Serious Technical Question: Smoke Alarms

[LXXVI]

Ok ok ok. This may seem like a strange, no-duh question, but can eCIGS set off smoke alarms? I have not found a thread yet discussing this topic, but things like Home smoke alarms, Office central heating smoke detectors and Airline bathroom smoke detectors started to come into mind.

1. What do smoke alarms detect in conventional smoke?
2. Do the coils in our PV's give off anything but water vapor?

<Please don't kick me>

 

[Switched]

Smoke detectors read CO if I am not mistaken

 

[Running Wolf]

they use some sort of "beam" to detect particles in the air. If you have a smoke detector in the hallway near a bathroom a hot shower (steam) can set them off..

As for vaping setting one off I have no clue. But it's not like you 'fish bowl' your car when vaping, as opposed to smoking.

 

[darco]

Funny I was wondering about the exact same question yesterday !

 

[steliosak]

They should not

There is a nice video on the subject
S2V4 REVIEW Does an E-cig set a fire alarm off? - YouTube

 

[darco]

They should not

There is a nice video on the subject
S2V4 REVIEW Does an E-cig set a fire alarm off? - YouTube

Thanks for the Vid!

 

[milo hobo]

They can if and mostly only if you blow directly into the smoke alarm. Vapor, like smoke can block the optical sensor, thus triggering the alarm. Vapor is less likely to do this because unlike smoke vapor disperses quickly.

 

[Rocketman]

A fire (even in the smoke phase) generates ions (charged particles) that the modern smoke detector senses as a fire.
A CO monitor may be combined in a smoke detector to detect CO molecules that can be generated even before the smoke phase (like an improperly adjusted furnace). The two are different.

Older smoke detectors used photo optic sensors that probably could be fooled by vapor. I hope all aircraft detectors have been upgraded

Large amounts of water vapor for an extended period can damage the ion sensor in a smoke detector.

 

[LXXVI]

Very interesting.....

Thanks for your replies, guys!

 

[Rocketman]

It's likely that some newer smoke alarms may use both types of detectors. Optical and Ionization.
For that reason it might not be advisable to vape in a closed space (like the restroom in an airplane) where the vapor could be more concentrated than out in the concourse.

If the alarm goes off, you could probably just site the youtube video and say

"Wut, wasn't me"

 

[Stownz]

Dual coils in an odysseus and pure vg juice will clear out a movie theater, but fire alarms dont go off.

 

[Rocketman]

I've never set off a smoke alarm by vaping either.
Just have your story straight if you ever do

 

[GadFly]

Yes they can. I know from experience.

Not sure about home smoke detectors, but I was vaping under a detector (unknowingly), blew the vapor straight up, and set off the alarm at my office.

 

[Endweaver]

Yes they can. I know from experience.

Not sure about home smoke detectors, but I was vaping under a detector (unknowingly), blew the vapor straight up, and set off the alarm at my office.

That might've caused quite a stir in your office!

 

[snowwman38]

Yep, set my room smoke detector off last night puffing on my saber touch with pure VG. So be careful!

 

[inanitydefined]

If you blow vape right at the sensor it will set it off. Otherwise you're good, smoke rises vapor drops. And yes i have tested this

 

[Stosh]

Can we put together a list of the power source, cartos and juices that produced
enough vapor to set off smoke alarms? I GOTTA get me one !!

 

[razorxwire]

I was wondering this same thing, so I decided to try it out... I got a chair, and stood up to the smoke detector I have in my house, took a huge hit, and blew it into the smoke detector. Scared the hell out of me and my wife when it went off because we weren't expecting it to.. As for your first question, I think some detect a lack of oxygen in the air, or similarly elevated CO levels. For the second, I don't know for sure, but I've always been told it's just water vapor with trace amounts of nicotine.

Edit for Stosh: I'm use a GLV 5v and DCT Tank with 1.5 Ohm Triple Punched Carto.

 

[psychodancer]

My friend was vapeing in front of my smoke alarm and she set it off.

 

[Danana]

Was Just about to ask this question .I got an email from work saying they were aware of people Vaping on the premises and were formulating a policy. I always skulked off outside to stand with the smokers. I know I can probably stay inside, but I do it to avoid drama and to the point of the post worried it might set the smoke alarms off.