Customer Reviews

First Alert SA302CN Double Sensor Battery-Powered Smoke and Fire Alarm

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(11)
1 star:		(35)

 

 

For those with this model and having problems with the remote test feature, there is an undocumented way to turn it off. When you insert the battery press and hold the test button while doing so. If you want to use the feature simply insert the battery without pressing the test button. If you desire more proof, call the First Alert customer service at 800-323-9005.

Up until now I've only lived in houses with the usual smattering of random low-end smoke detectors. This smoke detector puts all of them to shame.

Installation is incredibly easy. The smoke detector separates from the base with a light twist (not the usual yanking or bending that always has me convinced I'm about to break the thing). The mounting base is really light, which is nice when your standing on a chair and pressing it to the ceiling above your head. There are two long channels for placing the two screws that hold it up, which gives you a decent amount of error margin. If you're replacing an existing smoke detector, sometimes you can even use both original holes.

First Alert also put some thought into battery replacement. The battery compartment is a dedicated slot that swings out from the side. It's easy to open and close and keyed so it won't close properly if you put the battery in backwards. Although the battery is a standard 9V, the smoke detector uses pressure clips (like you'd find with AAs) rather than the standard snap-in design which requires more forcing.

The remote silencer/test feature is great. Basically you hold down the volume or channel controls from your TV remote to silence or test the detector. This makes this smoke detector ideal for kitchens and rooms with high ceilings since you can silence it without having to get out a stool.

One drawback of the remote feature is that if you have a bedroom or kitchen with a TV in it, you probably shouldn't buy this smoke detector for that room. Before we installed them, I had the detectors on a side table in the living room and managed to accidentally set off their test modes while using the remote to operate the TV.

If you're buying the smoke detector for use in a house you plan to rent out, you might be concerned that all these convenience features will make it too easy for your tenants to disable the detectors. First Alert solved this problem by providing two locking pins: one for the battery compartment and one for the twist-off base. These pins are installed and removed with a pair of pliers. Of course installing the locking pins makes the smoke detector harder to use.

As one of the other reviewers commented, this smoke detector doesn't look like the picture on this page. Go to First Alert's web site if you want to see an accurate picture.

This is supposed to be one of the best rated dual sensor smoke detectors on the market. I have 5 of them.

The image shown here is either an old version or just the wrong version. In actuality, these detectors are much better looking. they are actually very round or domed. They also are rather tall, hanging lower from the ceiling than some. I don't mind since they don't look bad and they're rated well. You should check First Alerts website if you want to see what these really look like and haven't seen them.

The other detector that is rated similar to this is a Kidde Nighthawk brand. But it's reported to have more false alarms so I went with this one. I like the looks of this First Alert better, but that's just my opinion.

The photoelectric sensor uses a beam of light that sets off the alarm when broken by smoke. hence the term "smoldering". The ionization sensor is for the detection of flaming fires.

I think you'd have less time to react if the flames are already shooting that's why I like the idea of having a photoelectric cell. If a small fire starts, some smoke would be given off and set off the alarm before it got really big giving you hopefully more of a warning and more time. At least that's what I believe.

If this is in the kitchen as is mine and if you cook without a range hood drawing the smoke this detector would go off. If you toast on the dark side without a range hood pulling some smoke the detector would go off. I don't think of those as false alarms I think it's a testement to the sensitivity of the photoelectric detector which I like.

The alarm is quite loud. In the event I toast or cook and inadvertently don't have my range hood on and the alarm goes off I just twist the detector out of its base and put it on the counter until I'm done venting the smoke. And that smoke by the way, is barely perceptible with the eye, which is a testament to the sensitivity of this smoke detector.

Installation is a piece of cake. Battery replacemnent is equally simple. Actually more simple. There's a little door you open and pop the battery into while the detector is installed. You don't have to pull it down. although, it's just a simple twist to remove.

Also, you can test the detector with any TV remote. You can shut it off with a remote as well but I just use the external button for both.

I'm very pleased with these, as I stated I have 5. I bought them all through Amazon at different times and had no trouble with shipping. They came fast, were packed well and I feel a bit more comfortable having them up.

I have six of the older model and had to buy a new one (one > 10yrs old and ionization wears out. Was falsing even with new battery). The new model has a new feature that allows you to use a common remote to quiet (temp, for low battery or problem alarm) *or* for testing. But I found the latter "feature" (set off test) to be a *big* problem since it means that you can't use it in any room with a TV, stero, etc. with a remote. The family was constantly setting it off when changing the volume on the TV... Even covering the sensor hole *or* opening the unit and covering the actual sensor (with black electrical tape) wouldn't stop this (light getting thru the enclosure, PCB, etc.?).

Like another reviewer, after having 3 of these alarms in use for 6 months they started going off in the middle of the night. Even with replacing the batteries, the same thing happened. I'm in the market for some basic smoke detectors. I have one toddler and one on the way, so safety is very important to me.

This product is lousy on many levels. I have obtained many false alarms, some in the middle of the night. I also get a fair share of false alarms by setting it off with my remote, despite the fact that the alarm is in my hallway, AWAY from my remotes in my bedroom! Lastly, the directions are terrible, with no clear way to install the 9V battery. It took a while to finally get the battery in, after accidentally breaking off a tab. Not user friendly or well layed out at all. I'm returning this, and getting a 'Kidde' in hope that it will be a better choice.

Update, May 3, 2008: I've had the 'Kidde' dual-sensor alarm in place for a few weeks, and it has been flawless. NO false alarms, even stationed a few feet outside an upstairs bathroom where the alarm may be exposed to some moisture and mist. And, no, I am NOT affiliated with the 'Kidde' company in any way. It's just a more superior and hassle-free product.

I read on line that you need to replace your smoke alarms every ten years. My house is close to 75 years old and we are in the middle of a kitchen remodel so I bought these for the entire home.
After having them in use for 3 months they started going off in the middle of the night. We replaced all the batteries and 3 months later the same thing! We gave up and returned them all and bought another brand.
We have 5 kids, 3 dogs and one cat, family safety is very important to us.

It gets a star because I had too. I bought one of these and tried three different new batteries including the one that came with it and could only get a fleeting chirp from one of the batteries. The test button never would indicate to me the unit was working. If you simply must buy one; check out the unit with a battery before going to the trouble of installing the mounting ring. Now I'm stuck with this piece of junk because it would cost more to send it back than the unit cost.

This product has a feature that one's Ir TV Remote can be used to turn off a false alarm - ones ir remote can also be used to test the alarm - in reality it sets off alarms. My compact Fluorescent light bulbs set off false alarms. I had thrown away the packaging so I could not return it. I took it apart and blacked out with black tape the ir sensor and it seems to be ok. Not every one will be able to do this. Others have had similar problems.

As others have pointed out, this unit works fine as a smoke detector, but the battery replacement procedure is painful. The battery expired around midnight. It immediately starts to chirp every 15 minutes so it can't be ignored until morning. I replaced the battery and it continued to chirp. Thinking the battery I found was dead I replaced it again, twice. Turns out after replacing the battery it can chirp for up to 15 minutes even though the new battery is fine. Of course I found this out through Google after an incredibly annoying sleep deprived hour.