Smoke Detector and Types

Smoke Detector and Types

Smoke detectors are used to detect smoke in airborne and issue alarms to alert owners to potential fires. They are usually installed in rooms with high-risk heating or electrical devices such as furnaces, fireplaces, and electric or gas appliances.

They are usually installed on walls or ceilings, and can run on batteries or connect to your home's electrical system.

Smoke detectors can be used alone, integrated into home security systems, or installed in several rooms. Multiple smoke detectors are interconnected so that often the smoke in a room can trigger all the other units. Some alarms also are accompanied by flashing lights to alert hearing-impaired users.

Types of smoke detectors are:

Photoelectric Smoke Detectors
Photoelectric smoke detectors are T-shaped optical cameras that emit a beam of infrared light, which normally happens in a straight line in front of a photosensitive cell. Some smoke scatters the light in the cell, causing the alarm. In some models, the beam is positioned so that the scattered light outside the cell, turn off the alarm when it detects less light. They work best to detect and stop the burning of fires burning large amounts of smoke.


Ionization Smoke Detectors
Ionization smoke detectors consist of an ionization chamber, surrounded by two opponents charged electrodes, and a radioactive element called americium-241. Americium sent alpha particles in the chamber, providing a steady stream of the electrodes. When smoke enters the chamber, the current flow is disturbed and the alarm goes off. They can also be caused by hot air and very small particles of smoke, which can lead to the kitchen and the alarm during normal cooking. Usually have indicator lights that alert users when the batteries are running low. They are best for the rapid spread of fire detection and fire.

Choosing Smoke Detectors

Power Source: Choose a working smoke detector on both batteries and AC power. This allows you to reserve your backup battery for when the power source system fails. You can find one that uses lithium batteries instead of 9 volts - the lithium ater�as last about ten years, while that of a 9 volt required frequent replacement.

UL approval: Make sure your smoke detector is approved by Underwriters Laboratory (UL). This ensures that the unit goes to international standards of quality and efficiency. This is usually indicated by a UL stamp of approval on the product package.