Kidde 1279-9999/RF-SM-AC Hardwire Smoke Alarm with Battery Backup, Interconnectable

Soon after my wife and I purchased our first home, we discovered that the smoke detectors the previous owners installed in the upstairs bedrooms and hall were both old, and done incorrectly. I rewired everything, bringing the upstairs smoke detectors up to code. Kidde also makes battery-powered detectors that communicate wirelessly (their battery-powered "RF" units). To expand our network of smoke detectors to the first floor, without having to cut holes in the wall, drill through the floor, and run wire, I purchased and installed an RF-SM-AC detector and installed it in the hallway upstairs. I installed a battery-powered RF unit downstairs in the family room (which is where the fire place is). We can add additional battery-powered RF units as needed and expand our detector network. The RF-SM-AC detector upstairs works well, communicating flawlessly with both the detectors it is hardwired to upstairs, and the wireless detector downstairs. Wireless communication range seems to be adequate for our home (~1700 square feet). Installation was straightforward; no complaints. Be aware that the battery compartment is on the rear, so you'll have to remove the unit to replace the battery. This is no big deal as far as I'm concerned. One thing to take note of: We have one of these installed in the hallway, but each bedroom has an ac-powered smoke and Carbon Monoxide (CO) detector installed. When testing the detectors, if we test the system via the RF-SM-AC unit (or the wireless RF unit downstairs) the detectors in the bedrooms respond only with their smoke alarms, and not the CO alarms. If you want both alarms tested you need to trigger the system from a detector that has both alarms. Inside the box is a notice that the detector shouldn't be used around fluorescent lighting, or radio transmitters. This was bad on both counts for me, because we have fluorescent lighting almost exclusively (I'm in California) and I have an Amateur Radio license. Thus far we have had no difficulties with the lighting causing false triggering of the RF detectors. I used my Amateur Radio HT (walkie-talkie) around the detector downstairs, and nothing happened. So far so good. I haven't tried my HF (shortwave) transmitter yet, so we'll see how that goes. A final word on electrical wiring. If you're installing new detectors and need to run new wiring or make a change to the electrical system, get a permit for the job and get your work inspected. That way you'll be sure it's done right, and according to local ordinances.

Purchased this item to connect wired network of detectors upstairs to remote detectors which are wireless Kidde 0919-9999/ RF-SM-DC Battery-Operated Smoke Alarm, Wirelessly Interconnectable . The unit is easy to install and includes 2 adapter plugs to allow easy connection without replacement of the old wiring harness (which was a First Alert in my case). The unit works great and has no problems triggering through 2 floors to a detector in the "back area" of our basement where the furnace is located. Triggering to other wired units is just as flawless. Of course, the units must be on the same wiring circuit - this is not a flaw of this alarm but has to do with how the units trigger one another...the red wire "goes hot" when the detector goes off and that powers the other detectors in the wired network. Of course, before installing it you should carefully determine which circuit goes to the detector (not always a trivial task compared to determining circuit for, say, a lamp or TV) and turn off the power.

These Kidde wirelessly interconnectable smoke alarms are the best hope for legacy homes that do not have the red interconnection cables between smoke alarms. I bought a pair of these Kidde wirelessly interconnectable smoke alarms when a previous pair of First Alert smoke alarms proved to have very limited range. The First Alert smoke alarms could not interconnect wirelessly between the basement and the 2nd floor. I removed the First Alert smoke alarms and replaced them with the Kidde smoke alarms which interconnected flawlessly. An alarm at one detector causes an alarm at the other detector despite being separated by two floors. The Kidde smoke alarms have another advantage over the First Alert smoke alarms. They can be hardwired to 120-volt AC circuits with the batteries providing backup. The wireless First Alert smoke alarms are battery-powered only and require constant vigilance to replace the batteries before they run down. Each of the Kidde smoke alarms have 8 DIP switches that are used to specify a unique frequency used by every wireless Kidde smoke alarm in the house. This setting can prevent interference with a Kiddle smoke alarm in a neighboring house. These DIP switches are similar to those found in many garage door openers. I found the Kidde technical support line to be quick and knowledgeable. The attendents came on the line quickly and were able answer all of my questions.

I was looking for a replacement smoke alarm(s)for my hard wired ac alarm with battery backup and was able to find them at amazon. I also wanted to extend the system so I also purchased the battery(only smoke alarms).... I was looking for a more safety oriented product since these alarms use radio frequency they are sounded together at every alarm station that/if there was fire, this allows more time to escape to the outside... These alarms were easily installed and worked perfectly (the wired alarms even come with adapter plugs to install them with/for "replaced" compatible alarms)... These KIDDE 1279-999/RF-SM-AC (hard wired battery backup, also interconnectable "mine weren't")and the KIDDE 0919-999RF-SM-DC (battery only)worked together perfectly..... I would recommend them for any safety oriented installation, they were ordered and shipped faster than it took to research the product about two weeks total which included calling the KIDDE customer service to double check they would work well together and that I wouldn't exceed the additional battery only extension alarms... I would recommend AMAZON for their quality products and fast service....