smoke fire alarms

[neil_merseyside]

The cold can make a marginal battery in an alarm chirp, so if you wait until spring proper or light a fire to raise the temperature then you may get a short respite - or just bin the alarm or battery and replace the bit you dumped. Life is cheap, but a PP3 at a£2 or an alarm is less than a £5 - in the UK at least. (fire alarms are £8 - £15 here in France AND getting dearer as they are now compulsory!!)

 

[Supersuperleeds]

As others have said, if it runs off 9v battery then it needs changing. I'll lend you our lass if you want, she tests our smoke alarm most days at tea time.

 

[oldfatfool]

Replace it. Fire angel have integrated batteries so you have to replace the whole thing. The chirping is because the battery is low

Not if you crack it open an jemmy the battery out with a screwdriver, standard 9v battery

 

[classic33]

Not if you crack it open an jemmy the battery out with a screwdriver, standard 9v battery

Hardwired into place and not 9V either.

 

[mybike]

Always used to know when our alarm battery was dying, the dog used to get very upset. It probably put out a tone we couldn't hear.

 

[buggi]

Not if you crack it open an jemmy the battery out with a screwdriver, standard 9v battery

The ones I had from the fire brigade weren't standard, I did that not realising, although the battery is standard, the connections were soldered and couldn't be fixed once pulled off . They are designed like that so people don't get tempted to disconnect the battery when cooking and then forget to reconnect. The whole casing couldn't be put back together then either.

 

[buggi]

Always used to know when our alarm battery was dying, the dog used to get very upset. It probably put out a tone we couldn't hear.

Same here, my dog fretted all night a few days before they started to chirp.

 

[classic33]

The ones I had from the fire brigade weren't standard, I did that not realising, although the battery is standard, the connections were soldered and couldn't be fixed once pulled off . They are designed like that so people don't get tempted to disconnect the battery when cooking and then forget to reconnect. The whole casing couldn't be put back together then either.

You opened it with too much force then!

Annoying thing is the life of the alarm, versus that of the stated life. With these ones, half of that advertised.

 

[buggi]

You opened it with too much force then!

Annoying thing is the life of the alarm, versus that of the stated life. With these ones, half of that advertised.

No, it's designed to break hun. It wasn't the casing, they're were some connections inside that are separate to the battery. Those connections broke when I opened it, and then I also discovered the battery was soldered in. You're right about the lifetime, they only lasted 18 months and I'm sure they were 10 year ones! I personally think its better getting ones with replaceable batteries but spending a bit extra to get the ones that can distinguish between cooking fumes and real fire smoke. That way, no temptation to take out the battery. Or get one that runs off the main with battery back up.

 

[classic33]

The inside of a FireAngel Optical Smoke alarm.
Three little tabs that require a small push out of the way, if you want to reassemble it.
Shows the non replacable battery, with the red wire cut, after it started going off less than two years into its ten year lifespan.

 

[Cush]

Thanks for all the answers I will be replacing the upstairs one in the next few days, probably with the same model as this will save me having to drill more holes in the ceiling. It was a strange morning,The alarm was chirping at 00:15, I thought I had sorted it.The fire alarm went off full blast at 04:15, sorted that. The dog started howling at at 04:45, sorted that, got back to bed 05:20. Alarm clock went off at 06:00, sorted that. The wife's alarm went off at 07:00, she sorted that. Was up by 07:40. Tried to book the bike on to Virgin rail next Saturday via the telephone, got the runabout from a call centre probably in India but did not get tickets, uttered some politically incorrect words that could be considered offensive (but uttered more in frustration than conviction) Rode down to Carlisle station got the tickets from a very helpful man behind the desk. Faith restored.

 

[spen666]

Replace the alarm, battery is sealed in.

amazing how you can make such a diagnosis without seeing the object in question

The internet is full of people giving opinions on things they don't know about

 

[Deleted member 23692]

If you've got an older ionization type detector don't forget to phone Carlisle City Council and ask for advice on dealing with the small amount of radioactive material you wish to dispose of - it'll contain a small amount americium-241 and is covered by some stringent legislation

It's one of the best calls (for comedic value) to 'authority' I ever made

 

[midlife]

I think the clue was the op told us the name of the alarm (fire angel), which I missed when reading.

What us more unbelievable is that the op found the staff at Carlisle station helpful ........

Shaun

 

[classic33]

amazing how you can make such a diagnosis without seeing the object in question

The internet is full of people giving opinions on things they don't know about

Check the name given in the opening post!