Smoke Alarm Test - First Alert New SA320 vs Old SA76RS 

Nice test. It's really hit or miss with old smoke alarms. Some are still very sensitive, while others don't work at all. They just tell you to replace them since you never really know how an alarm will react in a fire. However, photoelectric alarms are superior at detecting incipient fires before they get large enough to set off an ionization smoke alarm. Most house fires smolder for long periods of time, releasing thick smoke that ionization alarms have a hard time sensing.

Thank you for justifying this. I have begun to install some vintage detectors from my collection in my house alongside our newer detectors. I trust the old ones just as much if not more than the newer ones. My reasoning: •Photoelectric alarms do not expire unless the light beam source breaks or burns out. •Ionization detectors (like the SA76RS and SA303) contain a radioactive material, usually Americium or Radium, that does decay but has a half-life of 432 years. Therefore it is highly unlikely that the detector will ever completely stop sensing smoke unless the circuitry develops a fault. •The electromechanical horns in the older detectors (both DC "squealer" and AC "vibratory" types) are much more effective at warning people, the shrill lower frequency can wake up deep sleepers and sounds much more urgent than the earsplitting temporal beeping of the piezos in todays alarms. Studies show that kids sleep through the piezo horns sounding, but back in the day kids used to be scared shitless of the mechanical horns, especially the vibratory types as found in detectors such as the FireX FX1020 and the Statitrol 907A2. •Like most technology and appliances, older detectors are just built better. Besides, made in USA! American pride! I have been collecting vintage and older smoke detectors for a number of years, and it amazes me at how people take them for granted. Smoke detectors of the past were so much cooler and unique, each unit had a unique sound. Today they all look the same and sound the same, with their code 3 temporal beeping. I have a collection of somewhere around 30 units and my collection continues to grow with new rare models of detectors being found. Thank you for posting this.

I recently acquired a new in box SA76RS, and much to my surprise and delight it responded very fast (within 5 seconds) to smoke. While I do have it mounted and powered up on my bedroom ceiling, it's mainly there for show as there's a well maintained First Alert SA710 (photoelectric) just outside the door even though I'm fairly certain the SA76RS would sound if there was a fire.

Both alarms are set off at the same time, it's just that the old alarm sounds directly while the new one is flashing first its red LED faster than normal then about one second later the alarm sounds ;)

Keep that old one. They are worth a bit!

I have a first alert smoke.alarm it talks and when it goes off it flashes red

We had the same 70s first alert, that thing could detect someone blowing out a candle next door.

Good test with real smoke. Many here just press the test button and think it works.

If there was to be a random fire alarm shorts series, the new smoke alarm could try to replace the old smoke alarm, but the old one fires his laser at the new one.

I would trust the First Alert Sa76rs and the sound they make bothered me and still does til this day but that is a good thing. That sound is basically saying "get out". I recently got one of these detectors from a fellow poster on the Fire Alarm Panel. I did a short demo (push button test) and description of it, I have yet to do an actual smoke test of it yet though. My parents had the Sears version of this detector years ago in their house and I was terrified of it, but that is a good thing. I only have the Sa76rs as a collectors item.

Wow they still works I say never throw out working anething wait untill they burn out

Older smoke detectors were creepy but cool looking. And sounded better . The newer ones are ugly/boring and I hate the 3 beep tone

How old is the older one? Gma has the same one

Not ture

I have a first alert smoke.alarm it talks and when it goes off it flashes red