 |
 |
 |
Kidde Photoelectric vs Ionization Smoke Detectors
When it comes to safety in your home, having the right equipment makes all the difference. In the case of a fire, having the right kind of smoke detector is the key to saving lives. Over the past 90 years, Kidde has been trusted to protect homes and businesses from fire and its affects. Kidde is the largest manufacturer of fire safety products which include smoke detectors, fire extinguishers, and escape ladders. Kidde smoke detectors are trusted to alert occupants immediately upon fire detection. Kidde uses technology that detects both invisible and visible fire particles in the air. The ultimate Kidde smoke detector has dual technology, sensing both types of particles.
Learn more about Smoke Detectors at Amazon
There are different types of fires that could erupt in your home. There are flash fires which spring up suddenly. There are also smoldering fires which start slowly, and then builds upon itself. Each type of fire puts off different particles that the fire alarm is designed to detect. The technologies used to detect these particles are Ionization and Photoelectric Sensor Technology. Kidde smoke detectors utilize these different types of technology. Kidde also produces Dual Sensor Alarms that combine the technology, creating one alarm. Let’s take a deeper look into these different types of alarms to determine the best type for your home.
Kidde smoke detectors that utilize ionization technology are best suited for rooms that contain highly combustible materials. These include paint, cleaning supplies, flammable liquids and paper. These materials are likely to create a flaming fire. Ionization sensor alarms use a small amount of radioactive material to ionize air in the sensing chamber. This allows the inside to become conductive. When air products (fire particles) enter the chamber, the conductivity decreases. This reaction then sets off the alarm.
The Kidde i4618 smoke detector is an ionization sensor alarm. It runs on 120V AC and has battery backup. A green on the LED indicator allows a user to know if there is AC power available. There is also red light that displays the alarm and battery status. The alarm also comes shipped with the battery installed. Due to the PowerLink tab, the battery is protected until installation has been completed. The average price of this alarm ranges from $7.99 to $15.99.
Photoelectric sensor alarms are best used in kitchens, bedrooms, and living rooms. These rooms contain furniture that take longer to burn, thus creating a smoldering fire. The photoelectric alarm has a light sensitive senor in the sensing chamber. When this light is interrupted by products in the air (fire particles), the scattered light is detected and therefore sets off the alarm.
The Kidde PE9E photoelectric smoke alarm is easy to install right out of the box. It comes with a 9V battery. It comes with several test features in order to secure full use of the device. When the battery is low, the alarm will ‘chirp’ in order to indicate a replacement battery is needed. This alarm detects traces of hazardous smoke in the air. The average price for this smoke detector is $14.99.
Kidde offers a full range of photoelectric and Ionization sensor alarms that are easily operated and maintained. Kidde produces a dual sensor alarm as well. This alarm uses both types of technology, thus detecting both smoldering smoke and flaming fire.