[Elecraft] annoying problem

[Donehrlich at q.com]

If Jim's ideas don't work  you could simply try another detector of a 
different brand.  Susceptibility to RF varies in unpredictable ways and 
that is an easier solution than moving the detector (move it where?  
Would it actually help?).

Another approach, if it is a 'wired-in' detector, is to replace it with 
a battery-only detector or, easier yet, just unplug the AC wiring 
connector and let it run on battery only as a test to see if that cures 
the susceptibility problem.  If it does cure the problem you would 
probably need to replace the detector with a battery-only model which 
would probably run for a lot longer between battery changes because the 
wired-in type, when operating on battery only, can use up the battery 
pretty fast.  If your detector is interconnected with other detectors so 
that they all sound the alarm if any one of them senses smoke then going 
battery only will defeat that feature and only you can decide if that is 
a prudent thing to do and in accordance with codes ( In my house all of 
my detectors are easily heard from all rooms).

Don K7FJ



On 2/1/2013 9:40 AM, Jim Wiley wrote:
> If it is a wired-in smoke detector, try putting a .01 uFd 1400-volt 
> "AC rated" cap directly across 120-volt AC power leads.  If that isn't 
> enough, then try a capacitor the between (across) the wire, if there 
> is one,  that connects it to the other detectors and the AC neutral 
> lead.  If the unit is battery powered, try a .01 uFd 600 V cap across 
> the detection chamber.  That may work, but if not, get used to the 
> idea of having to move it.  Always test and verify proper operation 
> of  the unit by blowing actual smoke from burning wood matches into 
> the unit after making any modifications of this nature.  Pressing the 
> "test" button is not enough - use actual smoke.
>
>
> - Jim, KL7CC