Smoke and carbon monixide detector connected to your electrics

AdrianW2

fluffpot wrote: »

Mains are by far preferrrable as you don't have to worry about changing the battery for years.

You can get 10 year batteries or a sealed for life unit. Remember that the sensor units themselves need replacing after that, so there's no difference in the maintenance interval. Maintenance for a portable unit is cheaper, safer and easier.

Wherever there's a mains cable, there's a fire risk.

Linked detectors, especially a mix of optical, radiation and heat is an attractive proposition.

Much easier to turn of the MCB for a smoke detector than to climb up and push the silence button...

Not saying portable is significantly better than mains, but I don't think the difference is as clear cut as made out. The argument seem to revolve around an out-of-date impression of smoke detectors.

Tim_Deegan

If you call your local fire service they will carry out a free home safety check. They will also supply and install free smoke alarms. They are sealed to prevent the battery being removed, and they have a 10 year life. Most of the ones now being fitted are optical rather than ionising, which means that they don't go of as easily when you burn your toast. However if you do really incinerate you toast and the alarm does go off, then there is a silence button which will reset after 10 mins. Most of these alarms can also be interlinked.

mikey72

Mains detectors should be interlinked, so if one goes off, they all go off. They have batteries for back up, so cannot be switched off by removing the mains, and work through power cuts. Most battery ones are ionising, optical ones can be bought though. Mains ones are available in both as well, and also as heat detectors. A correctly specified system wouldn't go off if you burnt the toast. An ionising battery alarm would go off.

Tim_Deegan

mikey72 wrote: »

Mains detectors should be interlinked, so if one goes off, they all go off. They have batteries for back up, so cannot be switched off by removing the mains, and work through power cuts. Most battery ones are ionising, optical ones can be bought though. Mains ones are available in both as well, and also as heat detectors. A correctly specified system wouldn't go off if you burnt the toast. An ionising battery alarm would go off.

Most of the ones now being given out on home safety checks are optical, and they can be interlinked.

mikey72

I have never seen the ones fitted at the home safety checks interlinked, round here they just give them away, and screw them to the ceiling for you.

Tim_Deegan

mikey72 wrote: »

I have never seen the ones fitted at the home safety checks interlinked, round here they just give them away, and screw them to the ceiling for you.

The fire service won't actually interlink them for you. However there are terminals so that it can easily be done.

mikey72

Isn't that just as messy as interlinking mains ones, even more so if it's done after the re-wire has been finished and everything been put back?

Tim_Deegan

mikey72 wrote: »

Isn't that just as messy as interlinking mains ones, even more so if it's done after the re-wire has been finished and everything been put back?

Not as bad. I think you can use thin twin core speaker wire.

baldelectrician

loulou41 wrote: »

I have made up my mind, not going to have the mains ones. They can be a nuisance. I prefer the battery operated one, electrician does not understand why and he said he will put in the certificate no smoke detector has been installed. I am quite happoy with that as long as he certificates all the other works he has done. Thanks

Yeah why not risk burning to death to save hassle
I can't believe you have written this

I tell customers they get smoke detectors when I rewire and their only option is to accept or sign a disclaimer saying they have refused one against my advice

Get aico mains interlinked ones installed- min of a heat detector in the kitchen and 1 or 2 others (they are meant to be within 3m of a bedroom / lounge etc and 7m of a kitchen)

The mains ones are linked - if there is a fire downstairs then it sends a signal to the reso of the ones on the circuit

The AICO Easifit range have hush buttons on them and you can get hush / test buttons installed on the wall also