a problem. Avoiding like the plague. Idiots. New generation - apparently no concept of exception handling.