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.

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.

"Kidde strongly recommends that both ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms be installed to help insure maximum detection of the various types of fire that can occur within the home."Above is the Kidde warning included with this smoke alarm. Kidde, per a call to Kidde, does not sell dual sensor (ion/photo) wireless alarms, DC or AC.So the approach I took was to wire this alarm into the same circuit as the dual sensor AC unit next to it, both upstairs and downstairs. My house has 2 separate smoke alarm electric circuits, one downstairs and another one upstairs for the smoke alarms. In order to connect them AND ensure dual sensing, I had to use dual sensing alarms for all of the hard-wired alarms and add one hard-wired AC wireless ion sensing alarm upstairs and another one downstairs. Then either the dual sensor hard-wired alarm or the ion sensing wireless alarm will trip all the alarms in the house via the wireless units.We are very pleased with all eight Kidde smoke alarms that we have. Excellent solution to full smoke alarm coverage. Only wish there was a dual sensor wireless version, especially would be nice if there was a dual sensor DC version.

Unit was DOA and would not pass the self test. I returned to Amazon and found that the return was processed easily with no hassle at all, with Amazon taking care of the return postage via a label printed locally as soon as I requested to return the defective unit. I was very pleased with Amazon's method of handling returns.I obtained another unit which I used to replace a previously installed wired device on an older wired system. The Kidde 1279-9999/RF-SM-AC integrated with the older system and also interconnected with several wireless battery Kidde 1279-9999/RF-SM-DC units that I had just installed.I would give a 5 star if the original unit was operational. We all know that a bad one can slip through occasionally.Installation was simple enough, just had to connect the wiring of the older installed unit to the new Kidde (adapters are provided to match some systems). I would recommend purchase for anyone wanting to link an existing wired system with the Kidde 1279-9999/RF-SM-DC standalone battery operated wireless interconnected smoke detectors.