The best interconnected smoke alarms are now a requirement to satisfy fire safety standard requirements.
It has been demonstrated that having interlinked detectors increases the chance for you and your family to escape from a fire safely and on time. Consequently, the best wireless interconnected smoke detectors have also become popular and a preferred option with undeniably greater customer value.
We will show you just why!
But before that, here is a quick comparison of the best wireless smoke detectors that are easy and quick to interconnect. Remember to check today’s deals because you never know, it may be your lucky day!
Contents
Definitive Wireless Smoke Detectors Comparison
The requirement for you to have interconnected smoke alarms battery operated does not specify whether you should have hard wired smoke alarms or wireless. We love homes and hope that your’s can be safe, smart, secure and stylish.
==>> We have selected the best from a wide range of interconnected fire detectors for you. Have a look by clicking here.
Alarmingly, nearly ten people die every day as a result of home fires in the US. In Europe, twelve people die every day according to Information Bulletin of the World Fire Statistics Centre – Geneva Association as well as https://www.europeanfiresafetyalliance.org/our-focus/statistics/.
And on average 35 people die everyday in Russia due to related fire incidences. The most affected groups of people in most cases are the children and the elderly.
However, on the bright side of things, most of the residential fire related deaths are totally preventable.
Why have Wireless Interconnected Smoke Alarms with 10 Year Battery?
Homes with a working smoke detector reduced significantly the chances of fire fatalities. Nevertheless, homes with INTERCONNECTED smoke detection system enhance the chances for survival tremendously.
The primary purpose of a smoke detector is to warn you of potential fire danger hence providing you with some lead time to escape.
Assuming you are asleep on the first floor of your home. Meanwhile, fire starts in the basement or in your kitchen which is on the ground floor. If you do not have interconnected alarms, the basement (or wherever the smoke or fire starts) smoke detector will go off.
However, you may not hear it because you are on the first floor or worse still, sound asleep. The smoke or fire may have to build up to trigger the next nearest smoke detector. With this in mind it may be too late as there may be insufficient time to find a path of escape!
In case of interconnected smoke detectors, when the basement smoke detector goes off, all the alarms in the house go off (including the smoke alarm in your bedroom). This helps because you have enough time to escape and evacuate before exit paths are too dangerous.
Depending on the State that you live, some insurance companies may not compensate you if they found that your smoke alarms are not interconnected. This should worry you unless you are a risk taker!
Assuming an average wireless smoke detector costs 50 dollars and you have 6 locations to install. That will be a total of 300 dollars. Keep in mind that the next replacement is due in 10 years! It translates to 30 dollars (only) each year, just to keep you safe using some of the best hassle free to install smoke detectors.
How to Set Up a Wireless Fire Alarm System
Traditional network was achieved by hard wiring the smoke alarm detectors. However there is modern technology that makes linkage of smoke detectors more convenient. A good example is the Kidde wireless interconnected smoke detectors.
General Steps of Installation
Let’s assume you have five of these detectors. The following steps will give you some pointers:
- Put the batteries to power them.
- Test each one of them for proper functionality.
- Program (for smoke detectors with voice) one at a time according to location of use and label them accordingly. (The label will help you avoid mix up just in case you forget)
- Most wire less smoke detectors will require that you pair them together so that they can transmit and receive signals to and from each other. For example, you press the button of 1 and 2 at the same time, then 1 and 3, then 1 and 4 and finally 1 and 5 to make 1 recognize all the other 4.
- Similarly you have to do that for no. 2 with all the others, then no. 3 with all the others.
You do not need an electrician to install interconnected wireless smoke detectors. You can do it yourself 🙂
- . Finally, after installing the smoke alarms in their respective locations, REMEMBER to all of them again. When you press the test button of the smoke alarm in the kitchen, all smoke detectors should go off and alert you of the smoke/fire in the kitchen.
Please note that if you are using dual smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, they will differentiate the danger and warn you accordingly. The voice will inform you whether it is smoke/fire or carbon monoxide and of course the location.
Various visual signals are also included e.g. flashing LEDs as well.
We recommend you go through your manual carefully so that you can install the new smoke detectors spot on.
How Wireless Interconnected Smoke Detectors Work
Wireless smoke alarm products such as first alert smoke detectors employ the use of a very reliable means of communication; the mesh networking.
Mesh networks have all the smoke detectors included in the network distributing data to each other.
The message is transferred along the shortest path and if the path is broken, the mesh network is configured to find another available path to the destination.
This ideally creates a very reliable set of fire detection system and this explicitly explains why mesh network was first developed for military use. As shown above, it is failure proof!
The hard wired smoke detectors communicate by sending a 9V signal to the other devices and you can guess what will happen if the wire is broken; No contact! No warning to vacate in case of an emergency.
Wireless Smoke Detectors that Communicate with each other
You have no need to worry about interference from other wireless devices or signal as the products are fully compliant to international standards.
The radio frequency commonly used is 433 MHz that does not attenuate or weaken through walls or floors or other ordinary building material. This frequency spectrum has less traffic and hence less interference.
