expiredthe.invincible posted Mar 09, 2022 03:32 AM
Item 1 of 4
Item 1 of 4
expiredthe.invincible posted Mar 09, 2022 03:32 AM
Costco Members: 3-Pack First Alert Z-Wave Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm
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Obviously, if we visit your home twice a week because of this, we'll want to have a conversation - otherwise, my statement stands
I have 7 of these and they are VERY prone to misfiring, usually at the late hours of the night/early morning. I've replaced 4 in the past only to find out that a can of compressed air usually solves the misfiring. If you read the reviews there is a consistent pattern of this.
I run these in HomeKit via Homebridge. In hindsight, I would avoid these and go with a standard smoke detector from Costco.
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The batteries (2xAA) last a bit over a year. I just checked mine in Smartthings, and they are 100%, 94%, 94%, and 84% battery. The 84% will be lucky to make it through the summer. They start beeping around 70%, but never alert for low battery in Smartthings.
I've only had them alert when there was actual smoke or water vapor around. Either too long in the shower without the fan running, something in the kitchen, or a forest fire.
They only last 7 years before they start beeping forever. If mine were a bit older I'd go ahead and order a pack of these to replace them.
The sensors in smoke detectors decay over time. I can't find a good reference right now, but at 7-10 years I think they are typically less than half as sensitive as when new. That's why they expire. You'll still be getting significant improvement if you replace them earlier.
My house came with a combination of hardwired and battery powered detectors. These have photo sensors that detect smoky/smoldering fires better. I replaced the hardwired ones with detectors using ionizing sensors that detect hotter flaming fires better.
My thinking was that gives me better coverage for any type of fire and all of them are interconnected, either hardwired or via z-wave. The two systems aren't interconnected yet, but I haven't seen a good way to do that without jury-rigging something. I'm reluctant to muck with safety equipment.
Smoke detectors can save your life and your home. They aren't expensive and are good insurance. I'll cheap out on lots of things, but smoke alarms isn't one of them.
Most of false alarm complaints happened at night. Maybe it doesn't like cooler temperature. The temperature in my house is never cooler than 60 degree because of thermostat settings though.
I have 7 of these and they are VERY prone to misfiring, usually at the late hours of the night/early morning. I've replaced 4 in the past only to find out that a can of compressed air usually solves the misfiring. If you read the reviews there is a consistent pattern of this.
I run these in HomeKit via Homebridge. In hindsight, I would avoid these and go with a standard smoke detector from Costco.
They didn't update the model number, and there really isn't any mention of the 1st gen on their web site. All instructions are for 2nd Gen, though they mostly avoid any Gen references.
Check the dates of any info. Anything after about October 2019 is 2nd Gen.
I think the only difference is in the Z-Wave chipset. The Smoke and CO sensors are the same.
These documents had the only references I could find.
https://support.firstal
https://support.firstal
From the second page:
Note:
The 2nd Generation ZCOMBO has a year of manufacture of 2020 or later and has a QR code printed on the back of the alarm. If your alarm does not have a QR code, skip to the next section for 1st Gen ZCOMBO pairing steps.
Here's the 1st Gen manual: https://data2.manualsli
I think the 2nd Gen will be a much better Z-Wave experience. I'll be buying these in a couple of years when my 1st Gen reach EOL.
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These are sensitive to dust and water vapor. If you place one near a steamy bathroom, or in a room with a lot of dust, it might go off accidentally. Maybe that's why a squirt of compressed air helps clear out dust built up inside. For those situations, get an ionizing smoke detector instead of photocell that's used in these.
If you have a hub that works with zwave plus, i'll pay you to get this new set, and you can give me your old ones
Good price compared to what I paid for them back then.
Only thing I would add is the farther they are away from the base the quicker they use batteries. The alarm on the attic goes through batteries way faster than the others. Not an issue, just something to be aware of.
If you have a hub that works with zwave plus, i'll pay you to get this new set, and you can give me your old ones
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