Nest Introduces $129 'Protect' Connected Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

[tdmac]

Its not fair to make a direct comparison of the Next to cheap detectors or even normal hardwired detectors.

The Nest's contains numerous sensors. In addition its more comparable to an alarm system.

In the home you get notification, on each detector to the exact room where trouble is reported. Thus, the detector in the upstairs hallway will alert you to a smoke detection in the basement. Vs. Just all detectors beeping and knowing there is trouble somewhere.

The real key is for those without an alarm system. Unlike current hardwired smoke detectors or individual battery operated detectors, which the only notification is if you are home, the Nest will send you alerts to your iDevice. So if there is a heat detection, smoke detection or Co2 detection in your home while at work or vacation, you can call the authorities and report the trouble to them to check the residence. Its like getting alarm functionality without the central station costs as well.

 

[BillyBobBongo]

Very interesting. I'm actually in the market for a smoke and carbon monoxide detector. Hopefully these will work in the UK. I also wish Nest would hurry up and release a high voltage Nest thermostat so that people outside of the US can get them hooked up.

UK version of the site - http://nest.com/uk/smoke-co-alarm/life-with-nest-protect/

 

[sulpfiction]

So it's still going to take batteries? What a stupid design.

I don't think it's the "design" that's stupid.

It has to take batteries by code. Hard wired or not.

 

[ipedro]

I like the night light feature of this and the "easy silentl feature. I love the idea of them connected, but I wish it gave a more powerful read out report. If I'm spending big bucks it would be nice to be able to glance at my phone and see the temperature in each room as well as the CO2 ppm (if it's that sensitive). It also would be even smarter with the thermostat that way. Hell, it could even assign an "air quality" value and maybe cycle on just the fan side of the AC to circulate/HEPA filter stale air during the fall/spring months when your system may only run a few hours in the morning or night.

I like the idea of it working as an air quality detector and telling your Nest thermostat to turn on the fan if the air quality is dropping below an optimal level.

 

[DMinTX]

I wasn't sold when I heard that Nest was going to re-invent a smoke detector but I am now after seeing what they've done. The ability to verbally warn you in which room there's danger is pretty smart but an away from home warning is truly an addition that no smoke detector can offer. If I'm at work and I find out there's smoke in my house, you bet I'll turn on my security cameras to verify and run over there after calling 911.

The SimpliSafe home security system (http://www.simplisafe.com) offers SMS and email notification for all events (depends on the monitoring plan selected), including smoke, CO, flood, freeze and break in. It depends on the sensors you buy. Also, since it is a monitored system, they will call 911 for you.

 

[Jesskwood]

Round & Square - funny.

I think this is pretty smart too - I love the thermostat - I'm sure this will be nifty too.

But I do find it very interesting that most thermostats (I know there are exceptions) are square, and they chose to use a round shape. Almost all smoke detectors are round, and they chose square... That's pretty funny to me - and I don't believe its coincidence either

 

[PracticalMac]

I wonder if it can be tied into the existing system, so if any goes off, N-SD will send alert?

 

[flatfoot99]

you forgot heat. do your existing cheapies pick up heat and determine whether its an actual fire (smoke, heat, motion). and your cheapies wont assist your thermostat, nor auto-shut-down your furnace. all plusses for me, thus the device offers value and will be purchased.

Yes... very cool. It will apparently cut off your furnace if it detects carbon monoxide.

 

[rpenzinger]

Already preordered 3 for my house. Love the nest thermostat.

Me too!

 

[tdmac]

For those that say the cost is so high with having to replace all the detectors, you don't have to replace all. Use the Nest on each major floor. Leave other hardwired, alarm connected or batter operated detectors in other areas, like bedrooms, etc. This will keep the cost down and give excellent detection abilities on each level. For those with a Nest thermostat, it will give enough "home detection" as well.

 

[rpenzinger]

What would be nice is if these smoke detectors—which seem to have decent speakers in them—could be used over AirPlay as a house-wide speaker system for music. This would work especially well on the wired models where battery life isn't a concern. It would also be great if you could use it like an intercom by speaking into the app and making announcements over the system, such as telling the kids upstairs that dinner is ready (or having some preset buttons to make announcements using the built-in voice actor). Another great feature they could add: Ability to put the house in lockdown mode while away on a vacation or during the day when at work. If it detects any motion, it sends you an alert.

I smell version 2 already. Genius ideas. AirPlay. Intercom. Lockdown. All good

 

[youngam]

Never been a fan of combo smoke+CO detectors.

Smoke Rises... Carbon Monixide falls. You can't place one detector in one position and get good readings. You need a smoke detector high and a carbon monixide detector low to get good early warning detection.

You need to check your chemistry. Carbon Monoxide (CO) has an atomic mass of 28.0003, Molecular Nitrogen, 28.0134, Molecular Oxygen 31.9980 and Carbon Dioxide 43.9987. This makes Carbon monoxide less dense than any of the 3 main gases in our atmosphere and would rise.

