Google - Nest Protect 2nd Generation (Battery) Smart Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarm - White

Q: Will this detect second-hand cigarette smoke? I live in an apartment bldg. that is supposed to be non-smoking...but there are tenants and guest who smoke. I'm highly allergic to smoke and would like to use this to detect when others are smoking.

A: No. What you and I are looking for is a hand held something that detects secondhand smoke in our units, or something a property manage can use to inspect. I have severe asthma and COPD and am in a “non-smoking” building. Ha ha. Their is something called, Air Guard that has been built by a Dartmouth professor that is a sensor in the smoking units that detects and alerts a manager via the internet. It sells units and a program far beyond ordinary tenants income and access. I’ve pleaded with them to release a hand held device, but to no avail. Wouldn’t it be nice to have something that plugs into your phone that does this?

Q: I have pets that are terrified of alarms. Can the monthly self checks be configured to not sound an alarm or at minimum, let me schedule it for a time I can be home? Is the self check an alarm or a voice? Do all devices self check at once?

A: Yes, you can schedule a time/day for the self check in the app and you can set it up to remind you that it's supposed to happen, and even cancel it. The self check seems to be the alert tone and the voice, but I haven't been home for it yet. All of the devices self check at once.

Q: do you have to activate the wifi/internet feature to have the smoke alarm work to just alert you to a fire? I don't need to have the phone alerts,& just want to know if it is necessary to hook up to the wifi to have the alarms work like regular alarms

A: No, however, you will not get notifications via smartphone if it's not connected the the Nest app. The purpose for a "smart" fire/CO device is to alert you when not at home via the app. In addition, it has other feature like automatically checking the devices batteries and sensors. The device will always alert you locally with an audible alarm for fire or CO, even without WiFi/internet. Here is an excellent article: https://www.howtogeek.com/362600/will-the-nest-protect-still-work-without-a-wi-fi-connection/ Here is the Nest Protect setup guide: https://nest.com/support/article/How-do-I-connect-my-Nest-Protect-Wi-fi-and-my-Nest-Account

Q: What functionality am I losing with this device by running Amazon Alexa devices instead of Google Assistant? I have no interest in making that change at this point and would like to know what I will be missing out on. Alternative suggestions welcome!

A: I have 6 Nest protect alarms and I also have 5 Alexa devices. I don't feel that I'm missing any functionality with the Nest Protect and also using Alexa. One downside, although in my opinion, fairly minor is that you will need to download the Nest app to setup and maintain the alarms. The Nest Protect devices and the Nest app work really well together and enable the full functionality of the devices. You get alerts on the app no matter where you are ( as long as you have internet access) if an alarm sounds. Can also silence the alarms or get a notification if the battery is low.

Q: How many square feet will 1 alarm do

A: It isn't about square footage when it comes to smoke detectors. It is much more about layout. You can look up what codes are in your area, but generally you are supposed to have one in every bedroom (to awake anyone sleeping) one outside of every bedroom(s) or in other words the hallway to detect smoke or co if the door is closed. One in the garage since this is a common place for co and fires. One next to the kitchen area since this is also a common place for fires. One at the top of your stairs to pick up smoke rising from the basement, and one next to your utility room since the is a common place for co poisoning. If you can combine these areas and grow your square footage coverage great, like putting one at the top of the stairs right next to the kitchen. However there are building codes for a reason, your safety, so if in question, follow those.

Q: For the battery version, if one alarm goes off in one room will it be able to communicate with other battery versions in other rooms to make them go off as well? Would like to the know the answer whether the wifi network is up or if its down.

A: Yes, interconnect works on battery version and does not require WiFi once it is setup. From the Nest website: "Once it is set up, Wireless Interconnect will work even without Wi-Fi in your home, since it operates on a different wireless protocol to connect all of your Nest Protects. Nest Protect Wired (120V or 230V) and Nest Protect (Battery) are compatible and can interconnect with each other."

Q: will the battery version communicate with the wired version.

A: it should if they are both linked to the same account.

Q: Can you blue tooth music through the speaker of the fire detector ? If so is the sound quality good ?

A: No it's a fire detector only