Audio Alerts from smoke detectors?

[rdshackleford]

This Kidde product looks pretty good, but I'm wondering if BI can do the same job?

http://remotelync.kidde.com/monitor/

I am using a sensitive microphone attached to my BI server. So far, I have too many audio alerts. I've tried various combinations of Gain and Sensitivity. If I make it so the smoke detectors trigger an audio alert, so does general house noise like loud talking or doors closing.

Any ideas how to tweak things to get smoke alarm alerts?

-R

 

[molimelight]

You might think about installing an inexpensive IP or wireless camera near the detector that signals on sound readings. I have a Foscam FI8910W that I have in my shop as it's not connected to the wired network. It has sound sensitivity settings on it. With it right by the alarm you could set the threshold pretty high where you wouldn't get the false alarms. They're pretty cheap ($57.98 with Prime Free Shipping at Amazon). The picture isn't the greatest, but you wouldn't necessarily even have to use it. You could turn off the motion trigger and if you got a trigger from that camera, you'd know it was the alarm.

 

[fbnoise]

I saw this the other day: http://www.getroost.com

It's a "smart" smoke detector battery. Alerts on low battery and alarm. $35

Pretty expensive but if I had only one or two smoke detectors, I might try it out myself. Come to think of it, we have a connected smoke alarm system (one goes off they all go off), so one of them might do the trick.

 

[fenderman]

I saw this the other day: http://www.getroost.com

It's a "smart" smoke detector battery. Alerts on low battery and alarm. $35

Pretty expensive but if I had only one or two smoke detectors, I might try it out myself. Come to think of it, we have a connected smoke alarm system (one goes off they all go off), so one of them might do the trick.

That is a very cool device. It seems like it relies on home wifi and likely has to be reprogrammed if you change the password. I might just get one to play with...thanks for the link.

 

[zero-degrees]

https://nest.com/smoke-co-alarm/meet-nest-protect/

monthly audio checks, daily status checks, voice and tone audible alarms, all alarms in house sync to each other, a fault in the bedroom will sound all alarms and announce what type of alarm and where. Get email and push notifications of alarms, power outages, and numerous other things. Little Pricey of course, however I updated all 5 of our alarms earlier this year after our home builder grade ones started the annoying random beeps that couldn't be traced even after replacing all backup batteries. I'm glad I made the switch after doing it. The concerning thing about the Roost is that it relys on your home wifi network. The nest system uses each detector to create it's own adhoc network so even if it is your router or modem that catches fire they can all still communicate and sound the needed alarms. Sure if its the modem burning you won't get the email alert, but you'll still hear the alarm through out the house and know what room and type of issue you have on your hands. Not to mention they have a great night light feature that is motion activated as well for those mounted in hallways.

 

[fbnoise]

That is a very cool device. It seems like it relies on home wifi and likely has to be reprogrammed if you change the password. I might just get one to play with...thanks for the link.

Same here, and I'd like it for low battery detection in all of my alarms if they weren't $35/ea. In my house, I chase the low battery beeps for a half hr until I find the right one that's doing the chirping. The sound is a terrible choice, hard to locate - such a high frequency that it just bounces all around the house. Super cool when this happens at 3am.

 

[fbnoise]

The nest is cool and I love the idea of the smart features, but it's not a dual-sensor detector.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/02/consumer-reports-review-of-nest-protect-smoke-and-co-alarm/index.htm

this is good info also: "Smoldering fires, says Walker, account for only about 12 percent of fires but more than half of fire-related deaths and a third of fire-related injuries. Photoelectric alarms save lives, he says. Ionization alarms rarely save lives."

from: http://articles.courant.com/2013-09-07/business/hc-bottom-line-smoke-alarms-20130907_1_alarms-ionization-smoke-detector

Edit: I see the Nest is Photoelectric which is good, but CR says "it was not very good in our tests at detecting fast-flaming fires, like those that would result from a stack of ignited papers"

 

[zero-degrees]

The nest is cool and I love the idea of the smart features, but it's not a dual-sensor detector.

http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/news/2014/02/consumer-reports-review-of-nest-protect-smoke-and-co-alarm/index.htm

this is good info also: "Smoldering fires, says Walker, account for only about 12 percent of fires but more than half of fire-related deaths and a third of fire-related injuries. Photoelectric alarms save lives, he says. Ionization alarms rarely save lives."

from: http://articles.courant.com/2013-09-07/business/hc-bottom-line-smoke-alarms-20130907_1_alarms-ionization-smoke-detector

Edit: I see the Nest is Photoelectric which is good, but CR says "it was not very good in our tests at detecting fast-flaming fires, like those that would result from a stack of ignited papers"

Just FYI, your above information that was cited is out of date and is referencing there first generation Nest Protect product. The 2nd generation addressed almost all concerns in both your reports as well as other "potential issues" some did not like. The improvements in the 2nd generation product are the only reason I did deploy these throughout the home.

Also the gen 2 utilizes the split sensor technology https://nest.com/downloads/press/documents/split-spectrum-white-paper.pdf

 

[fbnoise]

Ah, cool! Sorry for posting that out of date info. In that case, I'm jealous. There are a few spots here where those automatic nightlights would be awesome, too.

 

[rdshackleford]

Thanks for the replies. I've already invested lots of money is good quality traditional smoke detectors with lifetime batteries. There are also benefits with integrating with Blue Iris (less config and IT headaches, etc.)

Maybe if I can get some frequency filtering on my microphone feed, I can minimize the false alarms.

 

[fbnoise]

That is a very cool device. It seems like it relies on home wifi and likely has to be reprogrammed if you change the password. I might just get one to play with...thanks for the link.

I just checked out the Amazon reviews coming in and they don't look so good. http://www.amazon.com/Roost-900-00001-Battery-Alarms-Single/dp/B00ZWQHVP4/

If you haven't already bought one, maybe wait for the next version if there is one.