 

[ciaran00]

Pretty stupid of Nest not to include:

• Ability to use these for intruder alarm (it already has sensors for detecting activity)
• Serve as temperature reading points for the Nest thermostat (see the top suggestion here: https://community.nest.com/community/product-suggestions)

Charging $129 is fine, but not for a feature set not much wider than the standard combo detector.

 

[ipedro]

The SimpliSafe home security system (http://www.simplisafe.com) offers SMS and email notification for all events (depends on the monitoring plan selected), including smoke, CO, flood, freeze and break in. It depends on the sensors you buy. Also, since it is a monitored system, they will call 911 for you.

With $15 monthly charges. No thanks.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Pretty stupid of Nest not to include:

• Ability to use these for intruder alarm (it already has sensors for detecting activity)
• Serve as temperature reading points for the Nest thermostat (see the top suggestion here: https://community.nest.com/community/product-suggestions)

Charging $129 is fine, but not for a feature set not much wider than the standard combo detector.

Totally agree. Especially considering that detectors are only good for 10 years.

Now, if they had added wireless speakers (BT, AirPlay, etc) to each, as a 9to5mac commenter suggested, THEN it would be worth $129.

 

[alphaod]

I have like 20 smoke detectors... I'm wondering if I need to replace all of them with these or can I just replace say 5 of them in key spots and the rest will network themselves? (my smoke detectors are the networked kind)

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.

Just because someone has a 3288 sq. ft. 5 bedroom home doesn't mean they're rich... A friend of mine lives in the middle of nowhere, his house is even bigger than that and it costs less than half a studio in NYC.

 

[portishead]

I have like 20 smoke detectors... I'm wondering if I need to replace all of them with these or can I just replace say 5 of them in key spots and the rest will network themselves? (my smoke detectors are the networked kind)



Just because someone has a 3288 sq. ft. 5 bedroom home doesn't mean they're rich... A friend of mine lives in the middle of nowhere, his house is even bigger than that and it costs less than half a studio in NYC.

20?? wtf!?? Also, yes I know, it was a joke. That's still a nice size property though.

 

[9000]

Good, now all we need is a car that sends you a text message or something when the alarm goes off. And I mean EVERY car.

 

[Battlefield Fan]

Never been a fan of combo smoke+CO detectors.

Smoke Rises... Carbon Monixide falls. You can't place one detector in one position and get good readings. You need a smoke detector high and a carbon monixide detector low to get good early warning detection.

CO does not sink. It's density is similar to air so it mixes in. Wall outlet or ceiling mounted CO sensors are both fine.

And now 5 people liked your comment and have been misinformed on serious safety standards.

 

[canyonblue737]

guys again, if your house has hard wired detectors and they are linked to alarm together you MUST replace ALL of them at the same time to switch to the Nest. the Nest will NOT make the non-Nest alarms go off and if your detectors are linked it is required by code. If you house were to burn your insurance would have a reason to deny coverage.

Hard wired system = Replace them all at once OR only "add" battery Nest's without removing any of the existing system.

 

[Battlefield Fan]

guys again, if your house has hard wired detectors and they are linked to alarm together you MUST replace ALL of them at the same time to switch to the Nest. the Nest will NOT make the non-Nest alarms go off and if your detectors are linked it is required by code. If you house were to burn your insurance would have a reason to deny coverage.

Hard wired system = Replace them all at once OR only "add" battery Nest's without removing any of the existing system.

Glad I bit the bullet and preordered all of them. Thanks for this info! Safety first lol

 

[Vercingetorix]

Worth it for me just to put one in the kitchen. My current one goes off so often that we're always taking it down (and usually forgetting to put it back up). I'm certainly not going to buy a half-dozen for the rest of my house, but just having one unit in the kitchen will make a constant hassle/risk go away.

 

[LFMNX]

Worth it for me just to put one in the kitchen. My current one goes off so often that we're always taking it down (and usually forgetting to put it back up). I'm certainly not going to buy a half-dozen for the rest of my house, but just having one unit in the kitchen will make a constant hassle/risk go away.

Smoke detectors are not supposed to be installed in a kitchen by code.

 

[fjfjfjfj]

guys again, if your house has hard wired detectors and they are linked to alarm together you MUST replace ALL of them at the same time to switch to the Nest. the Nest will NOT make the non-Nest alarms go off and if your detectors are linked it is required by code. If you house were to burn your insurance would have a reason to deny coverage.

Hard wired system = Replace them all at once OR only "add" battery Nest's without removing any of the existing system.

I have two hardwired alarms, one upstairs hallway, one downstairs main hallway. (Townhouse) How can I tell if they are linked or not?

 

[Vercingetorix]

Smoke detectors are not supposed to be installed in a kitchen by code.

I have an old house with a smoke detector already there. I'm aware that the modern recommendation is not to install them in kitchens for this exact reason, false alarms -- but still, the kitchen is by far the most likely place where a fire would start. It would be worth $129 to me to have a smoke detector in close proximity to the only place in my house where I light a fire every day without it being a constant annoyance.