RSS
In a proactive inspection it appears the smoke alarm in my hallway doesn't work due to a dead battery, it seems like replacing batteries isn't needed since it could be powered and recharged via a light socket right?. After a quick search, turns out there are ones that do just that.
"Never worry about changing batteries again. This unique smoke detector screws into any ceiling light fixture and operates off your home electricity. Reinstall the light bulb into the alarm, and now you've got a light source and smoke alarm in one! Recharges itself every time you turn the light on. Great protection for high-risk areas such as laundry rooms, garages, and workshops. Fully charged, it will operate for up to 30 days in the event of a power loss." [via] - Link.
Had one of these for years. It gets upset as the NiCd (I presume) battery dies fairly quickly after a while, as it is held on charge forever during the winter, then doesn't last over the summer.
It is, however, very neat. Of course, your average cheap alarm should have a chirping battery low alarm that will run for months before it goes totally dead - or that might just be a UK thing.
Reply to this comment
The low battery warning I'm used to hearing in the states sounds exactly like the alarm, hence the one time we had an actual fire eveyone just got mad & tried to take out the battery. Anyway, some smoke alarms already have an internal battery, so it shouldn't be a major effort to make your own.
Reply to this comment
What I don't get is why manufacturers don't make a smoke alarm that has something like a long-term capacitor in them that charges itself up when the power is on, and then provides short-term power during a power outage. This would eliminate the need for buying more and more 9V batteries.
Reply to this comment