Smoke alarms

[Bay Kid]

Why do smoke alarm batteries do small beeps, at different intervals, when the battery is dying? Never the same time between beeps. Stand around and wait for the next beep. The search for the dying battery! Why not a steady beep?!?

[retiredguy123]

The short beeps indicate a low battery, and can beep for days. If it was a continuous beep, the battery would die completely in a short time, and you would not know it was dead.

[Marathon Man]

The short beeps indicate a low battery, and can beep for days. If it was a continuous beep, the battery would die completely in a short time, and you would not know it was dead.

Good answer.

[champion6]

Download and read the user guide. It explains the various patterns of beeps. Been there, done that. Be aware that one of the patterns indicates that the device has failed.

[villagetinker]

IMHO, if you are getting the 3 beep pattern (indicates a problem with the sensor and needs to be replaced) I would replace ALL of the smoke detectors at the same time. My reasoning, they are all the same age, and will probably all fail around the same time, I would rather do this once every 7 years or so than have to replace individual alarms over a 1 or so. Also, there are CO2 at the bedrooms, these need to be replaced by CO2 detectors according to building codes. Lowe's has a builders pack of smoke detectors that saves a few dollars over buying separate units. The CO2 units cost more than twice as much as plain smoke detectors. If you take one unit off and take it to Lowe's they can match with exact units which make replacement a breeze.
Hope this helps.

[RobertWR]

Would it be possible for someone to post a link to the user guide?

The ceiling receptacle in our garage has a transformer plugged into it with a switch next to it. I turn the switch off and the smoke alarms start beeping. Obviously this is the power to the smokes alarms. The smokes do have a battery in each as well.

Is this typical?

[dewilson58]

Why do smoke alarm batteries do small beeps, at different intervals, when the battery is dying? Never the same time between beeps. Stand around and wait for the next beep. The search for the dying battery! Why not a steady beep?!?




To keep old people entertained and their brain active.

[retiredguy123]

Would it be possible for someone to post a link to the user guide?

The ceiling receptacle in our garage has a transformer plugged into it with a switch next to it. I turn the switch off and the smoke alarms start beeping. Obviously this is the power to the smokes alarms. The smokes do have a battery in each as well.

Is this typical?
This is the user manual for the First Alert Models 9120 and 9120B, which the builder has installed in many of the relatively new houses:

https://www.firstalertstore.com/store/images/pdf/9120B-48P-First_Alert_Hardwired_Smoke_Alarm_with_Battery_Bac kup_48_pack.pdf

[champion6]

Would it be possible for someone to post a link to the user guide?

The ceiling receptacle in our garage has a transformer plugged into it with a switch next to it. I turn the switch off and the smoke alarms start beeping. Obviously this is the power to the smokes alarms. The smokes do have a battery in each as well.

Is this typical?No, because we don't all have the same model -- there are about 60,000 homes in TV.

Good point. In many (most?) homes in TV, the smoke alarms are hard wired to commercial power. The battery is backup for this. This configuration is different than my experience in homes up north where the battery was the only power source.

[BobnBev]

IMHO, if you are getting the 3 beep pattern (indicates a problem with the sensor and needs to be replaced) I would replace ALL of the smoke detectors at the same time. My reasoning, they are all the same age, and will probably all fail around the same time, I would rather do this once every 7 years or so than have to replace individual alarms over a 1 or so. Also, there are CO2 at the bedrooms, these need to be replaced by CO2 detectors according to building codes. Lowe's has a builders pack of smoke detectors that saves a few dollars over buying separate units. The CO2 units cost more than twice as much as plain smoke detectors. If you take one unit off and take it to Lowe's they can match with exact units which make replacement a breeze.
Hope this helps.

Same with ACE Hardware. We did all of ours when we moved in. I think the FD recommends every 10 years.:ho:

[New Englander]

Years ago I bought a battery tester. It has been very helpful on occasion. It would solve the mystery of which smoke alarm battery needs replacing. It's the best gadget I've ever owned.

[retiredguy123]

Years ago I bought a battery tester. It has been very helpful on occasion. It would solve the mystery of which smoke alarm battery needs replacing. It's the best gadget I've ever owned.
I have one of those also. But, if I get a ladder and remove a smoke detector battery, I'm going to replace it with a new one.

[retiredguy123]

Replacing your smoke detectors every 7 or 10 years sounds like a great idea. But, very few people are actually going to do it. If it is really that important, the manufacturers should design in a 10-year warning system, just like the low battery warnings.

[CWGUY]

Why do smoke alarm batteries do small beeps, at different intervals, when the battery is dying? Never the same time between beeps. Stand around and wait for the next beep. The search for the dying battery! Why not a steady beep?!?

:oops: A steady beep indicates a FIRE!


It's not ROCKET SURGERY! :1rotfl:

[Altavia]

The latest code is requiring 10yr batteries if not connected to power.

10yr batteries and alarms are available:

Ultralife 9V, 6LR61 Lithium 10 Year Smoke Alarm Battery - LITHU9VL-X at Batteries Plus Bulbs (https://www.batteriesplus.com/product-details/primary-other/battery/ultralife/lithu9vl=x?locationofinterest=1015144&locationphysical=9012396&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=ecommppc&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2b7uBRDsARIsAEE9XpHj02XjQgV7ux5GuOyN ymfdQnkzNRBLlJcSfIwr8Dy-v2zBFFeyCocaAsVcEALw_wcB)

https://www.lowes.com/pd/First-Alert-10-Year-Battery-Powered-3-Volt-Smoke-Detector/50235663

[retiredguy123]

The latest code is requiring 10yr batteries if not connected to power.

