Comments on: Lights On With The Firelight Safety Switch http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/ All tools. All the time. Your source for news, information, and reviews of hand tools, power tools, and tools of all kinds. Sun, 22 Nov 2009 13:36:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Bill http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-249642 Bill Wed, 05 Mar 2008 05:01:42 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-249642 I can only imagine the disaster of using this with a FAN. Gee, let's see, how could we make the fire worse? Oh, I know, PULL AIR INTO THE SPACE! Sure, you're exhausting smoke, but that means FRESH AIR is going to get pulled in to replace it. From a property damage perspective I'd think it would be better not to turn the place into a blast furnace. I can only imagine the disaster of using this with a FAN. Gee, let’s see, how could we make the fire worse? Oh, I know, PULL AIR INTO THE SPACE! Sure, you’re exhausting smoke, but that means FRESH AIR is going to get pulled in to replace it. From a property damage perspective I’d think it would be better not to turn the place into a blast furnace.

]]> By: Brau http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215612 Brau Wed, 30 Jan 2008 10:08:02 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215612 These kind of features are already quite feasible using home automation equipment like Insteon or X10 and can be had at similar prices. As an added bonus you can program these devices to operate when and how you like, as well as operate them remotely. Therefore I see little market for little more than a switch that turns on the light every time somebody's alarmclock, watch, smoke detector or phone beeps. These kind of features are already quite feasible using home automation equipment like Insteon or X10 and can be had at similar prices. As an added bonus you can program these devices to operate when and how you like, as well as operate them remotely. Therefore I see little market for little more than a switch that turns on the light every time somebody’s alarmclock, watch, smoke detector or phone beeps.

]]> By: Sparkydave http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215254 Sparkydave Tue, 29 Jan 2008 23:38:22 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215254 If it isn't UL or CSA approved, then there is no chance. Electrical inspectors are required by the NEC to insure that UL listed or equivalent listing devices are used. Zathrus is right on, never enough space in those switch boxes. Any new home or remodel construction requires all the smoke detectors to be connected such that if one is set off they all sound off. I've seen so many electronic devices fail in my field, that I to am skeptical of reliability. Any safety devices that we install typically have a redundant failsafe type system, (industrial applications). If this fails, you would never know ,as mentioned above. As a contractor, I couldn't recommend this one. I'd be liable if I installed it. If it isn’t UL or CSA approved, then there is no chance.
Electrical inspectors are required by the NEC to insure that UL listed or equivalent listing devices are used.
Zathrus is right on, never enough space in those switch boxes.
Any new home or remodel construction requires all the smoke detectors to be connected such that if one is set off they all sound off.
I’ve seen so many electronic devices fail in my field, that I to am skeptical of reliability. Any safety devices that we install typically have a redundant failsafe type system, (industrial applications). If this fails, you would never know ,as mentioned above. As a contractor, I couldn’t recommend this one. I’d be liable if I installed it.

]]> By: Perry Jones http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215189 Perry Jones Tue, 29 Jan 2008 22:00:01 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215189 Is turning on an exhaust fan a good idea in a fire? Sure it'll help remove smoke and improve visibility, but wouldn't it also pull in fresh, oxygen-rich air at the same time? It's an interesting idea, but I suspect you could install a home automation system with a lights-on-in-a-fire function for about the same cost. I agree with Zathrus that the outlet widget is probably the best stand-alone item proposed here. Is turning on an exhaust fan a good idea in a fire? Sure it’ll help remove smoke and improve visibility, but wouldn’t it also pull in fresh, oxygen-rich air at the same time?

It’s an interesting idea, but I suspect you could install a home automation system with a lights-on-in-a-fire function for about the same cost.

I agree with Zathrus that the outlet widget is probably the best stand-alone item proposed here.

]]> By: SuperJdynamite http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215169 SuperJdynamite Tue, 29 Jan 2008 21:44:03 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215169 There's no word on whether these switches are code approved. Without that widespread adoption isn't going to happen. I think a better idea would be to hook a few pot lights into your hard wired smoke detector circuit using a (currently uninvented) switch that detected the signal from the detectors. There’s no word on whether these switches are code approved. Without that widespread adoption isn’t going to happen.

I think a better idea would be to hook a few pot lights into your hard wired smoke detector circuit using a (currently uninvented) switch that detected the signal from the detectors.

]]> By: Michaelk http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215058 Michaelk Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:59:04 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215058 @Gapsard: So having this extra thing and having it not work is worse than only having had the smoke alarm in the first place how? @Gapsard: So having this extra thing and having it not work is worse than only having had the smoke alarm in the first place how?

]]> By: Zathrus http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215015 Zathrus Tue, 29 Jan 2008 18:08:12 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-215015 A few issues that I see -- first, the cost. Made in China at $15 ea, that's still about 20x the shelf price (not production cost) of the average 15A contractor grade switch, or around 5x the shelf price of a good quality switch. It's unclear what the construction quality is on the switch itself. For that money it'd be cheaper to buy smoke detectors with built-in lights. The downside being that it wouldn't light as much area unless you have a bunch of smoke detectors, all wired together, all with lights. Second, the hole in the front plate just begs for children to stuff things in. Third, the circuit board looks kinda large; how much space does it eat up in the box? How much complication does it add to getting the wires in the box properly and safely? I know I already have enough problems with some boxes if the idiot electrician undersized them and then ran a bunch of wires in (ok, more an issue with receptacles, but I've had an occasional issue with switches too). Fourth, run a spell checker on the official website. Please. It's an interesting idea; I think the receptacle version with built in lights (LED I presume; unclear how much runtime it has w/o power) is more viable though; I'd even consider buying a few. If that was combined with a night-light then it'd be an easy buy. Oh, and there's the obvious question of how far away can it sense an alarm going off? A few issues that I see — first, the cost. Made in China at $15 ea, that’s still about 20x the shelf price (not production cost) of the average 15A contractor grade switch, or around 5x the shelf price of a good quality switch. It’s unclear what the construction quality is on the switch itself. For that money it’d be cheaper to buy smoke detectors with built-in lights. The downside being that it wouldn’t light as much area unless you have a bunch of smoke detectors, all wired together, all with lights.

Second, the hole in the front plate just begs for children to stuff things in.

Third, the circuit board looks kinda large; how much space does it eat up in the box? How much complication does it add to getting the wires in the box properly and safely? I know I already have enough problems with some boxes if the idiot electrician undersized them and then ran a bunch of wires in (ok, more an issue with receptacles, but I’ve had an occasional issue with switches too).

Fourth, run a spell checker on the official website. Please.

It’s an interesting idea; I think the receptacle version with built in lights (LED I presume; unclear how much runtime it has w/o power) is more viable though; I’d even consider buying a few. If that was combined with a night-light then it’d be an easy buy.

Oh, and there’s the obvious question of how far away can it sense an alarm going off?

]]> By: Gapsard de Coligny http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-214984 Gapsard de Coligny Tue, 29 Jan 2008 17:17:48 +0000 http://toolmonger.com/2008/01/29/lights-on-with-the-firelight-safety-switch/#comment-214984 Maybe... it's just a bad idea... because if the fire is electrical... there is not anything to turn on anymore. Give false sense of security... Backup lighting in case of power failure or linked to the fire alarm (directly) seems a little more safe and smart... Maybe… it’s just a bad idea… because if the fire is electrical… there is not anything to turn on anymore. Give false sense of security… Backup lighting in case of power failure or linked to the fire alarm (directly) seems a little more safe and smart…

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