‎Wired smoke detector | SimpliSafe Support Home
 
vtach3743's profile

Wednesday, October 21st, 2020 8:36 PM

6

Wired smoke detector

Does Simplisafe have one or are they considering one? Most places (at least in IL) require if a remodel or new construction is being done that at least 1 detector is hardwired for electricity and that one must communicate with any wireless ones (or other wired ones). Seems like a good fit for a wired Simplisafe detector.

Official Response

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

3 years ago

Hi,

At this time, SimpliSafe is focused on developing wireless systems, and that includes our Smoke Detector. For the original poster's situation, we can recommend that you install your SimpliSafe Smoke Detector to work in tandem with a wired system - so you can add another layer of fire safety, and can benefit from the 24/7 Smart Alerts and dispatch from your SimpliSafe system.

4 Messages

@davey_d​ doubling up  on smoke detectors is not a solution.  Is there not an audio solution so when the non-SS wired detector goes off that the the SS system can hear it and do something.  Most jurisdiction require at least 1 hard wired for new permits.

Community Admin

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5.7K Messages

@bcwhitemarsh,

 

At this time no, we don't have a listener-type device or function available. If we ever come out with one, you'll hear it from us on this forum!

2.2K Messages

4 years ago

No, and probably not (would not fit the DIY design).

If you are handy, you can make them "wired" using a dummy battery wired to a DC power supply. of the appropriate voltage.  But even if yo do that, they won't communicate with each other.  However they will communicate with the base, and the base will communicate with the monitoring service.
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35 Messages

4 years ago

SImplisafe is designed to be easily removed and relocated.  Hardwiring a smoke detector doesn't fit into that business model.  Since most homes and even apartments now have multiple smoke detectors, wire one of the others.

4 Messages

SImplisafe is designed to be easily removed and relocated.

That makes sense, given the company's origin. But it is not supported by reality; the same SimplSafe sells a camera doorbell that is hard-wired, while they don't have a wireless model. So that justification, plausible in the abstract, doesn't seem credible in real life.

1.3K Messages

The difference is rooted in reality. The doorbell cam HAS to be wired to connect to your original wired doorbell circuit in order to ring the doorbell.

22 Messages

4 years ago

When test one it did set the others into test mode as well but would tell you the one that activate

4 Messages

4 years ago

@whoaru - You are assuming there is an original, WIRED doorbell to begin with. There are plenty of homes that don't have a hardwired doorbell and chime - and indeed, there are plenty of battery operated, not hard-wired, camera doorbells on the market; just not from SS. It is SS's choice not to make one. My only point in bringing this up was to reject the explanation given for smoke detectors - that SS only makes a battery operated one, not a hard-wired one, because they want their products to move with the owner (rather than stay with the house or the apartment). Obviously they made the opposite choice for the doorbell, so that explanation for smoke detectors doesn't hold much water.

1.3K Messages

The SS doorbell cam HAS to be wired to connect to your original wired doorbell circuit in order to ring the doorbell. That is fact.

The target market for SS is easy to set up and get running, that's the whole point of "SimpliSafe". Mains powered hardwire smoke detectors are an installation order of magnitude, if not two, more involved than simply (key word there, simply) swapping a doorbell pushbutton in a current-limited, low voltage circuit. It has less to do directly with portability than does simple installation/setup.

9 Messages

4 years ago

The fact is, that mathguy is correct. While the SS doorbell would have to be wired in to support an existing doorbell system, that's the exact same situation that he and I are both in for smoke detectors. Existing wired smoke detectors and no wired doorbell.
Older houses may have a wired doorbell and separate smoke detectors, but laws and times have changed a number of years ago.

Now, new construction has to include a wired smoke detector and doorbells are being left off. That's what we have in our 14 year old house, which is likely only going to be more common as time goes on.

I bought a SS smoke detector specifically to see if the pcb has pads for hardwired connections. Maybe I'll get lucky and this same model is used for multiple brands. If not, I got it 50% off and am not worried about the warranty. If I find something I'll post back.

1.3K Messages

4 years ago

I think you misunderstand Mathguy's point.

Mathguy is simply arguing what he believes is inconsistent logic of a previous poster about having wired doorbell but only wireless smoke detectors.

My only point in bringing this up was to reject the explanation given for smoke detectors - that SS only makes a battery operated one, not a hard-wired one, because they want their products to move with the owner (rather than stay with the house or the apartment).

Obviously they made the opposite choice for the doorbell, so that explanation for smoke detectors doesn't hold much water.

1 Message

4 years ago

I think a "smoke alarm sensor' similar to the "glass break sensor' would be perfect for this scenario. Most codes require hard-wired, linked smoke alarms. If the alarm sounds, and a SimpliSafe sensor could hear it, it sends a fire alert to the base station.

My original SimpliSafe system smoke alarms were constantly giving me false disconnect alerts, which really got annoying. I'd much prefer the code-compliant ones that the builder installs, and let SimpliSafe listen for those.

2.2K Messages

4 years ago

One thing to keep in mind about the doorbell camera being hardwired - cameras tend to take more power than other sensors.  Making them truly wireless (not even a power connection) means the owner has to regularly maintain them - charge or replace the battery.

52 Messages

4 years ago

The reason the doorbell is wired is power consumption.
The smoke and CO detectors need far less juice.

What SS could do is create a "bridge" product allowing interconnection between hardwire smoke detectors and the SS system.

1 Message

I believe Ring has something like this - a sensor that activates if it hears other smoke alarms that are being activated. Would be nice If something like this were available

1 Message

2 years ago

Very disappointed that SimpliSafe doesn't offer a wired option. I'm renovating my house and have to do wired detectors to stay compliant to my permit. Now I have to look at other systems. Reference material - https://www.bcnv.org/DocumentCenter/View/55/Smoke-and-Carbon-Monoxide-Alarms-PDF 

1 Message

2 years ago

Echoing my disappointment at not having a wired option. In Boston, where SimpliSafe is based, any new construction or renovation requires hardwired, interconnected  smoke detectors with battery backup. Installing a wireless system in parallel with the legally compliant system is just silly and wasteful. 

1 Message

2 years ago

What wold make the most sense is having an option to connect wiring on the back while still allowing it to function independently on a battery, satisfying all needs.

1 Message

2 years ago

Hard agree. I was disappointed to see that there were no wired connections, as it feels very standard for Smoke alarms to have an optional connection port and a required batter back-up.

5 Messages

2 years ago

New York REQUIRES REQUIRES REQUIRES hard-wired smoke detectors. This should be a hard-stop when deciding on a security system in this and any state that requires them. Not much engineering to do to add a standard connector for a power source, and transformer to your existing product. I would immediately purchase 10 of those if they become available. 

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