Get to know smoke detector battery and their types

Smoke detector battery help them to perform their role, this power could come from the electrical system of the building or by independent batteries. Just as emergency light use lithium-ion emergency light battery to guide trapped people to evacuate or fire rescue operations.

How does smoke detector work

There are two technologies employed for smoke detection: ionization and photoelectric. Ionization smoke detectors are composed of a small radioactive material between two plates electrically charged. Radioactivity ionizes the air and allows current to flow.

In case of a fire, smoke in the room will disturb the ionization and the current flow of smoke detector battery will be disturbed which activates the alarm.

The smoke produced during a fire can change the propagation of light, which is developed by. It is divided into two types: shading type and scattering type.

Which is better hardwired or smoke detector battery

Smoke detectors can be classified into two types according to their power supply. Some models use batteries while others are hardwired.

The hardwired detectors are connected to the building’s electrical system by wires which means that their positions should be defined prior to construction otherwise they will need a lot of work to install them which may ruin the place. For a wired detector, there is a specific place to be installed.

On the other hand, smoke detector battery could be placed anywhere and they are very easy to mount. They can be installed even in old buildings without the need for complex wiring or drilling.

However, the detector’s functioning will depend on the battery’s performance and capacity. This calls for the use of high endurance long-life lithium batteries, their specs allow them to be a great fit in this lifesaving device.

What battery goes in a smoke detector

There are two types of smoke detector battery alarms, those with replaceable smoke detector battery and 10- year sealed smoke detector battery alarms. For the first type, there are two options of batteries; 9V and AA. Most alarms use 9V batteries which provide stable power.

However, some models can be powered by 2 or 3 AAs, which may be better in terms of energy. But the main problem is that they need checking and replacement every 6 months, such a short period of time could be a real headache.

Lithium-ion battery work well as smoke detector battery to power smoke detectors. Their high capacity and stable energy make them great for such sensitive devices.

If you don’t want to deal with the strict schedule of battery replacement, 10- year sealed smoke detector battery alarms are the solution. These devices last for 10 years and then they have to be completely replaced.

They are usually equipped with lithium-ion batteries to provide them with the power they need during those long 10 years. For example, in the USA, some states insist on installing this type of detectors otherwise the building can’t be certified.

Can smoke detectors use lithium ion batteries

There are two types of batteries used in smoke detectors; Alkaline and lithium batteries. fire alarms need stable sources of power, the best option for such a sensitive device is lithium batteries. They can provide stable voltage even in low discharge which makes them safer for users.

In addition, lithium battery has the advantages of large power, wide operating temperature range, long service life and so on. Also used as lithium ion medical battery for oxygen meter or thermometer and other medical equipment.

lithium-ion batteries will keep the smoke alarm operational until they are completely dead. At that point the alarm goes on. On the other hand, other smoke detector battery could suffer from low power problems, in that situation the alarm won’t go on as it’s still having power.

This could be extremely dangerous, because low power means the system won’t work properly in case of fire.

How do I know if my smoke detector needs a new smoke detector battery

Smoke alarms are lifesaving devices, they can give early warning in case of fire giving the user the possibility to react properly and in time. Whether they are battery-powered or hardwired they need regular check. For a battery-powered detector, there are many ways to know if the battery has to be replaced.

The test button

this is a great way to check the functioning of the system and mainly the power supply. There is a small test button on each smoke detector that you can press to check how it works. Press and hold the button and a very loud siren should emanate within a few seconds. In case the siren sound is low or nonexistent, you have to change smoke detector battery. Inform present people before running the test, you don’t want to frighten anyone.

Chirping

Smoke detectors are designed to alert users in the case of low smoke detector battery power. In this situation, the device will make “chirps” each minute to avert the user.

Only the alarm with a faulty smoke detector battery will send this signal. Lithium batteries will send this message when they are completely useless.

End of the smoke detector battery lifetime

When the battery of the smoke alarm is nearing its service life, the power it produces will cause internal resistance. So, we need to know about the life of the smoke detector battery and replace it in time.

Hardwired systems also need replacement of the backup battery, a chirping will notify the user. It is recommended to change all batteries at the same time to make sure they are all working properly and avoid being confused.

How long do 9v batteries last in a smoke detector

We can distinguish two families of 9v batteries mounted in smoke detectors, the alkaline and lithium-ion batteries. 

Each technology has its own specs, pros, and cons. In general, alkaline 9 v batteries would last about 6 months to 1 year before they need to be replaced.

They are cheap but they don’t last for a long time. On the other hand, lithium-ion batteries are the most recent technology.

Some of these batteries are designed to last for 10 years, so it becomes the choice of most people. Some smoke detector lithium batteries that can last up to ten years are sealed inside the detector.

