First Alert SC05CN Battery Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Alarm
by First Alert
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List Price: Our Price: $26.95 You Save: $28.04 (51%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Buy Used: from $24.26 (click here) Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of First Alert SC05CN Battery Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide/Smoke Alarm
Customer Review: Piece of junk
Summary: 1 Stars
I spent a good amount of time in the fire safety aisle of a local store, reading packages and comparing units before selecting this particular one to replace an aging smoke-only alarm. This one has two different-sounding alarms (3 beeps for fire and 4 beeps for carbon monoxide) and runs on 2-AA batteries. The batteries can be replaced without taking the unit off the ceiling and the compartment won't close without batteries in it. I installed it by myself in just a couple of minutes with a pencil, drill, hammer and flathead screwdriver. It has several features I chose not to use, most involve locking systems to prevent tampering, but it is nice that they are offered. Also has a photoelectric sensor claiming to prevent false alarms from food smoke and shower steam. I think it's a great value for my family's safety.
**(12/20/08)**I would like to amend my review. A week after installing, the alarm started "chirping" 3 times at irregular intervals (once at 4:00am Sunday, then Tuesday at 1:30pm). I changed the batteries after a third incident (again in the early morning) and it was fine for another four days. The next time I took it down and noticed the back indicates the 3 "chirps" is to replace the alarm. I have had the thing less than a month and have to replace it already?!?!? What a CROCK!
**(12/22/08)**I called and spoke to a rep from First Alert on the phone who explained to me the unit runs a self-test every 90 seconds and if it fails, the alarm 'chirps'. He asked me a few questions and promised me a new unit in a week to ten days.
**(1/14/09)** I received a new unit in the mail today, hard to install with my fingers crossed.
**(3/3/09)**Another malfunctioning alarm, at five o'clock in the morning. I am through with this junk!! Buy only if you want to replace every 4-6 weeks.
Customer Review: An utter waste of plastic and silicon!
Summary: 1 Stars
While at first I was impressed by the dual ability to sense carbon monoxide and smoke, the great feeling I initially had upon buying this product faded fast. We bought this smoke/carbon monoxide alarm to replace a smoke detector that quit working after about 18 months(also from First Alert) in our master bedroom. I have a Kidde Carbon Monoxide/Smoke alarm in the basement which has worked great for 3 years without any problems. However, they did not have that one at the home improvement store I bought it from, so I settled on this gem.
Long story short, about 3 months after buying this detector it started chiming 3 times at about 3 AM after a grueling day. Evidently, it was only a coincidence that the time roughly matched the amount of chimes, so this was not helpful. I was able to crawl on a step stool and pull the thing down figuring perhaps the batteries I put in it were old and near death. So, giving this the benefit of the doubt, I placed two brand new batteries in there and placed it back on the ceiling, sleeping soundly under my blanket of smoke and carbon monoxide protection. Two days later, same stinking thing. After overlooking the obvious sticker on the back of the thing, I scoured the bowels of the internet only to find that the self-test had determined that the detector had failed and chimed to let me know so it would be replaced. I'm replacing it alright, with another make. Moral of the story: Don't buy a first alert product. They are awful. How do you put something this dreadful out on the market. I basically threw away $50+.
Customer Review: SAFETY FIRST
Summary: 4 Stars
A recent residential fire in the Bay Area alerted me to the need to buy a photoelectric smoke detector. Apparently the family came home to a fire and none of their smoke alarms were even going off- the reason being the absence of a photoelectric sensor. I replaced every smoke alarm in my house. The fact that First Alert even makes detectors without it seems more than just stupid, it also borders on negligence since that is what they do every day of the week- manufacture smoke detectors. A friend of mine lost her daughter due to carbon monoxide (CO) and the negligence by a furnace repairman allowing CO to enter the dwelling. Her daughter would be alive today had her apartment had this detector. Make sure if you have a young son or daughter living off on their own that if their apartment or rented house has these. It is absolutely essential to have BOTH smoke AND carbon monoxide detection capabilities which this model has. It comes with the batteries so it is ready-to-go with 2 simple screws for attachment. Buy one for every bedroom and living areas and remember if not ceiling-mounted they need to be within 2-3 inches of ceiling for any wall installation for proper detection. Who cares what the price is if it saves the life of a family member? . . .it's priceless. Amazon's price was the lowest web-based price available in November 2010.Customer Review: Location Dependant?
Summary: 1 Stars
I have rental properties and I decided to upgrade all units to have monoxide detectors. I decided on this unit because it is a two in one device and it used double AA batteries instead of the nine volts. My tenants keep complaining that these devices keep beeping. I looked on the back and 3 chirps = bad detector. I took a few of them down, put up the old ones and brought them to my home. They have not chirped since. Something about the other place is making these detectors fail.
Another thing is that I did not notice this but there is a 5 year life on these detectors and then they will chirp without any choice but to replace them. So even if yours works at first, you only will get 5 years out of it. I bought a total of 7 of these that cost me a few hundred and now I need to look for replacements. I wish I left all the old smoke detectors in.
Customer Review: Good basic warning device
Summary: 4 Stars
I almost bought the SC07CN combo alarm but got frustrated with all the extra bells and whistles that added complicated features like remote and voice. I believe the SC05CN is all a person needs to protect against carbon monoxide poisoning and smoldering type fires. A person should also have a detector that detects hot flaming fires like the ionization type detectors. I'm not aware of a single device that senses both types of fires and carbon monoxide so it seems a person would need at least two detectors to cover all three circumstances. I already had wired-in ionization smoke detectors, but added the CO/photoelectric combo to gain the additional coverage. Only an emergency will ultimately prove the value and performance of this device, but in the meantime I have a little peace of mind that I should be able to be warned of two types of fires and/or carbon monoxide.