S3 remote sets off smoke/CO2 alarm...Can anything be done to stop that?

[JimPa]

As the title said, the Tivo S3 remote sets off the smoke alarm/CO2 detector when I change channels/volume.

I've tried different remote IDs, but that didn't work.

Anyone have a suggestion what I can do to avoid setting off this alarm??

[CosmoGeek]

1) Move the smoke/CO detector

2) Get a different detector

3) Put tape over the IR receiver on the smoke detector (On my "First Alert" detector this is labeled "remote control")

[samo]

As the title said, the Tivo S3 remote sets off the smoke alarm/CO2 detector when I change channels/volume.

I've tried different remote IDs, but that didn't work.

Anyone have a suggestion what I can do to avoid setting off this alarm??
Replace the alarm with another model.

[Shawn95GT]

You have a carbon dioxide detector? Strange.

All kidding aside, why would a CO / Smoke detector need a remote anyways? To temporarily disable and/or test it? I'd cover it's IR eye and be done with it unless you need it's remote functionality.

[c3]

You need to get a TiVo branded smoke detector.

[mooneydriver]

Stop watching steamy shows ;)

More seriously, this is a real odd case of electronics going haywire. Sounds like your fire detector has an overly sensitive infrared (heat) sensor - just bad engineering design. You could probably reduce its sensitivity by covering its sensor with several layers of transparent (scotch) tape until it stops responding to the TiVo remote. If you use transparent tape, it will not be enirely blinded and hopefully it would still detect a real fire (no guarantees, though).

[hornblowercat]

I certainly don't mean to make light of this problem but as unusal as it is and this being the first post I read today I found it amusing. :)

I agree with the people who say get a different detector. I think it's better to have both a Co2 and a smoke detector seperately anyway.

[Fofer]

I agree with the people who say get a different detector. I think it's better to have both a Co2 and a smoke detector seperately anyway.

Seems to me that a CO2 detector would be rather annoying, constantly going off and such? I wasn't even aware such things existed. :)

[captain_video]

It's probably a carbon monoxide detector and not carbon dioxide. I've never heard of anyone being harmed from breathing in carbon dioxide, otherwise we'd all die from drinking carbonated beverages. :eek:

[JimPa]

O.K, I'm thinking carbon monoxide and typing CO2.

For some strange reason, these detectors came with a remote. Something about testing them periodically(like anybody actually does that).

I think I'm going to try to cover the IR lens with some black electrical tape and see what happens. Guess I should check with the manufacturer to be sure that I'm not also defeating something that shouldn't be tampered with.

[markp99]

Guess I should check with the manufacturer to be sure that I'm not also defeating something that shouldn't be tampered with.

That was my very first thought. I'd bet they will NOT support any modification to their product due to liability concerns. I think it might be easiest and safest to find a replacement unit that does not use an IR remote.

[CosmoGeek]

why would a CO / Smoke detector need a remote anyways?

I have one of these remote capable detectors. It doesn't come with a remote but any signal from any remote will cause it to perform a test. This just makes it safer and more convenient than getting a step ladder to press the test button. You do test you detectors regularly, don't you ;)

Putting tape over the IR sensor is the best solution, unless the problem is something else completely.

[classicsat]

My bet is the remote codes for the TV, or at least the way the TiVo remote emits them, apparently coincide with format/data the remote puts out.

[hornblowercat]

Seems to me that a CO2 detector would be rather annoying, constantly going off and such? I wasn't even aware such things existed. :)

Of Fofer. You know what I meant Carbon Monoxide, hell it was the first post I read and I hadn't had my coffee. :o

[JimPa]

O.K., here's an update.

I plaster yellow sticky notes all over it and it would still go into its test sequence which is basically some guy screaming that smoke has been detected from the kitchen and to evacuate the house. ...and if that's not enough, he then starts screaming that carbon monoxide has been detected at a level of something in other and get the hell out. Keep in mind, this is intended to help people test the alarm without getting up on a ladder and pressing the button on it.

Well anyway, the yellow sticky notes didn't shut it up. Started to look a bit like a puff up chicken on a bad feather day.

So then I decided I'd take the darn thing off the wall (remove the yellow sticky notes) and see if I could figure out where exactly the sensor was that was picking up the remote control. Best I could figure out is that its behind the covering in the same spot that the alarm/speaker (with that irritating voice) is located. So covering it up is likely to cause problems. By the way, its a "First Alert" combination smoke alarm/ carbon monoxide detector with a almost human voice. Since I'm sure the test circuit works when you aim a remote control at it, I was wondering if it would actually detect smoke, but that's for another day. You know, drag it outside, set it on fire and see if it notices.

I would move the Tivo so that it wouldn't be in the same general direction as the smoke alarm, but all my other gear including a preamp that I control with the Tivo remote couldn't be moved.

Its starting to look like my best bet might be to move the smoke alarm to the facing wall where its less likely to see the remote. (its in a hallway near the master bedroom). I just don't want to have to repair the wall where its currently located.

[CosmoGeek]

Those yellow stickies could be too transparent. Mine is a "First Alert" also. However, it is nowhere near my S3.

"Started to look a bit like a puff up chicken on a bad feather day. "

LOL

Good luck.

[MichaelK]

I have one of these remote capable detectors. It doesn't come with a remote but any signal from any remote will cause it to perform a test. This just makes it safer and more convenient than getting a step ladder to press the test button. You do test you detectors regularly, don't you ;)

....

you dont keep an offical " smoke alarm test stick" in your garage- LOL.

we test mine fairly regularly- usually when my wife is trying a new recipe. :D

[MichaelK]

.... Since I'm sure the test circuit works when you aim a remote control at it, I was wondering if it would actually detect smoke, but that's for another day. You know, drag it outside, set it on fire and see if it notices.

....

Made me laugh- I need to go test mine now....

[JimPa]

you dont keep an offical " smoke alarm test stick" in your garage- LOL.

we test mine fairly regularly- usually when my wife is trying a new recipe. :D

I use to use mine as a cook timer too. Unfortunately, by the time the smoke alarm would go off, all the water had boiled out of the the spagetti pot and had pretty well blackened the noodles. That was with my previous smoke alarm, the one I wore out. :o

[CheezWiz]

I have one of these remote capable detectors. It doesn't come with a remote but any signal from any remote will cause it to perform a test. This just makes it safer and more convenient than getting a step ladder to press the test button. You do test you detectors regularly, don't you ;)

Putting tape over the IR sensor is the best solution, unless the problem is something else completely.


That is a cool idea, never seen one like that. I can shine a flashlight at mine though..

[ashu]

Abolish CO2! Apparently some British politicians are trying to (http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/CO2-taxes/)! :D

[MichaelK]

the flashlight is one thing (even that depending on how it is set up- does sunlight reflecting off a window or gloss floor or table set it off?) but i have to say -

WHAT IDIOT made a device that responds to ANY IR remote. How would you use such an alarm in a living room, media room, or even a bedroom with a TV? I think generally most places require or suugest smoke alarms in each bedroom- so if you put one of these first alert units in your bedroom and sat down to watch the tonight show you would set the thing off every night at 11:35. Never mind typical consumer electronics- there's IR dimmers, ir homne controls, IR ceiling fans, etc, etc.

[ashu]

I have a FirstAlert (one of the biggest rbands) CO detector that supposedly responds to IR from remotes for test purposes. It isn't in my basement where most of my IR remote use happens, but I've never had it go off yet. Hmm - maybe I should test it :)