Smoke Detectors.

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ricksinvest

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Hard as all get out to do with vapor. This stuff is just water vapor and dissipates in about a second. I can't even "hot box" my car. I've got to tell you that it's really nice "smoking" in my car with the windows fully up when it's 106 outside.

I don't think it's even possible to set off a smoke alarm. This isn't smoke.

Anyone else know?
 

carpedebass

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Was it just one i'll wafted toot or had you hot-boxed the room and it looked like a scene from a cheech-n-chong movie?

Never had it happen, but I'd say it would likely depend on the type of smoke alarm. Some have beams that, when interrupted, cause the alarm to sound. I would watch out for those, for sure.

EDIT...can't wait to try VV so I can really test this! :p
 

eddyjacamar

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I can tell you that I often sneak some e-puffs in at work -- and it's a small office with fire detectors all over the place.. still no problems. I've definitely thought of that, though.. I sure as hell don't want to find out the hard way!

In terms of being discrete, Greensmoke is best. They hit as hard as anything, but don't produce a ton of smoke for whatever reason. I have a couple others that have the same pull but let out a concerning amount of vapor.. fine for the house, but I definitely don't want to mess with the smoke detectors anywhere else.
 
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It can happen, but it is fairly unlikely. Vapor would certainly not set off any actual fire or carbon monoxide detection systems, but some smoke alarms use an electronic "eye" to detect "particulates"--the vapor from an e-cig generally does not contain any solid particulates like actual smoke, but if the vapor is thick enough, water droplets from e-cig vapor or theatrical fog machines can conceivably set off an alarm, but unless you're blowing vapor directly at the detector, it would probably need to be pretty thick or a very small room to detect a the very tiny amounts of liquid vaporized in an e-cig....

Think of it this way, a fog machine can use up to a gallon of e-liquid for one concert, haunted house, dance club, or theatrical performance and generally does not set off fire alarms....how much do you think that vaping less than a teaspoon (5ml) is going to effect?? ;)
 

Liv2Ski

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Yes they can be set off and I HAVE DONE IT. I blew a hit over my shoulder towards the ceiling while vaping my Darwin. I was not looking at where the cloud was heading but it was directly at the detector. This was an optical sensor alarm and it set it off immediately. 3:30am in a Holiday inn and the fire dept had to come to turn it off.
 

carpedebass

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Yes they can be set off and I HAVE DONE IT. I blew a hit over my shoulder towards the ceiling while vaping my Darwin. I was not looking at where the cloud was heading but it was directly at the detector. This was an optical sensor alarm and it set it off immediately. 3:30am in a Holiday inn and the fire dept had to come to turn it off.

Dang! What did you tell them?
 

Liv2Ski

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Dang! What did you tell them?

Well when I called to the front desk they said "you must be smoking". I immediately said "I don't Smoke". Being in Europe there is a $250 Euro charge for smoking in a non smoking hotel and I did not want to expalin vaping at 3:30am! So I quickly plugged in the electric water pot and left the top open. When they came to the room they saw that thing steaming and asked "you did not close the top, that probably set the alarm off". Problem solved. But yes the vape certainly fired the alarm and some planes have the same type in the bathrooms!!!
 

carpedebass

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Well when I called to the front desk they said "you must be smoking". I immediately said "I don't Smoke". Being in Europe there is a $250 Euro charge for smoking in a non smoking hotel and I did not want to expalin vaping at 3:30am! So I quickly plugged in the electric water pot and left the top open. When they came to the room they saw that thing steaming and asked "you did not close the top, that probably set the alarm off". Problem solved. But yes the vape certainly fired the alarm and some planes have the same type in the bathrooms!!!

Wow! Yea, quick thinking on the water pot.
 

Techwipe

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I sometimes worry about it in my shop on the boat I am stationed on. I have a tiny little radio space that I share with one other person and I sit and toke all day. I watch the vapor go right up to the smoke alarm but never set it off. It would suck if I did because the entire crew would come looking for me.
 

Baldr

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Well when I called to the front desk they said "you must be smoking". I immediately said "I don't Smoke". Being in Europe there is a $250 Euro charge for smoking in a non smoking hotel and I did not want to expalin vaping at 3:30am! So I quickly plugged in the electric water pot and left the top open. When they came to the room they saw that thing steaming and asked "you did not close the top, that probably set the alarm off". Problem solved. But yes the vape certainly fired the alarm and some planes have the same type in the bathrooms!!!

Good thinking. :)
 

Baldr

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I just tried with the smoke detector here in my hallway. Took it off the wall where I could hold it, big vape, blew it straight into the detector. It did set it off.

I don't remember the detector ever going off under normal circumstances. Not from cooking, or cigs, or vaping. And all of those are very common here, both from me and from friends.
 

Baldr

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Google for "smoke detector faq" leads me to....

Smoke Alarms FAQ from First Alert Store, smoke alarms, smoke detectors, home safety products

The primary thing you should know about smoke alarms is that there are two basic types: Ionization and photoelectric smoke alarms.

Ionization alarms sound more quickly when a flaming, fast moving fire occurs. Think of a candle catching a curtain on fire- it happens quickly. A Photoelectric alarm is quicker at sensing a slower, smoky fire- such as an electrical fire that starts within your walls.

A dual sensor smoke alarm combines the two types, photoelectric and ionization.

Because there is no way of telling what type of fire may occur in your home, it is strongly recommended by the USFA to have both an ionization smoke alarm and photoelectric alarm- or a dual sensor smoke alarm to detect both types of fires.


My guess is that the photoelectric alarm can be set off by vaping, at least if you blow a lot of vapor right at it.
 
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