Do you have a smoke detector on board

[elton]

I've got two smoke alarms; one in the aft cabin, and one in the saloon. I wouldn't sleep aboard without them I used a couple of screw holes that were already in the batons that hold the headlining up, but I'd have screwed them up anyway. I've got a CO alarm as well, half way up the forward bulkhead.

 

[LittleSister]

My smoke detector is the First Mate.

She wails every time I light up.

 

[BruceK]

You wouldn’t know if I ran my genny so why would that make me a shmuck?

Good God nooooo. Not you, Roy. I wouldn't know you from Adam. You're not one of the Conwy Mob masquerading as a gentleman are you? We're missing a few. Rogues the lot.

 

[dune16]

Me too! I have two and two spares. Got them on Amazon.

And I have a 'roaming' smoke detector near engine bay. And a small hand held gas detector that takes couple of small batteries also from Amazon that is great for checking gas locker etc.

Maybe I need more than one then

 

[Star-Lord]

Maybe I need more than one then

Well I have had two go up in smoke, as they say! I think if you have a hoover you can get the dust out of them but if they clog up then they just turn on and beep forever. I have found their lifespan to be about 12-18 months. Maybe I got a bad batch. The roaming one is a different make and has been good for ages.

 

[Momac]

For inland waterways a CO alarm in each living space is now mandatory . Oddly a smoke alarm is not required but it would seem foolish not to have one on a boat with sleeping accommodation.
Many boats do have a gas hob /oven and these are capable of producing CO if the air supply is insufficient.

 

[Assassin]

Well I have had two go up in smoke, as they say! I think if you have a hoover you can get the dust out of them but if they clog up then they just turn on and beep forever. I have found their lifespan to be about 12-18 months. Maybe I got a bad batch. The roaming one is a different make and has been good for ages.

There have been issues with many makes over claimed battery lives and actual battery lives and several well known major brands have reimbursed a lot of people.

How about a rechargeable unit, easy to fit, recharges everytime you start the engine or hook up to shore power (depending upon wiring configuration) and if the cells go you simply replace the cell as a unit.

 

[Momac]

My smoke alarm on the boat expired recently (sealed battery) so I have replaced it.
The expiry date on the expired alarm was 2025 so it had been in use 5 years or less.
I disposed of it and didn't think of claiming under warranty .

 

[Bouba]

I assume that the battery lasts on standby a long time but every time you test it or it goes off it will shorten the battery life

 

[Scubadoo]

My smoke alarm on the boat expired recently (sealed battery) so I have replaced it.
The expiry date on the expired alarm was 2025 so it had been in use 5 years or less.
I disposed of it and didn't think of claiming under warranty .

I had the same issue with two smoke alarms and Co alarm, contacted fireangel and upon emailing a copy of a receipt they sent sent replacements free of charge. However when you call them they don't answer the phone, so leave it ringing and after 10mins they will eventually pickup the phone!

 

[Star-Lord]

maybe Combined CO2 and Smoke detectors do not last as long as the individual ones.

 

[Momac]

My smoke alarm which failed early was a fire angel - smoke only , not combined type. I had a spare in stock to replace it and probably no receipts .
Maybe the CO alarms with replaceable batteries are abetter better bet . I will see in due course how the 7 year CO alarms I recently bough will survive.

 

[Assassin]

My smoke alarm on the boat expired recently (sealed battery) so I have replaced it.
The expiry date on the expired alarm was 2025 so it had been in use 5 years or less.
I disposed of it and didn't think of claiming under warranty .

The issue was with the batteries Martyn, the manufacturers were (Chinese) making claims about there batteries and when the manufacturers fitted them to smoke alarms they didn't live up to their claims.

I assume that the battery lasts on standby a long time but every time you test it or it goes off it will shorten the battery life

Nothing to do with it, see above.
Manufacturers recommend testing them weekly, and most people never do, so this is factored into the battery life and if people aren't testing them weekly they should have lasted, but didn't.

They made claims for corporate sales, they attracted many wholesalers, local suppliers, and large groups such as housing stock holders such as social housing groups and organisations such as fire brigades who fitted them for free for pensioners and disabled people; and it backfired, they sold them cheaply and are now being hit with claims against them.

 

[Momac]

..............they sold them cheaply and are now being hit with claims against them.

Perhaps the smoke alarm I have just fitted will last longer (it was purchased in 2019). I hope the 7 year battery life for the CO alarms that I purchased last month will be achieved.
Otherwise may as well buy the slightly cheaper versions of the CO alarms that need annual battery replacement . I have one of those in the house , also purchased recently, so we will see how the two compare.

 

[PilotWolf]

Not sure if available outside of the US but I'd recommend the Nest products, smoke and CO2 plus linked by Bluetooth and wifi so you know if an issues so where else. Also app friendly and the cameras are pretty good quality too.

W.

 

[Momac]

Not sure if available outside of the US but I'd recommend the Nest products, smoke and CO2 plus linked by Bluetooth and wifi so you know if an issues so where else. Also app friendly and the cameras are pretty good quality too.

W.

I thought they were for household use with AC power and internet connection . How does that work on a boat ?

 

[markc]

I thought they were for household use with AC power and internet connection . How does that work on a boat ?

I know the cameras are 5v usb powered, assume the smoke are on battery

 

[PilotWolf]

I know the cameras are 5v usb powered, assume the smoke are on battery

The cameras do come with mains adapter, I'd have to go and look at mine to see if it is an actual usb plug at one end.

Certainly here you can get either mains or battery operated smoke alarms, they apparently have a 10 year life. I recently found out you can actually change the batteries. I like the fact that they self test, interlink, the pre alert of an alarm and if a smoke alarm is activated it tells my nest thermostat to shut down the heating system (forced air).

W.