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First Alert SC05CN Battery Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide Smoke Alarm
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Tools & Hardware > Alarms > Item 11
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First Alert SC05CN Battery Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide Smoke Alarm
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by First Alert
Sales Rank: 234
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List Price: $42.99
$27.15
At Amazon
on 11-9-2008.
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Features
Battery-operated combination carbon monoxide alarm and smoke alarm
Uses electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor--the most accurate technology available
Photoelectric sensing technology reduces nuisance smoke alarms
Simple to use silence/test button; low battery warning; unique horn sounds and light
Includes 2 AA batteries; 5 year limited warranty
Product Description
Carbon monoxide (CO) is the leading cause of accidental poisoning deaths in America, yet many people don't know they are suffering from CO poisoning until its too late. Since symptoms of CO poisoning are like the flu, you might not even know you're in danger at first. That's why a carbon monoxide alarm is an excellent way to protect your family. It can detect the CO you can't see, smell or taste in the air.
The First Alert SCO5CN carbon monoxide and smoke alarm uses an electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor-the most accurate technology available. The alarm uses photoelectric smoke sensing technology which is environmentally friendlier and which reduces nuisance alarms, making it ideal for cooking areas. It is also great for sensing slow smoldering fires quickly. The permanent sensors last the lifetime of the alarm. The test/silence button both silences a non-threatening alarm or low battery warning and allows you to test the unit's functionality. The alarm uses different 85-decibel horns and lights depending on whether it's alerting you to smoke or carbon monoxide. A low battery signal alerts you to replace the battery and end-of-life alarm of three chirps alerts you to replace the unit. Two AA batteries are included. 5-year limited warranty. UL listed. Not available for sale in Massachusetts.--Bree Norlander
Included with this Product
One combination carbon monoxide and smoke alarm, two AA batteries, and user's manual
Owner Reviews, Ratings, Comments and Criticism
I replaced a hard-wired alarm that was 20 years old with an SCO5 that I bought locally (and paid more). It looks identical to the SCO5CN and may be identical. The only difference I can see in the description is that the CN version apparently has two different alarms -- mine has only one (three beeps for fire, four for CO). Two would be better. (The SCO7CN talks and tells you whether you have a CO problem or a smoke problem. You need to know the difference, because in the case of CO, you want to get the heck out of there, and in the case of fire, you want to find an extinguisher and put it out.) I disconnected the old unit and took it down, capping all the wires with screw-on plastic wire nuts. This unit nicely fit the old junction box, so screwing it in was trivial. First Alert tech support recommended covering the junction box but that wasn't practical and I can't see how it makes a difference since there's a plastic base in the new unit that covers everything. The good news: The SCO5 looks nice and does double duty as a CO alarm. The smoke alarm is photoelectric, which is safer (no radioactivity) and less sensitive to false alarms from steam (it's outside a bathroom and, so far, no a false alarms). It attaches easily and bayonets off easily. You can change the batteries without taking the unit down, but frankly, it's not all that easy to change the batteries while looking up at the thing and I expect that I'll take the whole thing down to do it. It uses readily available AA batteries, but apparently can't use rechargeables. You're supposed to change them once a year, and it will beep at you if the batteries are low. The bad news: First, the instructions are just terrible, a jumbled mess. Way too much to wade through. Small type. Disorganized. Not simple at all. Second, the alarm is SO LOUD! First Alert recommends that you test this thing once a week! To do that, you must hold down the plastic button for 3-5 seconds. The result is 3 blasts of the alarm for smoke, followed by four blasts for CO. You better wear strong ear protection when you do this because from the distance you will be standing, it will nearly blow your eardrums out. I didn't realize how many blasts were coming (bad manual!) and took my hands away from my ears too quickly. Big mistake! If it ever goes off, you have to hold that same button down, again for three to five seconds, to shut it down. That's a long time to stand near that much noise. Holding the button down takes some pressure and in the middle of a fire, I doubt that anybody will hold it down that long. It should shut it off instantly. Finally, there is no indication that the machine is working -- no steady light or flashing light that says "all is well, I have power." Maybe none of the battery operated units do this, I don't know. One of the LEDs is labeled "power/smoke" -- but, as far as I can tell, it does nothing regarding power. Last, a disappointment -- I would have preferred a unit that hooks up to AC power. I've got the hookup and would have used it. But as far as I can tell, nobody makes a combo smoke/CO alarm that uses photoelectric detection and also plugs in. I'm reasonably satisfied with this thing but I expect that if it ever goes off I'm going to be heading to an ear doctor. And the manual needs a complete rewrite for clarity and simplicity.
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First Alert SC05CN Battery Operated Combination Carbon Monoxide Smoke Alarm
Available from Amazon
Price: $27.15
Updated on 11-9-2008.
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Tools & Hardware > Alarms > Item 11
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