Re: Smoke detector and rechargeable 9V battery?

["FIRETEK" <firetech(change-the-ch-to-k)@telus.net>]

"G. Morgan" <alarmpro@xxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1164572193.869629.21260@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Frank Olson wrote:
>
> > Lithium batteries are NOT the "best choice" for smoke alarms.
>
> Sure they are, they last longer.

Picking a battery for a smoke alarm must be predicated on four things:

1.  It's gotta be "cheap"
2.  It's gotta be easy to replace (ie. easy to find)
3.  It's gotta meet the manufacturer's requirements
4.  Whether it's designed to last for one year (or five), the replacement
interval must be fixed.  We're all "creatures of habit".  It's far easier
for me to remember my wife's birthday and use a good quality alkaline.  If
you're bent on using lithiums and you figure you can get five years from the
sucker then perhaps setting February 29th as the replacement date might work
for you (that comes around every four years).  If your smoke alarm consumes
more power, you might wind up on the "short" side of the equation, and often
with little (or no) warning.


>
>  >Making
> > such a generalized statement is both unprofessional and unsafe.
>
> It was a broad statement, I should have wrote "if the manufacturer
> permits Lithium batts then they are the best choice".

"Broad statements" have gotten more guys into trouble in this Group than
Bush at a WMD rally.



> "Choosing a replacement battery:
> Your Smoke Alarm requires one standard 9V battery. The following
> batteries are acceptable as replacements: Duracell #MN1604, (Ultra)
> #MX1604; Eveready (Energizer) #522. You may also use a Lithium
> battery like the Ultralife U9VL-J for longer service life between
> battery
> changes. These batteries are available at many local retail stores."
>
>
http://www.brkelectronics.com/downloads/safety_products/user_manuals/smoke_alarms/Battery/manual_SA710_English.pdf


Considering this would have "definitively answered" the OP's question, it
would have been better to have posted this in the first place.


>
> No where do they recommend replacing batts. yearly.  I think the
> battery marketing department came up with that baloney.


No actually, most AHJ's recommend that, and for good reason.  I wouldn't
rely on a "low battery warning" signal from a detector that I picked up at
Walmart for $8.95, would you?