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HarmLessSolutions
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  #3374758 19-May-2025 20:41
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tweake:

 

while most will put out a puff of smoke when opening doors etc, its should not be puffing out smoke due to wind. back drafting is often caused by insufficient draw by the chimney (blockage, not enough height, poor location etc). it also can be made worse by using a badly installed heat transfer system. ie your pulling air out of the room and creating a low pressure area which makes it more likely for the fireplace to back draft.

 

btw there is also fully sealed ones with external air inlet (i have also found fake versions of them).

 

My question was about smoke detectors, not the functioning of logfires. Back on topic please sunshine.





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networkn
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  #3374759 19-May-2025 20:44
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HarmLessSolutions:

 

]My question was about smoke detectors, not the functioning of logfires. Back on topic please sunshine.

 

 

 

 

i'd suggest your attitude isn't making people feel more inclined to help you with the question. 


tweake
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  #3374764 19-May-2025 21:16
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HarmLessSolutions:

 

My question was about smoke detectors, not the functioning of logfires. Back on topic please sunshine.

 

 

easy there. i already answered your question. just adding info for the next guy.




HarmLessSolutions
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  #3386026 21-Jun-2025 20:34
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Still working through the process and it's come to light that Cavius are distributed in NZ by the same entity as the cheaper Watchman brand. They seem to be the only interconnected units available so perhaps between them they have the market cornered.

 

A local wholesaler has offered me a very attractive trade rate on the Watchman units so I'm considering taking that offer up but have approached the distributor about the justification for the price premium on Cavius. Either way we're proposing installing two heat detector units in the zones that are likely to be adversely impacted by smoke escaping from our log fire.





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Bung
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  #3386080 21-Jun-2025 22:14
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HarmLessSolutions:

 

Still working through the process and it's come to light that Cavius are distributed in NZ by the same entity as the cheaper Watchman brand. They seem to be the only interconnected units available so perhaps between them they have the market cornered.

 

 

I found 5 or 6 different brands advertised before stopping. Unless some can't be supplied I don't know why you think only Cavius and Watchman are available.


Eva888
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  #3386165 22-Jun-2025 10:20
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This got me thinking. We have a tenant in the granny flat downstairs whose behaviour I’m not confident about since we are living above. 

 

Would putting a second set of wifi alarms downstairs connected by wifi to an alarm upstairs in our home so both simultaneously go off and we are aware if there’s a fire or smoke slowly smouldering or if there’s an electrical fault because of overloaded power boards or charging on a bed when they are at work. My biggest fear is battery fires. 

 

Our router is directly above so signal easily goes through. If there is a set that works simultaneously any suggestions which could do this? Hmm so when we go out both alarms would be ringing with no one there. 

 

Is there another way of achieving this. Can I put only one alarm downstairs and monitor it remotely even when out or on holiday like I do with our home cameras? Uncomplicated answers please, my genius is limited but willing.

 

 

 

 


 
 
 
 

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k1w1k1d
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  #3386175 22-Jun-2025 11:11
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How do you tell which smoke alarm has gone off with the linked alarms?

 

I believe that the test button only tests the battery, not that the alarm will actually detect smoke.

 

Has anyone used the CRC smoke in a can to test their smoke alarms? Does it work?


k1w1k1d
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  #3386177 22-Jun-2025 11:21
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Cavius have a SmartHome hub that connects to your router to give notifications.


SomeoneSomewhere
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  #3386178 22-Jun-2025 11:27
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The test function on a smoke alarm generally massively increases the sensitivity so that normal airborne dust/contaminants trigger the detector. It's not perfect but it tests more than just the battery and buzzer. You can actually find datasheets for smoke detector ICs online. Apparently the ~40 second red light flashes are one of these 'chamber tests' being carried out and passed. 

 

Canned smoke should work fine.

 

Determining which alarm went off is a pain with old interconnected systems. Some new smarter types have solutions I believe.


HarmLessSolutions
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  #3386191 22-Jun-2025 13:22
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Bung:

 

HarmLessSolutions:

 

Still working through the process and it's come to light that Cavius are distributed in NZ by the same entity as the cheaper Watchman brand. They seem to be the only interconnected units available so perhaps between them they have the market cornered.

 

 

I found 5 or 6 different brands advertised before stopping. Unless some can't be supplied I don't know why you think only Cavius and Watchman are available.

