5d ago

I changed the batteries in all my smoke/CO detectors to 10-year lithium batteries.

Today, I changed the batteries in all my smoke detectors. I noticed that the battery light in one was blinking. Instead of only replacing the one with a new normal 9v battery, I ordered a pack of 10-year lithium 9v batteries and replaced them all. Now I don't have to worry about changing them for a handful of years.

Edit - Funnily enough, dinner put them to the test. I was going to test them tomorrow when the kiddo is at daycare.

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I like to change mine on Spring Forward day. Don’t forget to check the expiration date of the detectors themselves. The sensor degrades over time.
- What are you going to do next year?
  
  Push the test button, of course. I find it helps make sure everyone wakes up on time.

Write an“installed on” date on them so that you remember be to change them in 10 years.
- No, smoke detectors have expiration dates. The device itself is supposed to be fully replaced every 10 ish years (it varies by model). Over the years the sensors degrade and stop working as well.
  https://www.defense.gov/News/News-Stories/Article/Article/972455/every-smoke-alarm-has-an-expiration-date-whats-yours/
  
  Models with non-replaceable batteries designed for the device's entire 10 year lifespan generally work out to be the best option these days.
  "New battery day" simply gets replaced by "new smoke detector day".

Interesting fact I learned when replacing detectors is that small humans (i.e. toddlers) are more likely to wake up and respond to human voices/words.
There are detectors, for example, that say "Fire" (in English-speaking countries, of course). And kids are statistically more likely to wake up and respond to the smoke detector alert than the brain-piercing, ear-splitting buzzers that are more standard.
I put the above ones in bedrooms and the horrible, deafening ones in hallways and common areas. I also went the 10yr lithium battery route. Had to search online to order these, because they're not generally available at retail stores.
- I didn’t know they were available at all. I just planned on replacing all of my detectors with the kind that have the ten year battery built-in. Mine have a little over 5 years left on them, so no point putting ten year batteries in them now.

I also did this but then I started to get quite a lot of false alarms, turns out the lithium ones cause issues with the detectors while alkaline had no issue.
- That would highly depend on the particular device and battery used. Electronics are designed to work within a voltage range because voltage often fluctuates, with both AC and DC. Some electronics can be more sensitive and require a more narrow voltage range or have a more stable range and some power sources can vary their range more and have a higher rate of fluctuation.

Both of those detectors expire.
- Yes. Follow the instructions for the specific device.

Where are you getting smoke detectors that last that long?
- It really depends, but more and more of them last 10 years and have a battery built in. I'd say most of them now last 10 years. At least, in the US.
  
  I've seen them say that on the packaging, and then 6 years later they're emitting their EoL alarm.

I think the new ones i can buy here don't have replaceable batteries anymore, instead you replace the whole thing
- Yeah, some places require them, and I think it's a great idea considering the whole units need to be replaced every 10-15 years anyway.

And I bet, tomorrow morning one of them will start chirping just for no reason at all.

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