RF insensitive smoke / CO detectors

[WA2SQQ]

I'm wondering if anyone can recommend a battery powered smoke / CO detector that is not easily set off by RF. My Kidde units all go off each time I get on 40m with as little as 100W
I don't expect that much can be done to shield them.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I switched all my battery operated Kidde smoke detectors to battery operated First Alert detectors. Two of my Kidde detectors would go off when I operated on 6 and 10 meters with a linear. They also occasionally would go off if the humidity was high. Don't seem to have these problems with the First Alert devices.

[W1AEX]

As Pete said, the battery operated First Alert detectors seem to be RF immune. I have a pair of First Alert combination smoke/CO detectors and they have never triggered while running full legal limit from 160-10 meters or 100 watts on 6 meters. When I added a new CO detector a few months ago I took a chance on a new Kidde model and unlike older Kidde models that I had purchased this 20 dollar model has been RF bullet-proof. Note that it's only a CO detector.

https://www.amazon.com/Kidde-Battery-Operated-Carbon-Monoxide-Digital/dp/B004Y6V5CI/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1483114746&sr=1-2&keywords=kidde+carbon+monoxide+detector

Rob W1AEX

[Todd, KA1KAQ]

Excellent information, thanks Rob/Pete. Timely in that I'll soon be replacing all of the older units in the new house and don't want to add any potential problems. These are all AC connected w/battery backup, so who knows. Definitely planning to add a stand alone battery-only smoke/CO2 detector to our daughter's room, though. Last thing I need is to have that go off in the wee hours of the morning once I get back on the air.

I recall doing some reading on home security system RF issues several years back. Probably not the best way to meet the new neighbors.

[KD6VXI]

As others have said,  this one.

I've run a 5.8 kv at an amp and a half almost of carrier in the near field (postage stamp lot) and it didn't go off.

The home alarm,  on the other side of the wall in the hallway did.

--Shane
KD6VXI

[WA2SQQ]

As others have said,  this one.

I've run a 5.8 kv at an amp and a half almost of carrier in the near field (postage stamp lot) and it didn't go off.

The home alarm,  on the other side of the wall in the hallway did.

--Shane
KD6VXI

Any chance you can get me the model #?

[KD6VXI]

I'll pull it down when I go back in the house,  bud.

--Shane
KD6VXI

EDIT:  added cell phone pic of detector.   

[WA2SQQ]

Thanks, just ordered one from Amazon. Looks like Lowes and HomeDepot no longer carry First Alert, only via mail order. I'll have it Wed.

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I'll pull it down when I go back in the house,  bud.

--Shane
KD6VXI

EDIT:  added cell phone pic of detector.   

Are you running this on just battery backup or is it connected to the 120V AC line?

[KD6VXI]

I'll pull it down when I go back in the house,  bud.

--Shane
KD6VXI

EDIT:  added cell phone pic of detector.   

Are you running this on just battery backup or is it connected to the 120V AC line?

I'm running it on a dedicated smoke detector circuit,  with one co2 combo detector and 3 smoke detectors.

All are on the same circuit.   I'd estimate 80 to 125 feet of Romex in the loop.

Incidentally,  behind the operating bench,  I've installed one of every gfi I could find.   I've only found one that's really sensitive to rf.  The rest with a clean ground bond on all systems,  all work fine.   Even with owl 10 inches away.


--Shane
KD6VXI

[Pete, WA2CWA]

I'm running it on a dedicated smoke detector circuit,  with one co2 combo detector and 3 smoke detectors.

All are on the same circuit.   I'd estimate 80 to 125 feet of Romex in the loop.

Incidentally,  behind the operating bench,  I've installed one of every gfi I could find.   I've only found one that's really sensitive to rf.  The rest with a clean ground bond on all systems,  all work fine.   Even with owl 10 inches away.

--Shane
KD6VXI

The reason I asked was that after you posted the picture, SQQ said he ordered one and his initial post said he was looking for a battery powered one.

I opted for the First Alert SA320CN Dual Sensor Battery-Powered Smoke and Fire Alarm detector.  This has both ionization and photoelectric smoke sensors.

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-SA320CN-Sensor-Battery-Powered/dp/B00O8MVW0S/ref=pd_sim_60_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=SQYTMQ1QPXDNE0V2CKD4

And separate First Alert carbon monoxide  battery powered detectosr:

https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-CO400-Battery-Monoxide/dp/B000N8OYXI/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1482985141&sr=8-9&keywords=x-sense+carbon+monoxide

For some reason I never had complete faith in an "all in one" type detector.

[KD6VXI]

That one will run without AC power.   I do not believe the pass thru,  where it activates others,  will work without AC power however.

I am amazed at the level of rf this one ignores.

--Shane
KD6VXI

[WA2SQQ]

I saw that - contacted First Alert, and they gave me the battery equivalent version.