Changed the batteries on my Simplisafe CO2 detector...

[Cybercowboy]

and you would think it was the end of the world or something. It's been giving me alerts on and off for a few weeks that it's not responding and then awhile later that it is responding. These usually come conveniently at about 3:00 AM, waking you up with both your phones getting messages.

So I decided to change the batteries, something I've never done before. No biggy, figure out how to get inside, it has three AA lithium batteries, but I don't have any so I just use three regular alkaline AA batteries. As soon as I put the cover back on while still in my office it beeps loudly scaring my cat that's in there with me. Then the amber 'Alert' light is lit, but it goes off when I put it back into place on the bracket in our bedroom (there's a little switch back there.) I start getting messages on my phone. Test signal received! Sensor restored! Walk back to my office, get one more. Sensor signal lost! WTF? Then my phone rings, it's SimpliSafe. After getting quizzed I assure them I'm fine and will get this thing figured out.

I then go back to the sensor and think "Maybe I need to hit test while it's on the bracket." so I do that and it goes through its self-test, beeps some more and my cat who is now hiding in the bedroom where I'm at freaks out again and almost trips me. Then my phone rings again and it's a different SimpliSafe person who is again quizzing me and says they received a message that I hit the test function on the CO2 sensor. Again I explain that I'm just trying to change the damn batteries and get it working again and seriously they aren't helping matters. Meanwhile I get two more messages telling me the test function was activated and the sensor is now restored. Each phone call took me two minutes to go through all the info to prove it is indeed me.

:banghead:

[Bill]

Is this a monthly paid service you subscribe to, like a burglar alarm service? As far as I know, my smoke alarms don't call anyone.

[Cybercowboy]

Is this a monthly paid service you subscribe to, like a burglar alarm service? As far as I know, my smoke alarms don't call anyone.

Yes, SimpliSafe is an alarm system that you install yourself and you can sign up for a monthly monitoring service if you'd like. It's pretty cheap and has already saved my ass when our house was broken into a couple of years ago and the alarm went off and scared the person away. The cops showed up and went through my house before I could even get across town (was having dinner at a restaurant.)

[Cybercowboy]

I'm about to pull the proverbial trigger on at least some of that gear.

Their website portal and smart phone app is good. Setting up and maintaining the system is really really easy. The door/window sensors are very good, the keypads are a little cheesy looking but otherwise fine. The motion sensors, well, I have them disabled as even a small cat was setting them off at random times. Their monitoring service is almost too good. The alarm on the base station isn't very loud, I'd suggest getting the secondary alarm module. All in all it's totally worth $15-$25/month for the service (the more expensive includes their smart phone app and SMS/email status messages. But if all you want is for them to call you when something is happening, it's just $15. If you don't answer their call they will call the cops pretty quickly. Believe me. :lol:

I also have flood sensor, temperature sensor (goes off when it gets to 40F inside your house), CO2 and smoke detectors, keychain remote, two keypads, and two motion detectors that I disabled but may use again someday. Oh, and a glass breakage sensor. They also have video monitors now but I haven't tried them.

[snide]

I'm about to pull the proverbial trigger on at least some of that gear.

Where's the proverb? :bigears:

[Bill]

Where's the proverb? :bigears:


Give beer to those who are perishing, wine to those who are in anguish; let them drink and forget their poverty and remember their mystery no more.

Proverbs 31: 6/7





Happy to help.

[Millenium Vette]

Where's the proverb? :bigears:

I'm about to pull the proverbial trigger on at least some of that gear.

:cert:

[VITE1]

Why do you have a CO2 sensor and not a CO sensor?

[snide]

:cert:

But why is it "proverbial"? :confused5:

[Cybercowboy]

Why do you have a CO2 sensor and not a CO sensor?

D'oh! See how rattled it got me! :dixie:

[Bill]

Why do you have a CO2 sensor and not a CO sensor?

Just in case he lives in NYC, so DeBlasio can send him a soda tax bill.

[Aerovette]

Change your diet. :D

My old dog's farts would set mine off. :Jeff '79:

[Millenium Vette]

But why is it "proverbial"? :confused5:

Because it (pulling the trigger) is commonly spoken of.

:cert: