First Alert SC9120B Hardwire Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Battery Backup
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of First Alert SC9120B Hardwire Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Battery Backup
Customer Review: Definitely an upgrade -- and a simple swap, too!
Summary: 4 Stars
Our house was wired for smoke detectors -- specifically the rather cheesy BRK 4120SB, which delights in false "low power" chirping. My goal was to replace the ones in the bedrooms with combination alarms that would alert us not only to smoke but to the presence of carbon monoxide. (Not to scare you but harm and even death from carbon monoxide poisoning are definite risks, especially in a home with deep-sleeping teenagers.)
I needed units that would be compatible with the wiring of our current system, and ideally ones that would accept the power leads, as wired. After some research here and elsewhere, I called the BRK help line and got definite information about the unit that would be compatible, as well as locations within the home where I both should and should not install units.
I ordered two units to start with, still being a bit leery of my previous experience, and can say that installation took less than 5 minutes per device.
1. Follow the instructions for removing the plastic tab in the battery door of your new unit and pushing the button to test your new unit. If all's well, proceed. Disregard the "locking pin" stuff unless you are in a shared dwelling and are concerned with someone walking off with your 9-volt battery. (This was the weirdest part of the instructions, frankly, and this is my guess on why it's there.) **Important: you are listening for 3 tones, pause, 3 tones, pause, 4 tones, pause, 4 tones. There is a typo at the bottom of page 3 of the instructions, so I've just verified with BRK that the tone pattern I'm mentioning is the correct one.
2. Twist off and unplug your current unit.
3. Back the two screws holding your collar to the ceiling so you have enough clearance to remove the collar.
4. Install the new collar.
5. Install your new unit. (A wired plug is included in case you need to swap your existing plug for the new plug.)
Fellow owners of the 4120SB will find that the upgraded unit sets and locks into place in the ceiling *much* easier and more reliably. Ditto with the battery door. Note that on the SC9120B, if you're having problems with the battery door not shutting (a) there is a little trigger tab that you should be able to push down with a fingernail and/or (b) hold the unit upside-down.
***A word, please, about longevity, since the primary purpose of an alarm is your safety.
1. Replace your batteries at least once a year.
2. Combo smoke/carbon monoxide units have a 5-year life span, per BRK staff. Regular smoke alarms have a 10-year lifespan. Not replacing them within these timespans is, in my opinion, the most dangerous kind of false economizing. (Note also that if you need help, the BRK customer service apparently has improved greatly since the experience of earlier reviewers of the product line. The call I made in June could not have been more thorough and professional, even to dealing with the phantom beeps of my 5-year-old alarms.)
3. Whether or not you buy this or any smoke alarm product, please do yourself and your family two favors. First, label the plug (hidden) side of your units with the install and replace dates. Second, change your batteries at least once a year.
BTW, I gave the unit a 4 rather than a 5 because while the battery door and twist-on/twist-off issues are less irritating than on the earlier generation, they still do exist.
Customer Review: Easy Installation
Summary: 5 Stars
My husband purchased these, said they were easy to install, and easy to use. Satisfied customer. I definatly would recomend!Customer Review: Easy install, easy to test, easy to replace batteries
Summary: 5 Stars
It was a breeze to install. Tested the unit and it has a piecing audible alert. Battery can be easily replaced w/o removing the unit.Customer Review: Easy to Install
Summary: 5 Stars
We purchased this to replace a faulty one the builder put in, it snaped right into place and we have not had any problems with this one.Customer Review: False Alarms
Summary: 1 Stars
These BRK smoke alarms have issued alarms twice now, which lasted several hours each and resulted in lost work time. Initially, two of these would beep every minute and nothing I tried would stop it, so I had them replaced, and then these seemed to be OK, but almost every night we would hear a 1 second alarm. Then 2 weeks later, the alarms went off steady and nothing we tried would silence or reset them. We even had the gas company come out to check the gas applicances for CO2, since 2 of the units also had the CO2 detectors built in, but everything checked out fine, so I just started unplugging the units until the alarms stopped. A few days later, the remaining 3 alarms that I still had connected started another false alarm and eventually stopped. I don't have time to put up with issues like this, and it can result in not even believing your smoke alarms, when it may be a real fire! I only purchased these because they were plug compatible with the First Alert, but I will have to rewire the plug and purchase a better quality brand.