Smoke Detectors & the E-cig

[Bozzlite]

I know that it is possible to set off a smoke detector with an analog cigarette if you get very close to it and blow a heavy cloud of smoke directly into it. I used to do this with the battery powered one in the garage, just to test it.

That was several years ago and that Smoke Detector is long gone. Since I don't want to get a ladder and try it in the house, was wondering:

Has anyone tried to set off a smoke detector with the vapor from a PV? If so what happened?

This might be good to know if someone would want to say, vape in the rest room while on a commercial aircraft. (They all have smoke detectors) Not that anybody would, I'm just curious.

 

[Java_Az]

Pretty sure it wont set one off. I would test that out but when one goes off it scares the hell outa my dog. I am sure someone that has tested it out will post up shortly.

 

[cypresss]

Vapor from a PV absolutely CAN set off a smoke detector / fire alarm. While typically the vapor isn't concentrated enough in a room to set one off, it can happen. I found out while I was sitting in my recliner at home about a month ago. I had been chain vaping some of avejuice's liquid (100% VG) and the detector beeped once. I thought that it was the alert that is given off when the battery gets low, but about 2 minutes later, the thing went bonkers. The cloud in the room was very visible.

In an enclosed space (like say an airplane bathroom) it would be much worse; just another reason not to do it...besides it being illegal.

 

[Minters]

I didn't think it could. isn't the smoke need to be smoke to set it off?

 

[Xanax]

I didn't think it could. isn't the smoke need to be smoke to set it off?

No. It has to do with the size of the particles that make up the vapor.

 

[Hellen A. Handbasket]

Most smoke detectors are generally a photoelectric device (smoke can block a light beam). If you blow vapor directly into one, the reduction in light reaching a photocell sets off the alarm. Since vapor dissipates so quickly it generally won't set off one in a room. If you are in an airplane bathroom, just exhale downward, into a shirt or into the sink drain and it won't won't reach the photocell.

 

[Minters]

No. It has to do with the size of the particles that make up the vapor.

Ah okey thanks for the info, that good to know

 

[Java_Az]

Vapor from a PV absolutely CAN set off a smoke detector / fire alarm. While typically the vapor isn't concentrated enough in a room to set one off, it can happen. I found out while I was sitting in my recliner at home about a month ago. I had been chain vaping some of avejuice's liquid (100% VG) and the detector beeped once. I thought that it was the alert that is given off when the battery gets low, but about 2 minutes later, the thing went bonkers. The cloud in the room was very visible.

In an enclosed space (like say an airplane bathroom) it would be much worse; just another reason not to do it...besides it being illegal.

Glad i didnt test it out , Dog would have been shaking for hours.

 

[klamathkid]

Some smoke detectors are actually heat detectors. I've lived in a couple of apartments where this kind of smoke detector was installed. Very frustrating to be cooking something on the stove and have the heat/steam rise and travel along the ceiling to the smoke detector in the hallway or in the living room, setting it off. Nothing burning and no particles in the air, just heat.

I wouldn't think that exhaled vapor from a PV would be warm enough to set this kind of smoke detector off, though.

 

[Xanax]

Ah okey thanks for the info, that good to know

Mmhm. Aerosol sprays can set them off as well.