If your home has hardwire connections, then you should replace the alarms with hardwired smoke alarms of the same manufacturer. You can use a different manufacturer, but this may require an electrician to come in and wire in a different plug (also see the interconnection section below).
Yes, they do talk to each other and they are standardized. So it does not matter which brands you install. As long as they are wired correctly, when one goes off they all will. Of course we are talking about modern wiring, some houses were not wired to allow for the detectors to signal to the others.
When interconnected smoke alarms are installed, it is important that all of the alarms are from the same manufacturer. If the alarms are not compatible, they may not sound.
All modern hardwired First Alert, Onelink, and BRK alarms use the same wiring technology, and can interconnect. It's also safe to mix and match several types of hardwired detector, like a photoelectric smoke alarm near the kitchen and a heat detector near the garage.
Mixing Kidde and First Alert smoke detectors is generally not recommended. While both brands produce reliable smoke detectors, they may use different technologies, signaling methods, and compatibility standards. Here are a few key points to consider:
Overall, we recommend the First Alert SA3210 because it combines photoelectric and ionization sensors that detect low and smoky fires as well as high flames. It's also battery-operated, so it's easy to install. If you're looking for a bargain, the Kidde I9030 is a basic smoke detector that does the job at low cost.
First Alert offers easy adapter plugs that can help you switch out existing hardwired alarms with First Alert, Onelink, or BRK models. No rewiring is required.
If your home has hardwire connections, then you should replace the alarms with hardwired smoke alarms of the same manufacturer. You can use a different manufacturer, but this may require an electrician to come in and wire in a different plug (also see the interconnection section below).
Since no one can predict what type of fire might start in their home, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends that every home and place where people sleep have: Both ionization AND photoelectric smoke alarms, OR. Dual-sensor smoke alarms, which contain both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.
To be installed correctly, hardwired smoke detectors require more than just the common sense needed to install battery-operated smoke detectors. To ensure they function seamlessly and avoid potential dangers, these units need to be replaced and installed by a licensed electrician.
You can replace the wiring harness with the power on, if you follow a couple of guidelines. One.. work with only one wire at a time. Two, don't let the black wire touch anything while you are splicing it to the new harness, and don't touch the uninsulated portion of the wire with your bare hands.
*Kidde alarms interconnect with all Kidde, Fyrnetics, Nighthawk, Silhouette, and Lifesaver branded alarms, strobe lights, and relay modules with interconnect functionality.
For hardwired smoke detectors, random beeping may result from electrical interference, loose connections, or power fluctuations. Wireless devices, such as Wi-Fi routers or baby monitors, can also disrupt the detector's signal, causing unexpected beeping.
In 2009, Kidde Acquired the company FireX, which was owned by Invensys Controls.
Kidde Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector with Voice Alert in the Combination Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Detectors department at Lowes.com.
Test smoke alarms every month by pressing their test buttons. If your alarms use regular batteries, swap in fresh batteries at least once a year. A “chirping” sound means that it's time to change batteries. Because alarm sensors wear out, replace each alarm at least every 10 years.
There are plenty of smoke detectors to choose from. Our pick for the most reliable smoke alarm is the Kidde Dual Sensor Smoke Detector PI9010, because it can detect different types of home fires, making it one of the more unusual smoke detectors out there.
The national average cost for installing a smoke detector is between $70 and $150, with most people paying around $112 to install a dual hardwired detector. At the low end of the spectrum, you pay around $44 for a battery-operated ionization detector.
According to the United States Department of Homeland Security, and the California Building Code, at least one smoke detector needs to be placed in each of the following areas of your home: On Every Floor Level. In Every Bedroom. In Every Hallway Outside of a Bedroom.
Yes. You can replace a smoke detector with a combination smoke/CO unit. All modern First Alert and BRK alarms use the same wire harness and connector.
First Alert ADK-12 BRK/Kidde Smoke Alarm Adapter Plugs
The BRK ADK-12 Smoke Alarm Adapter Plug 12pk easily connects competitive alarms without rewiring. This product is compatible with BRK and Kidde Smoke Alarms and saves time and installation costs when retrofitting existing homes or apartments.
Hardwired smoke detectors can be interchangeable as long as they are designed for the same voltage and wiring configuration.
The Kiddie and FireX Alarm models listed have been tested and are interconnect compatible: 1235, 1275, 1276, 1285, i12020, i12040, i12060, i12080, i4618, PE120, PI2000, KN-COSM-IB, KN-COB-IC, KN-COP-IC, AND RF-SM-ACDC.
Humidity, dust particles or small insects in the smoke chamber can cause false alarms; this can be solved by vacuuming the mesh and drying the smoke alarm.