For smoke detectors connected to the building’s electrical system (hardwired), the backup batteries have to be replaced every 6 months.

How long does an aa battery last

The alkaline AA batteries have a lifetime of about 6 months, they have to be replaced in order to keep the alarm working properly. however, lithium-ion AA batteries can last up to 8 years. They have a great capacity to hold power for long periods of time.

What is the longest lasting smoke detector battery

The longest-lasting smoke detector battery is the 9v lithium battery. This battery can last up to 10 years, the detector itself has a lifespan of 10 years and has to be replaced after that. In that case, you won’t need to replace just the smoke detector battery.

Some examples of those, some popular lithium ion batteries has advanced technology allowing them to hold power more than any other battery ensuring a steady flow of energy.

Such batteries make users completely safe and help them avoid frequent checking of their systems.

Why smoke detectors are silent and how to fix it

When the smoke detector battery’s energy level goes too low, smoke detectors are designed to warn the user before the situation gets worse.

In case of a complete loss of power, the detector will be out of service putting lives in danger. The devices give warning by chirping.

However, in some cases, the beeping doesn’t go off even when you change the battery in this situation there are some steps to follow:

1. Replace the old smoke detector battery
2. If the unit keeps chirping, remove the new battery and hold the reset button for 15 to 20 seconds. That will drain any residual charge and after it, you can reinstall the new smoke detector battery.
3. If the chirping doesn’t go off, try to clean the detector using a dry cloth or with cold air (hair dryer), the reason could be dust.
4. If none of the above works, you have to change the entire alarm as it may be the end of its lifetime.

The battery-powered smoke detectors don’t chirp when batteries are removed because there is no source of power. In case that happens, it could be some energy residue that could be drained by pressing the test button.

For hardwire detectors the situation is different, the chirping can be as a result of many factors:

1. The backup smoke detector battery is an important component of these systems. It generates enough electricity for the system in case of interruption. These batteries have drawlers, when they are kept open an alarm goes on every few minutes to signal that. Closing the latch will shut off the chirping.
2. When the backup smoke detector battery in a smoke detector is dead, it’s designed to make that chirping to have the user’s attention. whether it’s a lithium battery or an alkaline, the way to replace it is the same. Once you reach the smoke detector, there are two screws you need to unscrew. After that, pull out the smoke detector battery compartment and replace the smoke detector battery. Screw everything back together, and make sure it’s tight.
3. A failure in the AC power converter of a hardwired smoke detector can be the cause of the beeping. the recommended solution is to reconnect the cables in order to reset any malfunction.
4. Reset the circuit breaker: If the circuit breaker is tripped, the entire electrical circuit in the room will be out of power. In this situation, the smoke detector will beep to avert the user of the problem. Resetting the circuit breaker will fix the problem and put an end to the annoying beeps. To do so, you need to locate the breaker in question on the panel. Press the switch for 15 seconds. Slowly turn the circuit breaker on again.
5. Try resetting the hardwired alarm: In case the chirping doesn’t stop, a system reset can be the solution. Sometimes the problem could be just a small internal software issue, resolving it will require simple steps; Unplug the power supply of the smoke alarm and wait for 15 seconds. Press and hold the reset button for 10 seconds. You just need to wait for the system to reinitiate and the problem should be solved.

How do you change a lithium smoke detector battery

lithium batteries are a good option for battery-powered smoke detectors Their high capacity and stable energy allow them to keep users safe.

Once the lithium smoke detector battery’s power gets low, smoke alarms are designed to give a chirping signal to notify the problem.

In this case, the batteries have to be changed following this simple process:

●Remove the body or cover, gently remove the cover or the system from its place by a small twisting motion. sometimes you have to unscrew some screws. Inside you will find 3 major components: the sensing chamber, the battery, and a loud horn.

●To replace the old lithium-ion smoke detector battery, unclip it from its holder. Make sure to buy a brand 9v lithium-ion smoke detector battery from professional lithium ion battery manufacturers.

You don’t want a battery with bad performance in such a sensitive device. Place the new battery and make sure terminals are well oriented.

●Close the cover or put back the entire body and make sure it’s locked in place.

●To make sure the operation is successful, press the test button, a chirp or beep will begin signaling the good functioning of the system.

Please don’t confuse ordinary lithium batteries with those made to last for 10 years. Ordinary primary ones last about 12 to 24 months, other types don’t need to be replaced as they live as long as the detector itself.

To sum it up

Smoke detectors are vital systems contributing to saving millions of lives. In order to perform their task in the right way, they need to be maintained in good shape. They may be powered by the electrical system of the building and have backup batteries.

Other models rely only on batteries to get their power supply. With a variety of batteries in the market, lithium-ion batteries (9v) are the best option for smoke detectors. Some of them could last for 10 years so the user won’t be thinking to change them each time.