Why? Standard detectors have a few major shortcomings, mainly that they’re not all that useful when you’re not home. Smoke detectors are a perfect example of a device that benefits from smart functionality. Why Does it Make Sense for Smoke Alarms Be "Smart"? However, they don’t allow you to silence your smoke alarms and they won’t save you from 2 a.m. They're typically installed in proximity to your existing smoke detectors-some plug into an electrical outlet while others are battery operated-and they’re connected to your home Wi-Fi network. Monitors essentially “listen” for your smoke and carbon monoxide alarm, and if they hear it going off, they send a smartphone notification to let you know. This is the main appeal of smart smoke detectors, but some high-end models include additional “smart” features like voice controls via Alexa, weather updates, voice alerts, customizable night lights, and more. In other words, they go a step further than your traditional smoke alarm. Like most smart home devices, smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors connect to your home’s Wi-Fi and, subsequently, your smartphone. What You Should Know About Smart Smoke Carbon Monoxide Detectors and Monitors What is a Smart Smoke Alarm? Other factors we took into account were interconnectivity, app connectivity, and perceived reliability. During these tests, we also evaluated the smart home integration, quality/volume of the alarm, quality of the smartphone notifications, and ease of silencing each detector. We did this multiple times for every model-once while the phone was connected to Wi-Fi and once when it was not-to see if there was a difference in how quickly notifications were delivered. After the initial setup, we ran a “self-test” on each model and navigated around both the iOS and Android versions of the apps to assess usability.įinally, we used aerosol-sprayed smoke and tapered candles to set each alarm off. To test these smoke detectors, we first installed and synced each device with its app. My work is built up Camryn Rabideau, a freelance contributor for Reviewed. That's why I dived back into the world of smart home to test the best smart smoke and carbon monoxide detectors available today. And, like most people, I want to keep my humble abode as safe as possible. From household linens to smart home gadgets, I've been doing product testing for a number of years. I’m Rachel Murphy and I cover mart home for Reviewed. How We Test Smart Smoke Alarm and Carbon Monoxide Detectors The Tester Plus, it’s significantly less expensive than other comparable smart smoke detectors with similar features. Overall, we’d feel safe with this smart smoke alarm protecting our homes, and there are thousands of positive reviews that testify to the superior performance of this product. In our tests, the smartphone notifications arrived around 30 seconds after the alarm sounded, which wasn’t the fastest, but we liked that the alerts specify whether it’s a just a “Heads Up” (a little bit of smoke) or a genuine “Emergency” (get out of the building). The Nest app is intuitive and easy to use on both iPhones and Androids-not surprising given that Nest is a leader in the smart home space. It takes about five minutes to set up the Nest Protect, and the process is impressively thorough, asking you for the detector location, as well as your self-testing and night light preferences. In addition to sending you push notifications when it detects smoke or carbon monoxide, it offers voice alerts, a night light option, low-battery alerts, and a monthly self-test feature. The 2nd generation Nest Protect comes in both battery operated and hardwired models, and instead of traditional photoelectric or ionization technology, this alarm uses a split-spectrum sensor to monitor for both smoldering and fast-burning fires. The Nest Protect Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm is a reasonably priced smart detector with ample functionality.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |