Recommendations for Smokes / Glassbreak sensors

[benze]

Hi,

I've got an Elk M1G and am looking to add smoke and glassbreak detectors to it.

Can anyone recommend good hardwired smoke detectors to use? I'll be running 4-wire so I would think/expect 4 wire smokes to be the most efficient/effective. I'm looking to put one outside the kitchen, on the bedroom floor and potentially one in the downstairs den where I have a fireplace.

I'm really not at all sure what to use for smoke detectors; I am having a lot of difficulty finding reviews and/or recommendations for them.


As for the glass break sensors, I've done some searching and so far, the glassbreaks that seem the most attractive are the Honeywell FG1625RFM (https://www.security.honeywell.com/hsc/products/sensor/gl/31133.html). Does anyone have experience with these? Are they reliable? Easy to install / calibrate?

Finally, I'm looking to upgrade some Motion Sensors. Can anyone recommend any good dual-tech sensors? I was looking at the Honeywell DT7235T, but open to suggestions if anyone has had bad experiences with Honeywell and/or better experience with other dual-techs.

Thanks for any info!

Eric

 

[ddennerline]

I have Honeywell 1625RFM (round/flushmount) glassbreaks installed on my M1G. I recommend you also purchase the FG-701 glass break tester.

I installed glass breaks in several rooms. In some cases, it took a while using the FG-701 to find the best location that could cover multiple windows in a room.

I have had two false alarms. One was caused by testing a cable stapler within two feet of sensor. The loud snap caused alarm. The second time was caused when I was playing around with sensor by clapping. The sensor's green light will flash if it hears a sound. I must have managed to clap hard enough and hit the right frequency. Mind you, not every clap will trigger the sensor.

I was a little surprised this was possible because this sensor is supposed to listen for two different frequencies before triggering. I probably need to reconfigure the sensitivity.

The 1625's have made it through one moderate thunderstorm without an false alarms; I have only had them installed for 4 months though.

 

[russban]

For dual tech motion detectors I have been using the GE Sentrol RCR-PET for years and have been extremely happy with their performance. I have installed about 50 of them in various installations over the past few years and I have not had a reported false alarm yet.

For glass breaks I have used the Honeywell 1625 a few times but usually use the Sentrol 5812 Shatterpro III. Both seem to work equally well but I usually use the Shatterpro mostly because I have found it reliable over the years. Usually, once I find a piece of equipment that works well and that I trust, I stick with it unless a customer requests something different or I get overwhelming evidence that something will work better.

 

[benze]

For glass breaks I have used the Honeywell 1625 a few times but usually use the Sentrol 5812 Shatterpro III.

Thanks for the info. I had been looking at the Shatterpro line as well, but I couldn't find the Shatterpro III in flush mount on their site; only the Shatterpro II, which dates back some 10+ years. Given that, I figured that the Honeywell would probably be slightly newer / better (?) techonology.

I'll take a look at the GE RCR-PET detectors. Thanks for the tip.

What about smoke / heat detectors? Any suggestions as to which? And what I can install in a room with a fireplace that gets used quite infrequently?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[benze]

I have Honeywell 1625RFM (round/flushmount) glassbreaks installed on my M1G. I recommend you also purchase the FG-701 glass break tester.

I installed glass breaks in several rooms. In some cases, it took a while using the FG-701 to find the best location that could cover multiple windows in a room.

Thanks for the heads up. Did you have any installation problems with the 1625RFMs (apart from finding the location)? I can't find install specs / docs anywhere on the Honeywell site...

What do you use for smokes in your system?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[TXFlatLander]

What do you use for smokes in your system?

I purchased System Sensor i3 4 wire smokes model: 4WTA-B. I don't have them installed yet, but did a lot of research when I was looking into them and seem to have a following plus they have a remote reader that can be used for sensitivity testing and working order (model: SENS-RDR). I picked one up new on eBay for about half the price of retail.

I purchased the FG-1625s as well, flush and non-flush. I agree with getting a FG-701. It allows you to put the 1625s into test mode from the 701 itself. You can pick them up on eBay from time to time. The sound feature should work with any glass break as well. I picked up a new one on eBay for about $20.

I also purchased a RCR-PET as well.

I don't have any of them installed yet. I plan on working on all that later this winter.

 

[russban]

I agree, if you want a flush mount glass break the Honeywell 1625 is much better than the older Shatterpro II.

I don't do a lot of smoke detectors, but I have used the ESL 449CST smokes in a couple of ELK M1G installs I did. You should make sure that in a residential install you get the model of smoke that has individual sounders and get a reversing relay module so they will all sound in unison if one goes off. You should do a search in cocoon for the System Sensor i3 4 wire smokes model: 4WTA-B that TXFlatlander mentions. I remember in the last couple of months there was a thread regarding these smokes and they actually look easier to install with their reversing module on the ELK than the ESL's. I haven't used them but I also have seen very positive reviews of them.

I would be hesitant about installing a smoke in a room with a fireplace, you may want to use a simple heat detector instead.

 

[benze]

I don't do a lot of smoke detectors, but I have used the ESL 449CST smokes in a couple of ELK M1G installs I did. You should make sure that in a residential install you get the model of smoke that has individual sounders and get a reversing relay module so they will all sound in unison if one goes off.

This might sound like a silly question, but won't the panel sound the siren if a smoke detectors gets tripped? Why bother with sounders if the main siren will get triggered anyhow? Can one not configure the M1G to signal a different ring to the siren if it is a smoke that is tripped rather than a window/door contact?

Thanks,

Eric

 

[russban]

Actually not a silly question. On the ELK, output 1 is for voice/siren and is used for security alarms, etc., and output 2 is for the fire "bell" (or siren) and will ring in a pulse sound when a fire zone is tripped. By code in a residential system smoke detectors are to have individual sounders and be connected together and should all sound when one is tripped. The idea being that if you have one fire bell in the home, someone sleeping on another level may not hear it. How this applies to your home depends on a lot of other factors such as the local authorities, what your home already has for smoke detectors, etc..

I am not an expert in fire code so you may want to consult your local Authority Having Jurisdiction as to what may be required in your community.