Struggling with smoke & CO2 sensor

[logat]

folks
 
I thought I had it nailed but can't find a single product. I have these basic requirements
- 3 Interconnected smoke/carbon sensors so that if one detects something, all go off
- be able to talk to z-wave or homeseer
 
I can't find anything that does this. I found this but it's not interconnected
First Alert Z-Wave Combination Photoelectric Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm

Can anybody help?

Thanks

 

[ano]

There is a reason that you can't find what you are looking for, and its not by accident. Smoke detectors are required to perform one important task in all homes, and optionally a second very different task which it looks like you are looking for as well. 
 
120V interconnected smokes with 9v battery backup are typically ionization type and are very sensitive and fast acting fires. These are required by code and are designed to alert the people in the house to fire, wake them if they are sleeping, and save their lives. Yes, burnt toast and other things can set them off, but since you are home you will realize that.  These smoke alarms are very easy to maintain by anyone with a third grade education, and every house HAS to have them. Period.
 
The other type of other smoke alarm you are looking for, in your words "- be able to talk to z-wave or homeseer" is optional, and is designed to alert you remotely and/or notify the fire department.  As great as Homeseer is, I would never put my life in the hands of a PC program, but for remotely alerting you or the fire department, its fine. These detectors exist, and are usually battery operated. 
 
BUT as I say, just because you have the second type of smoke, connected to a panel and/or Homeseer, this does not remove the responsibility from also having interconnected 120V smokes.  
 
Two different purposes, and two different devices.

 

[cfoxga]

Actually the OneLink First Alerts do pretty much everything logat requires, though they use the Insteon Smoke Bridge to connect to Homeseer (via the Insteon PLM).  I have them and they work well.  There have:
 
- hardwired with battery backup and battery-only units
- ionic units, photoelectric units, or both
- combination smoke and carbon dioxide detectors
 
When one alarm goes off, they all sound.  My security company monitors them via my Vista 20p panel, but I also have Homeseer text my cell phone. That said, if these will be your only Insteon devices, the Bridge+PLM+Homeseer plugin might make it a bit pricey...
 
Regards,
Chris

 

[ano]

Actually the OneLink First Alerts do pretty much everything logat requires, though they use the Insteon Smoke Bridge to connect to Homeseer (via the Insteon PLM).  I have them and they work well.  There have:
 
- hardwired with battery backup and battery-only units
- ionic units, photoelectric units, or both
- combination smoke and carbon dioxide detectors
 
When one alarm goes off, they all sound.  My security company monitors them via my Vista 20p panel, but I also have Homeseer text my cell phone. That said, if these will be your only Insteon devices, the Bridge+PLM+Homeseer plugin might make it a bit pricey...
 
Regards,
Chris

This comes up time after time.  Just because you CAN do something, does not mean it is done the correct way.  A smoke alarm that is to be connected to other fire control equipment must meet UL 268. This detector has to be monitored with a UL approved panel and powered with a UL approved power source. The Vista 20p IS UL approved, but the 9V battery and or 120V supply power is not UL approved. Also, using wireless Insteon is not likely UL approved.  I would think a wireless technology has to be supervised to be approved, as does the power source. Does the panel know if the smoke alarm should just stop transmitting for whatever reason? Does the panel know if the 9V battery is dead and the 120V power is out?
 
Whether non-UL approval will prevent your insurance company from paying for your fire claim, I don't know, but in my house, when lives are at stake, I make sure its done to the letter of the law, and i would never recommend people take shortcuts.  If you are just going to self-monitor, then its probably fine, but if you are going to alert the fire department, then it needs to be up to snuff.

 

[mtgoat]

To avoid:

• directly connecting existing smoke alarms to a panel, and
• the effort & expense of installing a series of secondary smoke alarms

...is there a device that could listen for a high-decibel sound, then trigger a panel?
In concept, similar to a glass-break detector.

 

[Del91574]

This comes up time after time.  Just because you CAN do something, does not mean it is done the correct way.  A smoke alarm that is to be connected to other fire control equipment must meet UL 268. This detector has to be monitored with a UL approved panel and powered with a UL approved power source. The Vista 20p IS UL approved, but the 9V battery and or 120V supply power is not UL approved. Also, using wireless Insteon is not likely UL approved.  I would think a wireless technology has to be supervised to be approved, as does the power source. Does the panel know if the smoke alarm should just stop transmitting for whatever reason? Does the panel know if the 9V battery is dead and the 120V power is out?
 
Whether non-UL approval will prevent your insurance company from paying for your fire claim, I don't know, but in my house, when lives are at stake, I make sure its done to the letter of the law, and i would never recommend people take shortcuts.  If you are just going to self-monitor, then its probably fine, but if you are going to alert the fire department, then it needs to be up to snuff.

This statement is correct however the reasons are incorrect. Clarification below
 
The only portion that is not UL or would meet UL is the opposite side of the coil/isolation relay for the alarm contacts has no provision for supervision and the detectors don't/won't latch. Just because a relay is involved wouldn't negate a listing, the reason is there is no supervision on the opposite side of the relay coil; UL would not cover or discredit the 120VAC or 9VDC connection or power sources as both are acceptable and listed in NFPA as meeting the requirements.