Review: First Alert SA511CN2-3ST, pricey but works good

Overall Rating44444

pricey but works good

I have a multi story house and wanted more protection and to know if there is smoke on another floor. These comunicate very well, They are a little hard to set up, it took multiple times before we were able to get them to talk to each other.. Don’t loose your instruction sheet! you have to do it every time you change batteries.

Update (9/4/2010): This item is currently on sale here for the lowest price I’ve seen. I also found some auctions for this item here.

The featured review for this product, First Alert SA511CN2-3ST ONELINK Wireless Battery Operated Smoke Alarm with Voice Location, 2-Pack Tools & Hardware, was written by D.

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Reviews (3)

D

January 23rd, 2010 at 2:21 am    


Overall Rating55555

pricey but works good
Rated 5 stars.


A. F. Nazar

January 26th, 2010 at 11:54 pm    


Overall Rating22222

battery eaters
Since installing these smoke detectors a year ago, I have had to install three complete sets of Energizer batteries, replace one detector that ate a set of batteries every two weeks, and pull all the detectors tonight because I need to install a fourth set of Energizers. I buy the batteries fresh with a four or five year code each time so that is NOT the problem. It is obvious that changing batteries every six months is NOT a good plan unless you enjoy being awakened at 2AM every month or two with a low battery warning.

While these do work as advertised - when one sounds they all sound, and they will wake you up - I gave them two stars. I would not recommend them.


Homer123

February 15th, 2010 at 1:21 pm    


Overall Rating55555

Good Item, Good Features, and Great Customer Service
At about 2:30 one morning I awoke to the faint sound of a smoke alarm beeping in my infant daughters room. To my suprise neither my wife, nor my daughter were awaken by the contiunous high-pitch whine of the 5 dollar smoke detector. Honestly, I don’t know how long it had been alarming before I awoke. Fortunately it was a false alarm triggerd by a humidifier.

A few short days later (prime shipping) my new First Alert OneLink units arrived - I’d suggest buying 6 for a good size house and to make sure they are all in range to set each other off. They work on a mesh-type network, so when one receives a signal from the alarming unit, it will re-transmit the alarm again so any units out of range of the first unit also get the signal to alarm. It works well.

Setup is simple and the included mounts make it easy to hang them on the wall or ceiling. The first time I pressed the test button I knew NOBODY was going to sleep through an alarm.

About 6 months later I was proven correct. Something triggered one of the units - naturally it was in the middle of the night when we were asleep. All of them starting alarming (and yelling “evacuate! evacuate! smoke in basement”). They are LOUD. I’d suggest setting them off when your spouse is asleep and watching their reaction. Have some clean undies for them to change into afterwards.

The same unit did false alarm a few more times, and First Alert was quick to send me a replacement… They didn’t hassle me for the box, receipt, or make me go through hoops to get a replacement. The (obviously USA based) phone representative sent me out a new one asap. It was the best customer service I’ve experienced in a long time.

If you don’t have hard-wired alarms in your house, get these… don’t be cheap.


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