Customer Reviews for Kidde Firex Hardwired Interconnected Smoke Detector with Photoelectric Sensor

The smoke alarm has a photoelectric sensor that reduces nuisance alarms. I would say that feature works. Every time we cook, I put it above where the cooking is happening, and it doesn’t go off. However, when I use smoke spray, it does go off, meaning it can detect when there’s a real fire, or a fake one! One sidenote, it does not have the smart hush unlike the I12040

I installed four of these Kidde hardwired photoelectric units to replace older ionization type detectors that were beginning to trigger sporadically, even after thorough cleaning. When purchasing the Kidde units, the manufacturing dates were all selected to be within the last 60 days prior to date of purchase. Approximately 9 months after installation, one of the units began to chirp at 3:00 AM. When the unit was removed for inspection and battery check, it was found that the original Kidde battery was dead. I was shocked and disgusted to find that the battery was an extremely cheap, imported, low-quality and short-lived carbon-zinc type, not a high quality long-life alkaline type. This was particularly galling because the detector was installed high up on an upstairs vaulted ceiling and required bringing up a tall ladder to disconnect it. I'm very, very disappointed (and disgusted) that Kidde would ship a critical safety product like this with such a low-quality battery to save a few pennies. All other name brand smoke detector manufacturers supply their products with high-quality, long-life alkaline batteries. This experience will cause me to be very cautious about ever purchasing Kidde products in the future.

Ease of installation- anyone can do it

For the last few years I have only used firex. they are easy to install and I have used them to replace several that were about ten years old. Don't risk your family replace those old ones.

I bought my house three years ago, and have had weird malfunctions from the smoke detectors beyond the false alarms from the shower, etc. I took one down, and the date code on my old smoke detectors was from 1995. Over 20 years past the 10 year useful life! Apparently original to the house. I bought two 2-packs and this single unit for a total of five detectors. I chose the photoelectric because they have fewer false alarms and do NOT have any radioactive material like the ionization units do. I had to use the enclosed wire harness because the detector was not compatible with the old unit, but it was super easy to do since the wires were pre-stripped and tinned. It was easy to just screw the wire nuts on and poke everything back into the gang box. The only quibble I have is that you have to punch out the holes you want to use in the brackets, and it was REALLY HARD! I'm sure it was supposed to be pretty easy, given that it was on just one of the brackets. The rest took a lot of effort, one of them significant. Apparently a stamping problem in the manufacture. Other than that, I recommend them.

I bought my house three years ago, and have had weird malfunctions from the smoke detectors beyond the false alarms from the shower, etc. I took one down, and the date code on my old smoke detectors was from 1995. Over 20 years past the 10 year useful life! Apparently original to the house. I bought two of these packs and a single one for a total of five detectors. I chose the photoelectric because they have fewer false alarms and do NOT have any radioactive material like the ionization units do. While pretty much all new smoke detectors come with a new wire harness, I like that these came with adapters as well. Between the five units, I used the adapters on two of them that were up high on my vaulted ceiling and required a bit of a reach. The faster and easier the installation, the safer it was for me to do. I changed the wire harness on the others because new wire is a good thing. :) I was grateful for the option. The only quibble I have is that you have to punch out the holes you want to use in the brackets, and it was REALLY HARD! I'm sure it was supposed to be pretty easy, given that it was on just one of the brackets. The rest took a lot of effort, one of them significant. The box also says they include mounting hardware. No they do not. No screws are included. Other than that, I recommend them.

I had someone install these for me and it seemed very simple and basic. Because I upgraded my home I needed to have hard wire smoke detectors to meet the city code.

Purchased one to replace one installed 2 years ago. They work!! Life span is short, but if you can catch them on sale, they are worth it!!!

Easy to install, as they fit the existing base and electrical pigtail from my old detectors. They have been operative for a few weeks now, and so far no false alarms.

The manual lacks the instruction post installation. It's not helpful especially if you're not involved in installing it (i.e.. contractor). I couldn't find any information (i.e. replacing battery, days to replace battery since it's first chirp or chirp meaning) from the manual as to why the alarm keeps chirping. Online search and video was helpful. It works fine. Had I known there is a newer model where the battery sits outside then I would have asked my contractor to use that instead.

Put these in our brand new, very clean/dust free house and they keep having false alarms. No dust or spiders or anything else causing the false alarms. Needed to change them out. I've never had this issue with any smoke detectors in the past.

Purchased to replace old Firex detectors, which had a different connector and mounting plate. Switching out the wiring harness was not difficult (considered purchasing the adapter), and though I had to punch out the screw holes for the mounting plate that wasn't difficult either. I purchased 10, and within a couple weeks a few of the supplied 9V batteries already low/dead (easy enough to replace). A week in had all the detectors sounding in alarm randomly a couple days in a row - they shut off before I could determine which one (there is no indication which activated once they reset). Mostly they have been fine and were a reasonable value with Photoelectric sensing technology and were a suitable replacement for my old hardwired detectors (able to do this myself with no electrician needed and only a screwdriver).

Always satisfied with Kidde produts

Easy to install, working good so far.

Installed 10 new detectors - they keep going off randomly then shutting off before I can figure out which is faulty. 1 came with a dead battery.

Good smoke alarms, but over half of the batteries were dead.

Bought a new house six months ago with the hard wired smoke detectors installed and woke up to a chirping sound, there goes the 10 year promise. I’m a disabled woman, who now has to climb a ladder to install a new battery and hope and pray that will resolve the chirping.

The smoke detectors were good and I like it.

Needed to replace existing smoke alarms, way out of date. I contacted Kidde for a correct replacement to my existing adaptor rings. Once I had the new model number the rest was easier. I found what I needed @ Home Depot, price was great, packaging was good and delivery was prompt.

I cannot exactly recall when I bought this alarm. My home was over 10 years old though and the old ionization builder grade detectors were give constant false alarms in the middle of the night. I bought all new detectors, 2 photoelectric and 4 ionization. Today I had 2 false alarms traced to the upstairs hall p12040 detector. I pulled it down and found it was manufactured in Nov 2014, so I have to say it has done very well. I SUSPECT that the issue might be dust related as we had some drywall work donw near it recently, and it seems to have been when the AC kicked on when the alarm occurred. I am going to blow it out and hope for the best...and if not then I will buy a new one!

easy to install and battery included is a plus