Timely smoke alarm reminder

[Mekk]

A lot of people don't realise that we are programmed from the sleeping in caves with the fire going times to sleep through smoke and not wake to it.....and people think it will wake them.

I support your message but that sounds like a dubious explanation for why we sleep through smoke.

[firefighter]

I support your message but that sounds like a dubious explanation for why we sleep through smoke.

Ok, what's the reason then? I've always heard the same reasoning given, including on documentaries. I'm sure you have good grounds for thinking it dubious. It's a fact, most people will not wake to smoke, and this is always the reason given for it (I appreciate my wording of it all is far from spectacular, ignoring that I don't think it's an unreasonable explanation).

[Mekk]

Ok, what's the reason then? I've always heard the same reasoning given, including on documentaries. I'm sure you have good grounds for thinking it dubious. It's a fact, most people will not wake to smoke, and this is always the reason given for it (I appreciate my wording of it all is far from spectacular, ignoring that I don't think it's an unreasonable explanation).

As far as I know our whole sense of smell shuts down when we sleep, it doesn't just block smoke.

So whatever reason that's for, I doubt it's caused by cavemen's habits.

Cavemen didn't use Rexona but we still sleep through it.

[98tls]

A worthy thread,ashamed to admit it but there one of those things i every year say to myself "will get some tommorow",happy to say i bought 3 today(because of this thread),and yep there up and working.Cheers.

[Edbear]

A worthy thread,ashamed to admit it but there one of those things i every year say to myself "will get some tommorow",happy to say i bought 3 today(because of this thread),and yep there up and working.Cheers.

Goodonyermate! Now the trick is to make sure they never work again...

[98tls]

Goodonyermate! Now the trick is to make sure they never work again...

Oh dont worry about that mate they will work,i like my toast black.

[Edbear]

Oh dont worry about that mate they will work,i like my toast black.

I find they're handy for letting you know you need to go check on the BBQ...

[98tls]

I find they're handy for letting you know you need to go check on the BBQ...

I reckon they will be quite handy for detecting the "its time to get off the couch and dry the dishes" thing,sometimes i look up from the computer and swear theres smoke coming outta her ears.

[geoffm]

How long would the average 9V battery last in a smoke alarm? Sorry, I know that's like asking how many km will i get from my bike tyres

Well, according to a long term research project at Uni of Canterbury (that was originally started at BRE in the UK) - up to 10 years for decentbatteries, http://www.sciencelearn.org.nz/Conte...larm-batteries
I have some of Mike Spearpoint's papers on the subject somewhere...here is one http://fire.nist.gov/bfrlpubs/fire01/PDF/f01091.pdf
As I recall, cheap and nasty batteries last a year or 2 tops.