There is great flexibility as to the number of smoke detectors that can be used in the network with some manufacturers designing for up to 12 smoke detectors and six other additional detectors which could be carbon monoxide detectors, heat detectors or other types of sensors.
We have additional reviews for the best smoke and carbon monoxide detectors on our main page.
Here is a detailed review of our best picks.
First Alert SCO500B Wireless Interconnected Photoelectric Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Combo Alarm with Voice and Location
✔️ Our Best Choice
This is our best pick. It combines CO and smoke detection in one device. It gives you additional advantage by alerting you the location where the threat has been detected and whether it is smoke or CO.
This is very important information at the initial stage of the fire.
It also combines two sensing technologies, photoelectric for slow burning fires and eletrochemical for detecting carbon monoxide alarm.
It uses battery power to operate. Two AA batteries are required. Installation and wireless setup has been made easy. You can DIY at home.
A set of 3 to 6 for all your areas provide adequate coverage and interlink with each other to keep you safe. First Alert SCO500B also communicates with other types of detectors seamlessly e.g. First Alert SA511.
This is the right smoke and carbon monoxide detector for your house.
Kidde 0919-9999/RF-SM-DC Battery-Operated Interconnectable Smoke Alarm
☑ Our Runners Up
This smoke alarm meets UL standards. It is designed with ionization sensor to detect quickly flaming fires.
These wireless units require 3 AA batteries.
Since your house requires both photoelectric and ionization, this smoke detector compliments our no. 1 choice.
You can hush the alarm from any device.
Kidde RF-SM-DC Smoke Alarm
This wireless RF battery operated smoke detectors is very affordable. It uses ionization sensing technology hence very suitable for flaming fires. The features include:
Wireless technology uses radio frequency to transmit and receive messages
The red LED flashes every 10 seconds to indicate that the unit is working correctly. This is important since you are only protected as long as the unit is working correctly.
Battery power enables homeowners to install interconnected smoke alarms without rewiring. Uses 3 AA batteries.
Smart touch button quickly and temporarily silences nuisance alarms. For example, you know the cause of the alarm to be smoke from your toaster, you can temporarily disable the sensor for up to 8 minutes and clear the air.
Wireless alarm can be installed in a detached workshop or shed
Kidde wireless smoke alarms meet UL requirements and hence you can be guaranteed of their quality
It sounds a brief chirp approximately two times in a minute to warn you of low batteries. You must replace the batteries within 7 days before Kidde RF-SM-DC Smoke Alarm becomes inoperative.
This type of alarm is very suitable to replace your existing non connected battery operated alarms.
First Alert SA521CN
If fire was to breakout in one of your rooms e.g. the garage and you were in a different room, these meshed smoke alarm is qualified to sound an alert when one of them detects smoke.
Hence, though the fire is in a different room, all the wireless detectors sound and you don’t lose valuable time in case it is a fire emergence. You gain some lead time to escape before the fire reaches your room or location.
The other good news is that, if you would like to provide your own power to the wireless smoke detector and let the battery act as a back up, then this type will be the best choice for you.
At a cost of 50 dollars, this alarm system comes with the following features include:
- Hardwire, interconnected wireless smoke alarm with battery backup
- Uses photoelectric sensing technology which is environmentally friendlier unlike ionization technology.
- Low battery warning; simple to use silence/test button; pullout battery drawer
- Add additional battery operated First Alert ONELINK alarms to expand without wires
- Power Source: 120-volt AC mains power with 2 AA battery backup
This type is most ideal for kitchen areas since its technology allows it not to confuse false alarms with real fire dangers.
Furthermore, it can detect those slow fires and in addition has a bright light to help in case of an emergence escape. It is also very suitable to replace your existing non connected hard wired alarms.
Honeywell 5808W3 Smoke/Heat Detector
If you already have an existing Honeywell Security System (or you plan to install one in your home or premises), then the Honeywell Wireless Smoke Detector is the best choice you can make.
You can then integrate your wireless smoke detector and it is compatible with a variety of many systems.
This integration requires some configuration and a bit of programming and there are pretty of you tube videos that can help you do this easily and quickly.
It is very tolerant to false triggers of alarm and hence ensures that the alarm goes off for real fires.
It is based on photoelectric sensing technology and therefore suitable for fast flaming fires.
First Alert SA501CN2
First Alert wireless fire detectors allow you to interconnect up to 18 alarms. The anti theft lock is an additional mechanism to allow you extended services from your product.
The installation is made easy so that you can DIY (do it yourself). There is an instructional DVD for most first alert smoke alarms.
- Uses photoelectric-sensing technology that is very good at eliminating nuisance alarms especially from cooking smoke and shower steam.
- Simple-to-use silence/test button
- Low-battery warning and convenient pullout battery drawer so you do not have to remove your alarm from where you have installed it just to replace batteries.
- Includes two AA batteries and comes with a 10-year warranty. This covers the full life cycle of the product.
The wireless network is based on mesh network topology that is more reliable.
SCO501B2: Talking Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm
This smoke detector offers you two form of protection all in one device. As discussed earlier, carbon monoxide is lethal.
