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Thread ID: 128646	2013-01-05 22:08:00	Smoke alarms failing?	superoman (6703)	PC World Chat

Post ID	Timestamp	Content	User
1321477	2013-01-06 01:40:00	Over the last several years and with multiple alarms it seems they all work fine here for a year or more and then start going off in the middle of the night for no apparent reason, usually in winter. Searched the internet and the best I could come up with: Some seem to enjoy going off due to sudden changes in air temperature, apparently. Or maybe they just get full of dust, or something. No idea. But if it IS a real alarm I don't know what's causing it, I find it hard to believe an electrical fault could exist for several years without any other symptoms, but stranger things have happened. Now you've got me paranoid!	Agent_24 (57)
1321478	2013-01-06 02:27:00	For computer geniuses you certainly dont know much about the effect of cold on battery life. One thing that annoys me in the winter is when my pager battery dies in the middle of the night! Usually between 3-5am! Smoke alarms tend to have there batteries die around the same time of day as well! What amazed me while doing the Smoke alrm awareness programme is the amount of people who did not check smoke alarms! Then again why should I sound surprised either! Every six months batterys are recommended to be changed HOWEVER there are now Lithium Ionisation smoke Alarms that battery life is several years. But that bring the other check you should do and that is making sure the dust dont build up! Quick suck of the vacuum clenaer is all thats needed using a brush as you computer builders know pushes the dust in more compact. Now if your still having difficulties contact you local fire station and get them to have a look. They Fire Service would rather spend a few minutes checking you smoke alarms than pulling you out of a burning building and spending hours fighting a fire. Modern Fire service is about fire prevention hence smoke alarms.	coldfront (15814)
1321479	2013-01-06 03:05:00	Well I don't know about anyone else but as far as I know the batteries in mine were OK at the time. Voltage test was fine, and the low battery alarm didn't go off. When a low battery alarm does go off, it's obvious and the battery gets replaced straight away. But maybe it was still a battery issue, if it happens again I will try a new battery and see if the problem is fixed then and there.	Agent_24 (57)
1321480	2013-01-06 03:40:00	A few years ago down here in Invercargill we had a free smoke alarm delivered to every home in the city. Smoke alarms are easy enough to install and are designed to give off a beeping sound when the batteries are going flat and need replacing. Most people replace the battery to have continued protection. Other people simply remove the battery to stop the annoying beeping sound. Landlords, when inspecting a rental property, often find that the fire alarm is still in place but with the battery removed. We are always reminded to check our smoke alarms every six months when daylight saving changes.	Bobh (5192)
1321481	2013-01-06 09:38:00	Why cant people start thinking inside the square and pre-wire new homes so that homes and offices dont need batteries inside smoke detectors. or would this confuse people when to adjust their clocks. I suspect they dont do this yet because I have not heard of battery less smoke detectors.	Frank_sumbody (16923)
1321482	2013-01-06 09:47:00	Why cant people start thinking inside the square and pre-wire new homes so that homes and offices dont need batteries inside smoke detectors. or would this confuse people when to adjust their clocks. I suspect they dont do this yet because I have not heard of battery less smoke detectors. I can see a big problem there - What happens if theres a power cut ? The alarm wouldn't work. At least with a battery they beep when going flat. We change ours as soon as the first beep is heard, or every year at least. Mind you, SWMBO tests out the ones in our place every so often when something on the stove gets a little warm and sets them off.	wainuitech (129)
1321483	2013-01-06 10:23:00	yes fire starts blows out all the fuses in the fuse board, what a way to blow away your day, I think maybe a fire starting after the local area power blow out is stranger than winning more than $10 in lotto. SLA battery backup found in alarm systems could cure this	Frank_sumbody (16923)
1321484	2013-01-06 19:20:00	Yes I always test my batteries on the change to and from Daylight saving. Its a good reminder. I can't believe those people who take the batteries out ? Do they think their life is not worth a few dollars?	Digby (677)
1321485	2013-01-06 19:29:00	Well I don't know about anyone else but as far as I know the batteries in mine were OK at the time. Voltage test was fine, and the low battery alarm didn't go off. When a low battery alarm does go off, it's obvious and the battery gets replaced straight away. But maybe it was still a battery issue, if it happens again I will try a new battery and see if the problem is fixed then and there. We tried two different new batteries with our one when it played up and did a voltage test on the batteries, just in case, so the problem wasn't with the battery here either. And now that you mention it, I think the issue cropped up in winter here as well. We have now got a different brand of detector so we shall see what happens this winter.	FoxyMX (5)
1321486	2013-01-07 00:08:00	Once again I find myself informing you that you can have a Faulty smoke alarm and in fact get a second! Sometimes it is installer error. As for hardwird smoke alarms yes they are avialable and yes they do have battery back ups and once again the newer Lithium Battery smoke alarms are replacing the traditional alarms installed tht are being recommended by the Fire Service. You have any doubts GET IT CHECKED!!! Tommorow never comes and especially if you have a fire before tommorow while you sound asleep never to wake again.	coldfront (15814)
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