Wired smoke detector woes

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James Bond

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Topic # 222852 31-Aug-2017 15:34

My parents have a 14 year old Paradox Spectra 1759EX alarm system with a wired smoke detector.

In the last week the smoke detector has been giving heaps of false positives. The system isn't monitored by a security company however it does have a GSM module attached to it which sends out a SMS in the event of the alarm being triggered. As far as i know, the smoke detector cannot be bypassed via the keypad. The manual confirms this.

I'm thinking the smoke alarm needs to be replaced as it's over 10 years old - When my parents had the alarm serviced in 2016, I raised the age of of the smoke alarm with the technician doing the service, he said it wasn't an issue.

The main issue however is that the GSM module cannot tell the difference between the alarm being triggered and the smoke alarm going off, I'm wondering if they should just replace this with a Nest Smoke Alarm?

I'm not sure if this limitation is due to the GSM Module or the control panel.

Thanks

gregmcc

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Reply # 1856018 31-Aug-2017 16:14

Most likely the smoke alarm is wired in to one of the alarm zones, so for the sake of the GSM dialer it can't tell what is on the end of the zone.

All well and good replacing with a nest smoke alarm, but you will still have to disable the zone the smoke alarm is wired in to

kryptonjohn

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Reply # 1856043 31-Aug-2017 16:51

Smoke alarms have changed too. The older ionisation ones which are always going off if near a kitchen and newer photoelectric ones which are generally considered superior.

Maybe best to just replace the sensor.

dolsen

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Reply # 1856044 31-Aug-2017 16:51

Do you have a picture of the smoke alarm? Is it one of the ones that you can just rotate 30-45 degrees and lift off the base? You may be able to remove the dust from the smoke alarm if that is what is causing the false alarms.

James Bond

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Reply # 1856403 1-Sep-2017 09:27

gregmcc:

Most likely the smoke alarm is wired in to one of the alarm zones, so for the sake of the GSM dialer it can't tell what is on the end of the zone.

All well and good replacing with a nest smoke alarm, but you will still have to disable the zone the smoke alarm is wired in to

I wonder if disconnecting the smoke alarm from the power source/control panel will do the job.

James Bond

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Reply # 1856407 1-Sep-2017 09:29

dolsen:

Do you have a picture of the smoke alarm? Is it one of the ones that you can just rotate 30-45 degrees and lift off the base? You may be able to remove the dust from the smoke alarm if that is what is causing the false alarms.

I'll post a photo shortly. I don't think you can rotate this one.

James Bond

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Reply # 1856541 1-Sep-2017 12:25

I stand corrected. It does rotate 45 degrees at the base.

Model # DS204TH, Manufactured by Detection Systems Inc.

The top of it comes off to reveal what appears to be some sort of a cartridge which is labelled as being replaceable

https://www.dropbox.com/s/9lgaf8cf3n7k56l/P70901-114313.jpg?dl=0

https://www.dropbox.com/s/wbjw48ubwxk6jix/P70901-114347.jpg?dl=0

What's the life expectancy of a wired smoke alarm?

DarthKermit

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Reply # 1856544 1-Sep-2017 12:30

No idea if it's possible to get spare parts for that system. Manufacturers seem to not like supporting older anythings these days.

James Bond

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Reply # 1856551 1-Sep-2017 12:36

DarthKermit:

No idea if it's possible to get spare parts for that system. Manufacturers seem to not like supporting older anythings these days.

Thanks - probably for the best, not sure if I trust it due to it's age. My parents go overseas a lot and it would be terrible if it went off for no reason at 3 am.