Kidde i4618 – The Ins and Outs of This Smoke Alarm. Fires do happen and they can occur quickly. They are deadly not just because of the heat of the flames, but also because of the smoke they produce. It is vital, therefore, that homeowners ensure that their homes are fitted with a smoke alarm. In fact, one should be included on every floor. The problem, however, is that there are many different smoke alarms to choose from. So many, in fact, that it can be quite difficult to pick the one that is right for you. Click here for the Top 10 Best Smoke Detectors.
Here, we will take a look at the ins and outs of the Kidde i4618 and why this may be the smoke alarm that you could consider. It comes with a range of benefits for both homeowners and alarm installers, including the fact that it has a front loading battery door for easy access. Additionally, it can be fitted to your home’s electrical system and it is possible to connect other devices to it. This means that, when one device sounds its alarm, all other devices start ringing as well, giving you more chances to detect a fire as early as possible and get yourself and your family out. Let’s take a look at the Kidde i4618 in greater detail.
About the Kidde i4618
This device is both AC and DC powered. This means that it can be connected to your home electrical system, but it also has batteries as a backup. It uses a 9V battery, which usually lasts around one year, ensuring that you will still be protected in case of a power outage. It connects to a standard 120V power source as well.
The device is fitted with ionization sensing technology. This type of technology is suitable for the detection of flaming fires, which releases invisible fire particles. Smoke alarms that detect visible fire particles, released by smoldering fires, require photoelectric technology. It is therefore recommended to have two smoke alarms on each floor of the home, one to detect each type.
The Kidde i4618 comes with a number of key features that set it apart from others on the market. These include the fact that:
⦁ It is fitted with a trademarked Hush feature. This allows you to rapidly switch the device off should it give you a false alarm.
⦁ It has a tamper resistant feature for its locking system, which means any alarm theft is avoided.
⦁ It comes with a red flashing LED for alarm memory. This means that, if you use the interconnected system, the device will remember which unit sounded its alarm first.
⦁ It comes with a 9V battery, which means it will continue to work even when the power goes out.
⦁ You can connect the i4618 to 24 other devices and 18 of those can be the types of devices that are initiating. It can connect to heat alarms, CO alarms, and other smoke alarms. Kidde has provided all relevant instructions to install that properly.
⦁ It is clearly a high quality device, which is made evident from the various fantastic reviews as well. A lot of people opt for BRK smoke detectors because the brand is better known compared to competitors. However, the Kidde i4618 really is the better device because of its value (at the time of this writing, it was available from Amazon for under twenty dollars) and because of its solid construction. Additionally, Kidde has more positive reviews than BRK models on Amazon and other independent review channels.
⦁ The fact that the device looks good, in so far as smoke detectors can look good. It is clear that there has been a focus on developing better aesthetics so that the device does not stick out like a sore thumb wherever it is installed. Rather, it looks sleek, clean, and modern and keeps a reasonably low profile.
⦁ It is very easy to install. There is no need to hire a professional to install the system if you have at least some basic knowledge of electrical circuits. It is a hardwired model, which means you need to isolate a smoke detector circuit and switch it off while you install. The wiring is very easy to do and it comes with a convenient mounting bracket that is also very easy to put into place. In fact, all you need are three wire nuts and two screws, and your device will be fully installed.
⦁ It has a convenient battery door at the front/top of the device, fitting a 9V battery. It is very functional and very easy to use.
What I Liked About the Kidde i4618
⦁ It comes with an indicator light to tell warn you if the battery power is low. This is important since it is a hardwired device, so it is quite easy to forget about the battery.
⦁ It features an eight minute silence alarm feature, which can be quite beneficial, particularly in cases of false alarms.
⦁ It is an ionization detector and it is ultra sensitive. This means you can count on it to detect flaming fires with invisible fire particles.
⦁ It is possible to connect the device to other Kidde/Firex devices for a complete home security system.
⦁ The front loading battery compartment is very user friendly, meaning you won’t have to take the complete device down whenever you want to change the battery.
What I Didn’t Like About the Kidde i4618
⦁ It uses ionization technology but not photoelectric technology. This means that it is not capable of detecting the visible smoke particles associated with smoldering fires.
⦁ The price has recently risen slightly. This may be because of improved technology, but that isn’t clear as of yet.
The Final Verdict
You must be fully committed to the safety of yourself and your loved ones inside your home. This means installing a smoke alarm on every floor of your property for early detection of a fire. Considering the low cost, the fantastic design, and how easy it is to install it, the Kidde i4618 is 100% recommended. That said, you should also install a photoelectric smoke alarm to ensure that you are forewarned in case of any type of fire.