 

I was probably conflating the range that the electrical wholesaler considered worth stocking with what was available overall.

 

 





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HarmLessSolutions
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  #3386192 22-Jun-2025 13:29
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SomeoneSomewhere:

 

The test function on a smoke alarm generally massively increases the sensitivity so that normal airborne dust/contaminants trigger the detector. It's not perfect but it tests more than just the battery and buzzer. You can actually find datasheets for smoke detector ICs online. Apparently the ~40 second red light flashes are one of these 'chamber tests' being carried out and passed. 

 

Canned smoke should work fine.

 

Determining which alarm went off is a pain with old interconnected systems. Some new smarter types have solutions I believe.

 

Identifying the triggered unit when they all alarm was one of the questions I put to Cavius. Apparently the units all flash every 48 seconds but the triggered one will be flashing continuously. They also suggested investing in a SmartHub add on that connects to your home's modem and sends an alert to your phone if a unit fails or is triggered. Of limited use for us as we don't have our phones in the bedroom and our 3G coverage is very patchy, and will be potentially non existent when the 3G network is shut down.





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SomeoneSomewhere
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  #3386194 22-Jun-2025 13:50
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There's some with voice alarms that list the location like this: https://www.firstalert.com/products/interconnect-battery-operated-smoke-alarm-with-voice-alerts?variant=51388206579986

 

 

 

No idea whether one is available in NZ. 


SumnerBoy
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  #3386253 23-Jun-2025 08:35
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I ended up putting Clipsal Fireteck smoke alarms in our new build a couple of years ago - https://www.pdl.co.nz/products/safety/firetek.

 

They are not the most discrete or cheapest, but they have an optional "relay base" you can attach to each one and wire up to your home automation system.

 

They are also mains powered and hardwire interconnected, with a 10yr battery backup.

 

This means if one is triggered they all trigger, but my home automation system gets alerted to which one was the trigger.

 

It also allows me to remotely test and hush them via dry contact relays signaling the relay base addon. 


Ragnor
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  #3418981 26-Sep-2025 12:17
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I need to upgrade our smoke alarms to comply with the new stricter building code rules as we have a renovation consent inspection soon.

 

Currently we have Nest Protect but these have been discontinued (Killed by Google™), so can't get more and are probably near end of life anyway. 

 

Looking at Cavius, Watchman and Orca currently: Any updates on failures / false alarms for these brands for people who have them installed?

 

So far researching these online I've found:

 

Cavius

 

  • Really good but expensive!
  • The trade pack only comes with 4 alarms so would need extra units or two packs

Watchman

 

  • Same NZ supplier as Cavius
  • Quite a bit cheaper than Cavius
  • Comes in a 5 pack, so would still need a few more units
  • Should be good but I haven't found any posts/reviews online from anyone who's actually had them in place for awhile

Orca

 

  • Has an 8 pack (6 x Smoke, 1 x Heat and 1 x Controller)
  • Reports of false alarms and dying well before 10 years online
  • However had a known bad batch where and a replacement process, so are they good now?

Also it seems pretty dumb there is no standard for interconnection for cross brand compatibility in the building code, what happens down the line if one or more alarms fail but the brand/model you chose is end of life - since the code requires all alarms in the house to interconnect you need to replace all the alarms probably (if you want to remain strictly compliant).

 

Seems like a connection standard should have been no brainer.

 

Other tips

 

  • Check manufacturer date, old stock you're already x months into your 10 year life

jarledb
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  #3419016 26-Sep-2025 14:58
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You get what you pay for. Going from Nest to something cheap is not going to be a great experience.

 

No smoke alarm is imune to false alarms, but Cavius does a lot to make sure to avoid them: They are tested at the factory to make sure no duds reach you as a consumer. The smoke alarm has a temp sensor to be able to adjust the sensibility in the optical chamber to avoid false alarms. And the detector itself is inside of a fine mesh to avoid insects getting into the detector chamber.

 

I have been in the business of selling smoke alarms now for 23 years, and I can tell you that no other consumer smoke alarm I have ever seen has been of as high a quality as the Cavius ones. They are a bit darer, but you get that back a tenfold. And compared to the Nest smoke alarms they are a steal!

 

 

 

As you can tell I am not unbiased. But I won't make a cent more or less no matter what you purchase. The business I am involved in sell smoke alarms in the Nordic market. 





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