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Nest Introduces $129 'Protect' Connected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
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Just ordered two. One for upstairs and one for downstairs. Both will be located in central living areas. I'm considering these as an "add-on" to my current detectors rather than replace. Just the fact that they help the auto-away feature is a BIG plus for me. My Nest thermostat is located upstairs and there have been many times when it goes into auto-away when nobody goes up there for a few hours. Really annoying.
Except for the WiFi and the wave-to-silence, First Alert had very similar detector years ago.
They all communicated wirelessly and had a pre-programmed voice alert that let you assign room names to each detector and then told you which specific detector was activated.
They were like $40 each.
They all communicated wirelessly and had a pre-programmed voice alert that let you assign room names to each detector and then told you which specific detector was activated.
They were like $40 each.
Do you even know how a smoke detector operates and how it has to comply with safety code? In the case of a smoke detector, do you even know what safety code implies technically speaking? Before saying such non-sense, why don't you look it up and then post an informed comment?
It's becoming increasingly annoying to read people only on MR to point fingers for random reasons when the most they can achieve in a day, it seems, is to be sitting in front of a screen to do just that - pointing fingers for no reason.
I'll buy 6 (even if it's still taking batteries, duh) in the meantime.
Nest Introduces $129 'Protect' Connected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector
I'd love to get these,but they're a little too costly for me.
I'd love to get these,but they're a little too costly for me.
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In my state, you are actually required to put one in every bedroom, now. And many other rooms, too. Makes these advanced systems pretty pricey.
Doesn't your iPhone, iPad or MacBook (or competing products if you don't use the Apple versions) have a battery in it?
Why is battery power stupid?
Yeah same here. I have an 8000 sq ft home with 2 Ferraris. Plus I have a 1000 sq ft gazebo next to my 2 hole golf course. Gonna have to pass.
Don't bother asking. He's just here to point a finger for no reason.
'What? It comes in black or white? What a stupid design.'
CO detectors have a finite life of a maximum of approx 7 years. Quite a lot of money to throw out every 7 years.
I really want this, but seeing that I will need several for my place, that gets rather pricey.. Wish I could get a 3-pack discounted. 
If that is true, then you aren't hurting for money. And though I'm not suggesting you shouldn't be frugal, my guess is you could upgrade at some point without issue.
I have 2 of the Nest thermostats and they are pretty good. I do get a little annoyed that they are not as smart as I would like them to be. When I turn the temp up or down and five minutes later it hits one of its "learned scheduled events, based on my past habits" it will adjust the stat, and it shouldn't. It should realize I just overrode the schedule and to go with that. Likewise, I know that the stat has access to the outside temp, but it doesn't seem to adjust the temp based on that information, more on learned scheduling.
I currently have 2 in my house. But I have 5 thermostats as I have a radiant system with a stat for each zone. And so these only control my heat in the winter. I put them in the two upstairs zones, and haven't decided if I plan to update the other 3 stats. I would like to for a homogenous system and look, but don't see the point in outlaying $750. They really haven't come down in price.
Likewise with this, $129 is steep. I have 7 or 8 smoke detectors in my house. At $59 to $79 each, I could see doing it. I hate the chirping. But not at $129 a pop.
I don't think they make a device with 5 different sensor types. 2 at most. You'd need 3 devices in each room from First Alert to match. They are very low end.
As a firefighter, I'm ridiculously excited for this. Heat is a fancy feature and anything to help protect folks.
Two interesting things from looking at the manual:
- The unit lasts 7 years. After 7 years the CO sensor expires and the entire unit must be replaced. I think it this pretty standard for CO sensors (I've got to double-check the one I have in place), but keep it in mind when thinking of how much these cost.
- The hardwired version has backup batteries. I was thinking of picking up the battery version until I saw that power loss isn't an issue.
- The unit lasts 7 years. After 7 years the CO sensor expires and the entire unit must be replaced. I think it this pretty standard for CO sensors (I've got to double-check the one I have in place), but keep it in mind when thinking of how much these cost.
- The hardwired version has backup batteries. I was thinking of picking up the battery version until I saw that power loss isn't an issue.
I thought it was code to have battery backup. First thing to go should you have a electric file will be the main panel and therefore a/c only powered smoke detectors. If they even make such a thing.
Not a game changer.
Is it photoelectric
I can get a First Alert BRK Photoelectric with Strobe for $99.
CO detectors shouldn't be mounted on the ceiling. I recommend separate sensors place in areas were smoke detection isn't a chief concern (buy furnaces, fireplaces, in each room, garage etc)
This really is just a crappy product in fancy packaging. Whereas the Nest Thermo could save you money in the long term this product is simply going to burn up your funds and never show a return on investment that is superior to what you can have for less than half its cost.
Is it photoelectric
I can get a First Alert BRK Photoelectric with Strobe for $99.
CO detectors shouldn't be mounted on the ceiling. I recommend separate sensors place in areas were smoke detection isn't a chief concern (buy furnaces, fireplaces, in each room, garage etc)
This really is just a crappy product in fancy packaging. Whereas the Nest Thermo could save you money in the long term this product is simply going to burn up your funds and never show a return on investment that is superior to what you can have for less than half its cost.
I like some of the ideas that people have mentioned... there is an opportunity here to think of whole-home "sensor fusion" as opposed to a simple one-task device (smoke detection). I think Nest is heading down this path already and I look forward to more.
It's not just a thermostat and 4 or 5 smoke detectors now... it's a network of sensors that can detect your presence and update the thermostat accordingly. Now if you could integrate this with home automation software, you could do so much more, like automatically turn off lights or appliances that have been left on unattended, or turn something on when you come home from work, or integrate with your home alarm system to alert the police if an intruder breaks in or the fire department if a fire is sensed for long enough.
I like the idea of integrating some kind of music and/or intercom capability.
It's not just a thermostat and 4 or 5 smoke detectors now... it's a network of sensors that can detect your presence and update the thermostat accordingly. Now if you could integrate this with home automation software, you could do so much more, like automatically turn off lights or appliances that have been left on unattended, or turn something on when you come home from work, or integrate with your home alarm system to alert the police if an intruder breaks in or the fire department if a fire is sensed for long enough.
I like the idea of integrating some kind of music and/or intercom capability.
My family and belongings are adequately protected by 6 Kiddee smoke and CO detectors, thank you very much for asking. At $95 less per detector than the nest version, it provides the required protection.
The irony is that the important internals of these detectors are probably manufactured on Kiddee/First Alert's assembly line.
Too bad nest just doesn't make a hocky puck sensor that just provides auto-away coverage for a reasonable price. It seems to me that this would be more appropriately bundled with home-security system sensors. Maybe that is coming...
Maybe I just am not excited by this because I don't have Nest thermostats, so 80% of the benefits of this device would go unrealized. With electric baseboard heaters and 11 line-voltage thermostats in my house, there is no way I can afford to make the conversion to Nest.
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The fact that it has a heat sensor somewhat negates the need for an ionization sensor. Most homes don't have heat sensors in addition to smoke detectors because they're pricey.
Nest should offer a PACKAGE DEAL.
Buy 4 for $399.
I wonder if it is an APPROVED smoke alarm too.
($129 is a bit steep for a vital safety device)
Buy 4 for $399.
I wonder if it is an APPROVED smoke alarm too.
($129 is a bit steep for a vital safety device)
You can go to homedepot and get one for much cheaper.
If you personally elect to get this one with WIFI connectivity and cloud service features from Nest, then well, you elected for the elevated price.