First Alert SC9120B Hardwire Combination Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Battery Backup

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 5.6 x 2.2 x 5.7 inches ; 10.4 ounces
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
ASIN: B000HEC4EO
Item model number: SC9120B

By : BRK
List Price : ~~$92.99~~
Price : $35.39
You Save : $57.60 (62%)

Item Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The BRK hardwire combination smoke and carbon monoxide alarm detects two hazards with a single hassle-free unit. Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless, deadly gas. It can be emitted by sources such as gas or oil furnaces, gas clothes dryers, water heaters, fireplaces, wood stoves, charcoal grills, gas ranges, and space heaters. A clogged chimney, improper venting, and attached garages can also cause carbon monoxide accumulation. According to the Consumer Item Safety Commission (CPSC), at least one CO alarm must be installed close to a home's sleeping area.
The BRK SC9120 hardwire combination smoke and CO alarm with battery backup includes these functions:

Quick plug-in power connector for painless installation.
120-volt AC inter-connectable (with maximum 18 compatible devices). The alarm can be interconnected with up to 12 other compatible smoke alarms and six compatible devices like bells, horns, repeaters and door closers. If a single unit triggers an alarm, all smoke alarms in the series will sound. Power indicators show which unit in the series initiated the alarm.
Ionization sensor which is more productive at detecting flaming fires which consume combustible materials quickly and spread easily.
Microprocessor controlled for fewer nuisance alarms.
Single test/silence button which both silences a non-threatening alarm or low battery warning and makes it possible for you to test the unit's functionality.
Automatically performs internal test of functionality.
Latching alarm indicator which automatically identifies which unit initiated the alarm.
Separate smoke and carbon monoxide visual and audible warnings.
Battery drawer lock and mounting bracket lock for tamper resistance.
AC power indicator and alarm indicator light.
Low battery warning "chirp" and missing battery tab.
9-volt battery backup for peace of mind through power outages.

All BRK Electronics carbon monoxide alarms are listed to UL Safety Common 2034 for residential carbon monoxide alarms. Contains 9-volt backup battery. five-year limited warranty.--Bree Norlander
What's in the Box A single combination smoke and CO alarm, one 9-volt battery, and user's manual

Technical Details

Superior carbon monoxide sensor and dual ionization smoke alarm
Inter-connectable with BRK and First Alert hardwired smoke and carbon monoxide alarms
Easy to install universal mount bracket
Simple to use silence/test button; separate smoke and CO latching alarm indicators
9-volt battery included; 5-year limited warranty

Customer Reviews

Our house was wired for smoke detectors -- specifically the rather cheesy BRK 4120SB, which delights in false "low power" chirping. My goal was to replace the ones in the bedrooms with combination alarms that would alert us not only to smoke but to the presence of carbon monoxide. (Not to scare you but harm and even death from carbon monoxide poisoning are definite risks, especially in a home with deep-sleeping teenagers.)
I needed units that would be compatible with the wiring of our current system, and ideally ones that would accept the power leads, as wired. After some research here and elsewhere, I called the BRK help line and got definite information about the unit that would be compatible, as well as locations within the home where I both should and should not install units.
I ordered two units to start with, still being a bit leery of my previous experience, and can say that installation took less than 5 minutes per device.
1. Follow the instructions for removing the plastic tab in the battery door of your new unit and pushing the button to test your new unit. If all's well, proceed. Disregard the "locking pin" stuff unless you are in a shared dwelling and are concerned with someone walking off with your 9-volt battery. (This was the weirdest part of the instructions, frankly, and this is my guess on why it's there.) Important: you are listening for 3 tones, pause, 3 tones, pause, 4 tones, pause, 4 tones. There is a typo at the bottom of page 3 of the instructions, so I've just verified with BRK that the tone pattern I'm mentioning is the correct one.
2. Twist off and unplug your current unit.
3. Back the two screws holding your collar to the ceiling so you have enough clearance to remove the collar.
4. Install the new collar.
5. Install your new unit. (A wired plug is included in case you need to swap your existing plug for the new plug.)
Fellow owners of the 4120SB will find that the upgraded unit sets and locks into place in the ceiling much easier and more reliably. Ditto with the battery door. Note that on the SC9120B, if you're having problems with the battery door not shutting (a) there is a little trigger tab that you should be able to push down with a fingernail and/or (b) hold the unit upside-down.
A word, please, about longevity, since the primary purpose of an alarm is your safety.
1. Replace your batteries at least once a year.
2. Combo smoke/carbon monoxide units have a 5-year life span, per BRK staff. Regular smoke alarms have a 10-year lifespan. Not replacing them within these timespans is, in my opinion, the most dangerous kind of false economizing. (Note also that if you need help, the BRK customer service apparently has improved greatly since the experience of earlier reviewers of the product line. The call I made in June could not have been more thorough and professional, even to dealing with the phantom beeps of my 5-year-old alarms.)
3. Whether or not you buy this or any smoke alarm product, please do yourself and your family two favors. First, label the plug (hidden) side of your units with the install and replace dates. Second, change your batteries at least once a year.
BTW, I gave the unit a 4 rather than a 5 because while the battery door and twist-on/twist-off issues are less irritating than on the earlier generation, they still do exist.

I have a rental property and this year, the city's new regulation required installation of these detectors. One of the detectors malfunctioned and the terrified tenant called 911, who proceeded to do over 1000 dollars in property damage.
I subsequently found out that even the EPA has admitted that many of the CO detectors they tested were unreliable, and either went off at too low of a level or did not sound at dangerously high levels.
According to their website, the best way to keep the building's inhabitants safe is to have fuel-burning appliances properly installed and maintained by licensed professionals to make sure that the gases (including CO) are vented properly.
I ended up doing a lot of research related to CO as a result. I have the documentation from the Fire Department indicating the levels that they measured (WAY BELOW the low threshold on the detector) even near the detector.
I knew that a problem was unlikely since the heat wasn't even ON at the time.
Nevertheless, they broke into two apartments, destroying irreplaceable historic doors and frames. Even the fire chief told me that if I have a hard-wired smoke detector/CO detector combo, I should get it replaced as they have had false alarms with that type of detector. But as mentioned on the EPA website, and evidenced by many other reviews on Amazon etc, CO detection is apparently in it's infancy and I'm surprised that these detectors are even being sold, much less required by law.
Unfortunately, according to my lawyer, it's more trouble than it's worth to sue the city, so I had to suck up the CONSIDERABLE expenses myself. Not to mention my poor tenant, who was (unharmed of course) but anxious.
I am so ANGRY, but the only thing I can do apparently is to WARN other people about these alarms. If you have one in your house and there's a false alarm, that's one thing. But if a tenant has a false alarm, you are vulnerable in many different ways.
The WORST thing about this type of alarm is that if the CO part malfunctions, you've lost your smoke alarm as well. In addition, since it's installed high on the ceiling, if it false alarms, you have to get on a ladder to turn the thing off.
I would not recommend the first alert smoke/CO alarm to ANYONE.