Photoelectric smoke alarm, 10-year sealed
Sealed for its full service life, with the sensor type stated.
| Specification | Photoelectric sensor, sealed lithium |
|---|---|
| Standard | UL 217 |
| Reference | GW-SMK-PHO |
| Section | Detection |
| Availability | In stock, ships next business day |
Free shipping over $75 · 30-day returns, unused · Refund policy
Photoelectric sensing responds faster to smouldering fires — upholstery, bedding, wiring — which is the kind that starts while people are asleep. Ionisation sensing is quicker on fast flaming fires but produces most of the nuisance alarms that get alarms taken off the ceiling.
The battery is sealed and rated for the alarm’s full ten-year service life, so there is nothing to replace and nothing to remove. The sensor chamber has an insect screen, a hush button silences a cooking alarm for eight minutes, and the end-of-life signal is distinct from the low-battery chirp so you can tell the difference at 3am.
Fitting and care. Ceiling mount at least four inches from any wall, or high on a wall four to twelve inches down from the ceiling. Keep it at least ten feet from a cooker and three feet from a bathroom door or a ceiling fan, which is where most nuisance alarms come from. Test with the button monthly and vacuum the vents twice a year with a brush attachment — dust in the chamber is the commonest cause of a unit alarming for nothing. Never paint it. The sealed battery is not replaceable by design; when the end-of-life signal starts, the whole unit is replaced.