bit-tech Shopping: Kidde 120V Photoelectric and Ionization Smoke Alarm with Battery Backup

Rating: 10

Time with product: 2 Months

Strengths: Battery Backup, Dual sensor, and can link to multiple smoke detectors around your house.

Weaknesses: A little pricy, but whats a few bucks if it's going to save a life.

Summary: I've been looking to replace our old electric smoke detector that went out on us and discovered this model. Kiddie is one of the leaders in emergency equipment so I decided to try this model out and it works great. The battery backup(which included the battery) is a nice feature incase of a power outage. The only drawback to having electric is if your not replacing an old electric smoke alarm like we are you have to hire an electrician to wire a box for you to plug this alarm in. Another thing is the instructions could be better written.

Rating: 8

Time with product: 1 Month

Strengths: Dual sensor, 9V Battery Backup (battery included).

Weaknesses: Expensive (MSRP = $39.99), unit must be taken down and disconnected to replace battery.

Summary: I purchased three (3) Kidde 120V Dual Sensor PI2000 smoke alarms to replace the existing smoke alarms in my home. The old ones were only single sensor, had not batter backup, and were beige in color. Yes, color doesn't affect functionality, but I just painted my ceilings and walls and a beige smoke alarm on a nice, white ceiling doesn't look very good! I chose the Kidde PI2000 smoke alarms because I wanted the dual sensors (photoelectric and ionization) with a battery backup. The two types of sensors are supposed to aid in the detection of both fast burning and slow smoldering fires. Since I was going to get new white smoke alarms, I figured that I might as well get the dual sensor ones for better coverage. I wanted battery backup because we regularly lose power and my old smoke detectors had no battery backup and are therefore useless if the power goes out! Based on my research, this smoke alarm is the ONLY 120V dual sensor smoke alarm available on the market right now! That also makes it the ONLY 120V dual sensor with battery backup alarm! Unfortunately, that's probably why this smoke alarm isn't cheap. At $39.99 MSRP, it's TWICE as expensive as the Kidde battery-only version (model 442007). I'm not sure why the wire-in one so much more expensive than the battery-only one, but the cost is the only reason why I did not give this product 5 stars... Installation is a breeze. Just mount the removable base to the box, attach the wiring pigtail with wire nuts (not included), plug in the smoke alarm, and twist into place. Quick, easy, and painless in 10 minutes or less! DON'T FORGET TO SHUT OF THE CIRCUIT AT THE FUSE PANEL BEFORE INSTALLING! Once connected, a green LED lights up which is also convenient to be able to have peace of mind that the smoke alarm is on. One disadvantage is that the smoke alarm must be taken down and disconnected to access the battery to replace it. At least that is not needed very often though. Other than that and the price, this is the best (and only!) dual sensor 120V smoke alarm out there! As an added bonus it is fairly stylish and blends in nicely with my white ceilings!