Electronic Alarms and Home Security Devices - False Signals & Quirks For New Alarm ?

Hello:

I don't have a feeling for the quirks that these new smoke detectors might exhibit, so thought I'd ask.

Have a new Kidde PI 2000.

Assume the battery is good, as I just bought the unit at Home Depot.

Anyway, it seems to work fine, and test (via the Test button) O.K..

Has been in place for about a 10 days, or so.

The other day, it gave the low battery chirp for about ten minutes.
Then it stopped, and has not repeated.

Is this "very" unusual, or should one expect quirks and false signals like this,
on occasion ?

What might have caused ?

(no cooking or smoking in house at time)

Thanks,
B.

is this smoke detector a battery operated unit? Or is it a 110V (hard-wired) with a battery back-up? Is it a combo unit that can sense Carbon Monoxide?

Does the press-to-test work (after the chirps)? Or is it totally dead?

If it's hard wired, then I would check to make sure that you've got AC power at the detector. The battery is there in case of power failure, but won't power the unit indefintely.

If it's a battery unit, then I'd try a new battery. It may have been sitting on the shelf for a while on gone dead on you. If it still doesn't work, then I'd exchange/return it.

I have had mine chirp with candles/oil lamps after they'd been burning for a while. Also the fireplace when I had left the damper closed.

I'm not an expert, maybe someone will have better suggestions for you.

Hello:

Should have mentioned, sorry:

It's a smoke detector (only), wired in via 110 V AC house power.

The Test button functioned fine afterwards.

Thanks for thoughts,
Bob

The batteries that these things come with are usually not of the best quality (some are still shipped with "heavy duty" batteries instead of alkalines or lithiums!). Often they are stored in non-climate controlled warehouses, which also eat into the battery shelf life. So don't be surprised if the OEM battery gives up at less than 3-6 months.