The difference between First Alert’s 80′s smoke detectors
The difference between the First Alert smoke detector “generations” that were introduced in the ’80s.
The difference between the First Alert smoke detector “generations” that were introduced in the ’80s.
All of them do, but it causes no harm because it is so tiny.
We had one of those, How ever, unknown why, Each time we turned the landing light on upstairs, it would set it off. Also flashing at it with a flashlight sets it off too. Any idea why?
You’re talking about the Light Test model. Those were designed to be tested by waving a flashlight at them.
Aah, I see. Thank you! Have since replaced it with another unit, Which no longer responds to flashlights… But we cant seem to test it. Its quite high up and where its placed on the landing, You’ve got a long fall from the ladder! Any idea how to set it off? Dosnt seem to reposnd to smoke,fog,light.
There SHOULD be a test button or something on it.
That stuff is so tiny it would cause no harm, like I said in my older comment. And you cant see it because its too tiny!
Do they still work properly? Like no false alarms?
Yep.
Nice!
What would the popular model during March of 1986 be by first alert? I previously, threw away our detector, and I am looking for the model of it.
hey. i will warn that any alarm of 10 years of age that is IONIZATION WILL NOT OPERATE CORRECTLY. thers a radiation called americium that makes the alarm operate. the americium is in the small metal chamber you see there. it decays after time. after ten years it doesn’t release enough ions and nolonger works. therefore it cannot pick up a detection. the test button won’t tell you that.
Cool Video!
i’ve got the 1993 one and it still works fine
we got version 2 of that downstairs, that mum won’t replace despite being around 18-20 years old.
it seems to still work though, as if u burn toast in the kitchen it sets it off.
but dunno how well it would work to a proper fire.
needs to be replaced….
as our upstairs and loft ones are only 6 months old 10 year battery ones.
do you mind if I ask, what is the music you used?
@NLind I liked the light test model. I bought one in 1994 to replace a non functioning hard wired smoke detector. To test it I waved the beam of a flashlight at it very quickly and it would do a test beep. This was nice feature because with a very high ceiling you would need a ladder to get up there to push the test button on a regular smoke detector. I think they took this feature out because I haven’t seen this on smoke detectors since.
@electronixTech Yeah they sadly stopped the Light Test units when they changed to their current design. I also found that using a strobe light set to a rapid flash can set it off also, and the Craftsman Oscilite flashlight that Sears had in around ’98 or so was PERFECT for testing these, since it had a small reflector that swept back and forth rapidly. You could also use it as a regular flashlight, too.
@NLind That’s interesting to know about the Craftsman flashlight. I had to leave this light test detector behind because I was living at the time in a one bedroom apartment and the landlord had paid me back for the cost of the smoke detector. Now I’ve got 3 smoke detectors in a house I bought that are RF linked so when one in the basement sounds they all sound up stairs. I guess I like gadgets.
lolz we used to have that same one (shown at 00:31)
@NLind I have a smoke alarm that you test with a television remote control.
As far as Rainman is concerned, it’s art, not science. They call it “suspension of belief.” It’s like in a western when you are not supposed to notice the 747 passing overhead.
@CampKohler I know that. Just pointing it out.
We had one of these smoke detectors in both of the houses where I grew up. My so-called father sold the house when I was almost 6 & we took the smoke detector with us. I had 8 different episodes of a nightmare about the smoke detector. I’m so glad they don’t make ‘em like this anymore. I MADE my parents get one of a different design in 1997 so that my nightmares would stop, but the 8th episode was nearly 10 years after the 7th. I only had the 8th episode cuz I saw one in a group home I lived in.
Wonder if it would work to transplant a sensor from a different detector into another one?
@coolbluelights I believe it is from the game show “The Match Game/Hollywood Squares Hour”.