Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener Overview and Installation Guide
install / set up help
Updated
, by simplisafe_admin
Overview
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener monitors third-party smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in your home by listening for their alarms. When three smoke or CO alarm sequences are heard, it will trigger the alarm for your SimpliSafe® system, and, if you are subscribed to a professional monitoring plan, our monitoring center will be notified.
Note: The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener will not detect smoke or carbon monoxide in your home. This device must be used along with a third-party, UL-compliant, smoke and/or carbon monoxide detector that audibly alarms in order to notify our monitoring center.
To check if your third-party detectors are UL-compliant, look at the detector itself. The compliance code for smoke detectors is UL 217, and the compliance code for CO detectors is UL 2034.
The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener is not for commercial use. It is compatible with all residential, UL-certified smoke and CO detectors that audibly alarms.
Need to purchase an Alarm Listener? You can find it available for purchase on our website.
Before Getting Started
Before installing your Alam Listener, you will need to install your Base Station and any third-party smoke or CO detectors you want to monitor.
If your detectors are interconnected, you will only need to install one Alarm Listener in your home; but if you have battery-powered detectors, you will need one Alarm Listener for every detector you wish to monitor.
The best way to tell if your detectors are interconnected or not is by pressing the test button on one of the devices. If all of your detectors sound after one test button is pressed, that means that they are interconnected and you will only need one Alarm Listener in your home. If only one detector sounds, that means that they are not interconnected, and you will need one Alarm Listener for every detector in your home.
When finding a location for your third-party detector(s), please keep in mind that the Alarm Listener must be mounted within 4 inches of it—this is to ensure the Alarm Listener receives an alarm signal from the detector you intended to monitor. If the Alarm Listener is mounted further away, it will not pick up on your detector's alarm signal.
What’s in the box:
Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener with its mounting bracket
2 screws
2 wall anchors (required when installing on drywall)
A drill with a 1/4 inch drill bit when installing on drywall, or a drill with a 1/16 inch drill bit when installing on wood or plaster
A ladder or step stool
Determine Your Third-Party Detector Type
Before installing your Alarm Listener, you will need to know if the third-party detectors in your home are interconnected or battery-powered.
If your detectors are interconnected, that means that you will only need one Alarm Listener for your home; but if they are battery-powered, you will need one Alarm Listener for every third-party detector in your home.
How to Check Your Third-Party Detector Type
Press the test button on any of your detectors. If only that one detector sounds, it's a battery-powered, standalone unit. In that case, you will need one Alarm Listener for every third-party detector in your home. If all of your detectors sound, that means that your third-party detectors are interconnected, so you will only need one Alarm Listener in your home.
How to add the Alarm Listener in the SimpliSafe® Mobile App
Open the SimpliSafe® Mobile App on your smartphone or tablet
Navigate to the three-bar menu on the upper left corner and select Add Device or Camera
Select Smoke/CO Listener from the list of available products
How to Pair the Alarm Listener to Your System
Turn the Alarm Listener over and twist its mounting bracket counter-clockwise until it clicks
Lift and remove the bracket off of the Alarm Listener
Pull out the battery tab from the back of the device
Quickly press and release the setup button on the front of the Alarm Listener
Once the setup button has been pressed, the Base Station should say “Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm Listener”
Choose a name for the device by selecting one of our pre-populated names, or select Custom Name at the bottom of the screen to input your own
Where to Install the Alarm Listener
The Alarm Listener must be mounted within 4 inches of the third-party detector you wish to monitor. If the Alarm Listener is mounted farther away, it will not pick up on the detector’s alarm signal. When finding a place to install the Alarm Listener, keep the following placement guidelines in mind:
The Alarm Listener must be mounted on the same surface as the detector (ceiling-to-ceiling or wall-to-wall)
The microphone grate and directional arrow on the Alarm Listener must face the detector
Use the included mounting card to verify the four-inch distance between the Alarm Listener and detector
Avoid mounting near TVs, speakers, or other loud sound sources that may cause interference
How to Mount the Alarm Listener
Hold the mounting bracket in place with the arrow pointing toward the detector
Use a pencil to mark the drill holes
If mounting on drywall: drill pilot holes using a ¼” drill bit
If mounting on wood or plaster: drill pilot holes using a 1/16” drill bit and gently tap the wall anchors into the pilot holes using a hammer or mallet
Hold the mounting bracket in place with its arrow pointing toward the detector and secure it in place using a Phillips head screwdriver and the included screws
Confirm the Mounting Bracket is Installed Correctly
It is critical that the Alarm Listener is installed correctly to ensure that it can listen to your third-party detectors. Before proceeding, confirm that:
The mounting bracket is on the same surface as the desired detector and is no more than 4 inches away
The mounting bracket's arrow is pointing toward the detector
Secure the Alarm Listener to the Mounting Bracket
Once you have confirmed that the mounting bracket has been installed correctly, you can attach the Alarm Listener to it.
Align the triangles on the mounting bracket and Alarm Listener
Twist the Alarm Listener clockwise until it clicks into place
If the Alarm Listener is not seated correctly, you will see a blinking red light on the device
Watch the video below for a hands-on experience from our team of experts for the installation process
