Heat Alarm for Kitchen, 10 Years Sealed Battery Life
The battery is already 'up and running' when the alarm is despatched. The battery is not isolated like some batteries are, and nothing has to be done.
Full, clear, instructions are provided.
I set this up as a single (stand-alone) alarm. The alarm can only be wirelessly interconnected with other Wisualarm devices, which I didn't have any of. It works fine as a stand-alone device.. If using as a single alarm, section 4 of the user manual (interconnection) can be ignored
As a single alarm, the alarm is easy to set up.
There are two ways of mounting the alarm:
- stick it to the surface (adhesive pad included)
- screw it to the surface (fixings and template provided)
The backplate is fixed to the surface by the chosen method, then the alarm is just pushed onto the backplate and turned clockwise until it locks in place. That's it!
Test the alarm by pressing the large white 'button' in the centre. It only needs a short press.
The test button
The large white button isn't a button and doesn't actually do anything!
The actual switch that actuates the test is a form of microswitch inside the body of the alarm (the long silver piece shown in the photo). This is normally closed. It is opened by pressure on a piece of plastic on the underside of the alarm base (not the backplate). This is the curved strip with a raised plastic + . When the large white button is pressed, the body and the base of the alarm is pushed down slightly against the backplate, causing the plastic + to be pushed down, thus opening the microswitch and triggering the test (amongst other things).
This process is a weak point of an otherwise seemingly good alarm. The operation is very hit and miss and pressing the button doesn't always work. Sometimes pressing the edge of the button nearest the grill may be a better option (the microswitch is mounted on the PCB in that area).
Occasionally, even pressing the plastic + with the backplate removed doesn't always work! You will have to persevere.
Because of the test hiccups, I have dropped one star from the rating.
Note - because of the way the switch works, if testing out the alarm before it is mounted, always make sure the baseplate is fitted and the alarm is on a flat smooth surface, such as a table or worktop.
I tested the alarm with a heat source, and it triggered correctly.
The battery is is stated as lasting 10 years, only time will tell if that is an accurate statement. The battery cannot be replaced so, after the battery has failed, the alarm should be replaced. This is no problem. Alarms are meant to be replaced after a certain time because the relevant detection devices wil be starting to get less reliable as they wear out.