Optical smoke alarm

How does optical smoke alarms work? What smoke alarm is best? Why are there false alarms from my smoke alarm? An optical smoke alarm (also called photo-electric smoke alarm ) works using the light scatter principle.

The alarm contains a pulsed Infra red LED which pulses a beam of light into the sensor chamber every seconds to check for smoke particles. An optical beam smoke detector is a device that uses a projected beam of light to detect smoke across large areas, typically as an indicator of fire. They are used to detect fires in buildings where standard point smoke detectors would either be uneconomical or restricted for use by the height of the building.

Optical beam smoke detectors are often installed in warehouses as a cost effective means of protecting large open spaces. Optical smoke detectors are also called photoelectric smoke detectors. They are in effect, small light sensors mounted inside a small casing. They are less sensitive to fast burning fires , such as the quick fires that start in the kitchen.

Because of this, you can safely place an optical smoke detector close to, but not in, the kitchen. Choose the right type of smoke alarm to protect you and your family. Photoelectric smoke alarms : These types of smoke detectors are best at sensing smoldering fires that create a lot of smoke without many (or any) visible flames. They’re not as prone to false alarms as ionization smoke detectors, but photoelectric alarms may still be randomly set off if dust builds up inside them.

Different alarms sensors work best at detecting different types of fire and so should be sited in appropriate rooms throughout a property. Optical alarms are best at detecting slow, smouldering fire which are commonly caused by sofas or electrical fires. A photoelectric , or optical smoke detector contains a source of infrare visible, or ultraviolet light (typically an incandescent light bulb or light-emitting diode), a lens, and a photoelectric receiver (typically a photodiode).

In spot-type detectors all of these components are arranged inside a chamber where air, which may contain smoke from a nearby fire, flows. They are also particularly good in areas where you can otherwise expect false alarms (e.g. near kitchens). This type of smoke alarm sensor uses radiation and an ionization chamber to detect smoke. The ionizing radiation helps detect small amounts of smoke in the air, as with a flaming fire.

When smoke enters the sensor chamber, the current of the ionizing radiation is disrupte which triggers the alarm. This type of alarm is generally more responsive to a flaming fire, according to the NFPA. An example of a flaming fire would include a house fire that started when a candle ignites a curtain. The Ei1is an Optical Smoke Alarm that runs on 230V AC mains power, and has a 9V alkaline battery back up in the event of mains failure. Here are some of the most common smoke detector problems and their causes, along with some simple steps you can take to fix them if they happen to you.

Beeping Smoke Detectors Beeping or chirping smoke alarms happen much more often than detectors actually going into full- alarm. Luckily, these problems are often easy to fix. If your home is on one floor, one smoke alarm , preferably of the optical type, may be enough to provide you with early warning of a fire.

If your home has more than one floor, at least one alarm should be fitted on each level. These alarms use “ions,” or electrically charged particles, to help detect smoke in the air. Smoke detector A wireless optical smoke detector for the home with two alarms - one local and one to the hour monitoring centre - offering peace of mind and support.

The smoke detector is easily installed onto the ceiling of selected rooms within the home. On detecting smoke , two alarms are activated. Thus for locations with low risk of fire, optical is a good choice as any smoke that arrives at these locations will have thinned out.

Smoke enters through the slits around the side, triggering an electronic horn, which sounds through the large circular opening on the right. The dark circle in the middle is a test button with a built-in LED that flashes to show the detector is working okay. The photoelectric smoke detector is considered more environmentally friendly. This is because, ionization detectors use radioactive elements such as americium-241. When choosing what smoke detector to install in your home, the bottom line therefore is that, the two types of smoke alarm technologies should be installed.

The Ei6optical Smoke Alarm is fitted with a proprietary photoelectric sensor to quickly sense low energy smoke particles. This optical Alarm is sensitive to all domestic fire types but is especially sensitive to smoldering fires. The Walter Kidde Hardwire Smoke Alarms (4-Pack) alert The Walter Kidde Hardwire Smoke Alarms (4-Pack) alert you to potential fire dangers by detecting the presence of smoke and heat in the atmosphere. These alarms are equipped with two pre-stripped wires for easy installation and have a 9-Volt battery backup to ensure continued use during a. Kidde Safety produce a range of smoke alarms to protect your family and home.

A working smoke alarm doubles a persons chance of surviving a fire and can reduce fatalities by upto.