10yr batteries and alarms are available:

Ultralife 9V, 6LR61 Lithium 10 Year Smoke Alarm Battery - LITHU9VL-X at Batteries Plus Bulbs (https://www.batteriesplus.com/product-details/primary-other/battery/ultralife/lithu9vl=x?locationofinterest=1015144&locationphysical=9012396&utm_source=google&utm_medium=search&utm_campaign=ecommppc&gclid=Cj0KCQiA2b7uBRDsARIsAEE9XpHj02XjQgV7ux5GuOyN ymfdQnkzNRBLlJcSfIwr8Dy-v2zBFFeyCocaAsVcEALw_wcB)

https://www.lowes.com/pd/First-Alert-10-Year-Battery-Powered-3-Volt-Smoke-Detector/50235663
Just to clarify, the current code requires smoke detectors to be hardwired into the house. But, if the house was built before the code requirement, then you can install 10-year smoke detectors that have sealed, non-removable batteries (your second link). You replace the detector, not just the battery. Your first link to the battery would not meet this requirement, because it is for a smoke detector that uses removable batteries. Also, some experts recommend not using lithium batteries for smoke detectors because, even though they may last longer in use, when they fail, they fail very rapidly. Also, the lithium battery may have a 10-year shelf life, but most alkaline batteries claim to have a 15 to 20 year shelf life. I use alkaline batteries for smoke detectors.

[champion6]

Replacing your smoke detectors every 7 or 10 years sounds like a great idea. But, very few people are actually going to do it. If it is really that important, the manufacturers should design in a 10-year warning system, just like the low battery warnings.Yes, my smoke/carbon monoxide detectors do (actually, have done) this in my house built in 2011. A specific pattern of beeps indicated the failure.

[Nucky]

Isn't it something that the battery failure usually starts at night? I have been using Duracell Batteries and lately (Red Colored Quantum Batteries) most of my life with no problems but the last two batches from Lowes on 441 have failed very quickly in the Smoke Alarm/ Carbon Monoxide Detectors. I still stuck to Duracell but went back to the Gold & Black Color batteries.

I added 3 Fresh/New units after I bought the Gas Powered Generator. Better safe than sorry.

[Marathon Man]

Would it be possible for someone to post a link to the user guide?

The ceiling receptacle in our garage has a transformer plugged into it with a switch next to it. I turn the switch off and the smoke alarms start beeping. Obviously this is the power to the smokes alarms. The smokes do have a battery in each as well.

Is this typical?

Maybe added by the previous owner?

[Bay Kid]

I still don't understand why they just don't keep beeping every 10 seconds or so until I get my hands on that little ba_____. Old people games!

[Altavia]

Here's what is being installed in the new homes.

[Altavia]

Just to clarify, the current code requires smoke detectors to be hardwired into the house. But, if the house was built before the code requirement, then you can install 10-year smoke detectors that have sealed, non-removable batteries (your second link). You replace the detector, not just the battery. Your first link to the battery would not meet this requirement, because it is for a smoke detector that uses removable batteries. Also, some experts recommend not using lithium batteries for smoke detectors because, even though they may last longer in use, when they fail, they fail very rapidly. Also, the lithium battery may have a 10-year shelf life, but most alkaline batteries claim to have a 15 to 20 year shelf life. I use alkaline batteries for smoke detectors.

The CPSC determined the cause for lithium failures the was a high internal resistance in the batterys tested and subsequently changed the recommendation once root cause was corrected. But I would only use batteries certified by the manufacturer for smoke alarms.

https://www.ultralifecorporation.com/Go/5-2693-Lithium+9V+vs+Alkaline+9V+Whitepaper.aspx

[retiredguy123]

Here's what is being installed in the new homes.
Post No. 8 has a link to the user manual for that smoke detector.

[retiredguy123]

The CPSC determined the cause for lithium failures the was a high internal resistance in the batterys tested and subsequently changed the recommendation once root cause was corrected. But I would only use batteries certified by the manufacturer for smoke alarms.

https://www.ultralifecorporation.com/Go/5-2693-Lithium+9V+vs+Alkaline+9V+Whitepaper.aspx
Both lithium and alkaline batteries are certified for use as back up batteries in hardwired smoke detectors. In fact, the First Alert smoke detector shown in your Post No. 21 comes with an alkaline battery installed in it, not a lithium battery. I believe this is true for most smoke detectors with back up batteries on the market. I think that the Ultralife company is using their lithium battery packaging as a sales gimmick to sell the more expensive lithium batteries. Also, if you are going to replace the batteries every year as recommended, then why would you need a 10-year battery anyway? But, alkaline battery makers actually claim that their batteries have a shelf life longer than 10 years, and they are recommended for smoke detectors. I would also point out that Consumer Reports recommends alkaline batteries for smoke detectors because, when they fail, they have a longer voltage dropoff period than lithium batteries, which prolongs the low battery warning beeping time. They specifically recommend against using lithium backup batteries in smoke detectors for that reason.