The product has 5 years limited warranty. The following features ensure value for money.
- Onelink Wireless Technology
- Photoelectric sensing technology and electrochemical sensor for Carbon Monoxide
- The VOICE can easily be programmed. There are 11 pre-programmed choices that you can choose from. The voice will announce even the type of hazard and location. This is a very cool feature for an interconnected network since despite where you are you will be warned where the hazard is.
- By adding Onelink battery operated alarms elsewhere, when one alarm sounds in either series of alarms, all alarms will be notified.
Remember that smoke alarms need to be replaced after a number of years. Some models after 10 years, others 5 years. (Kindly liaise with your fire safety advisory body and read your fire alarm manual carefully to determine when your next replacement is due).
It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a functional and working smoke alarm.
If you are currently using a smoke alarm that is not wireless, you still have a chance to migrate to some of the best wireless smoke detectors system and enjoy all the advantages that come with it.
Honeywell Wireless Smoke Detector
There is an exciting wide array of Honeywell wifi smoke detectors. They are accurate, easy to install, integrates well with the exiting Honeywell security system and is very cost effective.
Honeywell 5800 COMBO – Wireless Smoke/Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector
This is a combination of smoke and carbon monoxide detector. With a 10 year lifespan, you are guaranteed of multiple threat detection with greater accuracy.
The infrared flame sensor measures flame signatures and interprets them to provide false alarm immunity.
The LEDs provide visual safety. Red LED is for smoke alarm, blue LED for carbon monoxide alarm and a tri-color LED gives the operational status of the detector.
You will also hear a loud sound in case of an alarm.
Honeywell 5806W3 – Wireless Photoelectric Smoke Detector
The built in wireless transmitter works with a 5800 series wireless transceiver ( if the installation is residential).
For commercial purposes you may require the 5883H transceivers.
The detector chamber and the microprocessor are designed to eliminate false alarms hence there is no unnecessary service calls or associated fines.
Honeywell 5809 Series – Wireless Heat Detectors
It is used for applications that require additional protection than offered by smoke alarms.
A temperature sensor is installed and is able to measure the rate of rise of temperature. A high rate of temperature rise or temperatures above 135 degrees Fahrenheit will trigger an alarm.
Honeywell 5808W3 – Photoelectric Smoke / Heat Detector with Built-In Wireless Transmitter
This smoke alarm consists of both functions of smoke and heat detection.
Nuisance or fake alarms are eliminated by a smoothing algorithm that removes spikes from dust or smoke.
The temperature detector can sense a pre-freeze condition for temperatures below negative 41 degrees Fahrenheit.
Kidde Wireless Smoke Detectors Reviews
Kidde has designed products that are either battery operated or 120V ac powered. Here is a brief collection that may interest you.
| Battery Operated – Kidde Wireless Smoke Detector | Hardwired 120V ac – Kidde Wireless Smoke Detector |
|---|---|
Hardwired Wireless Interconnected Smoke Detectors
It is possible to have hardwired wireless smoke detectors! How?
Mostly, this smoke detectors will be interconnected through wireless signals but powered by wiring them to a mains power source.
We recommend using the a wireless detector to give you that protection (and we will explain why shortly).
We understand that your home (and the household items within) is among your greatest investment and therefore should be protected by the best smoke alarm technologies.
Further, the level of your fire alarm technology can influence such things as insurance costs (we are not insurance experts or advisers and we prefer that you contact your insurance agent or adviser), your comfort and level of confidence on safety around your house.
Why Wireless Interconnected Smoke Detectors?
First, wireless smoke and carbon monoxide alarm is an essential home gadget to keep your whole family and yourself safe from fire hazards with many advantages. The wireless type does not require you to run cables or drill holes and therefore you can preserve the beauty of your home.
This is the main advantage of having wireless smoke detectors interconnected. Currently, there are stylish smoke detectors that add beauty to your home also. It is very easy to install.
[yellowbox]Interconnecting your home smoke detectors is highly recommended. Previously, only the hard wired smoke detectors could interconnect leaving the standard battery operated smoke alarms at a serious disadvantage. But not any more. All new homes must have interlinked smoke alarms.[/yellowbox]Secondly, placement of smoke detectors is made very flexible as long as the wireless signal is strong enough. You can therefore change the location of your smoke alarm or CO detector as often as you wish.
Some people may need help on where to install the wifi smoke detectors.
The third but not least advantage of these wireless products is that they can be easily interconnected to form an integrated alarm system in the home.
Now, this is where the aptness and flexibility becomes advantageous, because you can interconnect all your alarm system at home easily and this sets out maximum assurance from fire hazards.
When one alarm detects smoke or carbon monoxide gas (if it is a combination smoke and co detector), all the networked detectors go off.
[yellowbox] This (wireless inter connectivity) is the best choice of connecting your detached rooms e.g. a garage, workshop or store to your existing smoke alarms with no wires at all. [/yellowbox]Conclusion
You will be spoilt for choice while looking for wire less smoke detectors. We are hopeful that this guide does not leave you confused any more.
Smoke detectors that are compatible with z hub and those that work with smartthings are also available.