Nest Smoke Detector Battery Life – Expert advice from Bob Vila, the most trusted name in home improvement, home remodeling, home improvement and DIY. Tried, true and trusted home advice
We tested the flagship Google Nest Protect to see if it’s worth the price At more than three times the price of the average smoke detector, is the Google Nest Protect worth it? Join us as we put it to the test!
Nest Smoke Detector Battery Life
Few people will dispute the importance of having high quality and reliable smoke detectors in your home. The sole purpose of these devices is to warn people of life-threatening situations, and flying over them is never a good idea. But isn’t it necessary to go for a superior smoke detector? This hands-on Google Nest Protect smoke detector review will answer that question.
The Best Smart Smoke Detector And Alarms
The Google Nest Protect is a hybrid smoke detector and carbon monoxide detector that costs more than three times the price of a standard combo detector (which typically runs between $25 and $30). The premium price gets you a host of features including advanced dual sensor technology, clear voice notifications, wireless connectivity, user-friendly lighting and mobile connectivity to name a few. Also remember the value of Google’s trusted brand in a smart home market full of low-quality results.
I conducted a hands-on test of the Google Nest Protect to help users decide if this smoke detector is worth its high price. I put the Nest Protect to the test to assess how easy it was to install and connect to my phone, as well as how quickly and well it turned on in smoky conditions (simulated smoke, of course). Read on to find out how it turned out so you can decide if it’s right for your home.
For those unfamiliar with the Google Nest Protect, let’s first take a look at this device, as it’s no ordinary smoke detector. Nest Protect is basically three vital security devices in one, offering carbon monoxide detection and two types of smoke detection, thanks to its dual sensor technology. Depending on the detection method, most smoke alarms can detect a fire or rapidly burning smoke. Google Nest Protect can be used for quick and accurate detection of dangerous situations.
Google Nest Protect Battery Powered Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Alarm
Additionally, Google Nest Protect also integrates with the Nest app, which users can connect to a smoke detector to alert them of dangerous situations, even when they’re not at home. If Nest Protect detects carbon monoxide or smoke, or runs out of battery, it will send an alert to the user’s phone. At the same time, it will provide clear voice notifications to help reduce confusion in an already crowded environment.
Using the Nest app, users can also connect multiple Protect detectors throughout the house, a huge plus because if one device notifies it, all devices will be activated. And because Google Nest Protect provides voice alerts, it will provide anyone in the know with accurate information about the danger and its location.
Finally, while the Nest Protect may look like a speaker, it has a built-in trail light that will emit a blue night light when it detects motion. This light will turn bright red when the alarm sounds, helping residents orient themselves in a smoke situation.
Google Nest Protect 2nd Generation Smart Smoke And Carbon Monoxide (co) Wired Alarm, White
From the moment I opened the package, it was clear that the Google Nest Protect was unlike any smoke detector I’ve ever used. It came in a two-piece box with a telescope and clear installation instructions, not just what to put on, but the correct order to do it. As advanced as this detector is, these instructions made installation a breeze.
For most smoke detectors, the first step is to install the base on or near the ceiling, and this is the case with the Google Nest Protect. It came with four high quality screws and a base with an inlay of gasket type material. The ring mounted to the roof without any issues and seemed to be of better quality and material than other models I was testing at the same time.
When installing conventional smoke detectors, this is where you insert the battery, plug the smoke detector into the base, and press the test button. Not with Google Nest Protect. First, you need to remove the tab from the unit to activate the built-in batteries. Then download the Nest app (more info below) and scan the QR code on the back of the Protect to pair.
The Nest Protect
The device then started a self-test sequence, after which I was able to install it into the base without any problems. In fact, the base has enough adjustment that it allowed me to keep the Protect perfectly square to the walls (something DIYers will appreciate most).
It helps to see installation (mounting the smoke detector on the wall) and configuration (downloading the software and connecting to the device) separately. Installation, as described above, was straightforward. The setup, however, had a small hiccup.
As mentioned above, Google Nest Protect must be paired with a mobile device before it can be mounted on the ceiling. There’s a QR code on the back of the device that aims to make setup as easy as possible. All it takes, in theory, is to download the Nest app and scan that code. But it took me a few tries before I was able to connect the Google Nest Protect to the Nest app on my Samsung S21 Ultra. It was definitely not a Wi-Fi issue as I was no more than 15 feet from the router. However, the Protect eventually connected and it was smooth sailing from then on.
Review: Nest Protect Turns The Humble Smoke Detector Into An Iot Device With Ifttt Support
Setting up Google Nest Protect requires assigning a name, which is done through the Nest app. This is for a few reasons, such as checking the status of a specific device, but mainly so that the audible alarm can clearly describe the hazard and its location in the event of an alarm. I set mine up as an “office” since that’s the room I experimented with.
Sight and touch are all the rage when it comes to smart devices, but does that matter when it comes to security devices? Maybe not, but it could be a nice bonus.
While testing the Google Nest Protect, I tested other smoke detectors. The Nest Protect stood out visually, blending into the room and looking more like a speaker than a smoke detector. And since the base (i.e. placing the ring) allows the user to adjust the position of the fixture by rotation, the quick adjustment allows it to be square to the wall and ceiling for to a pleasant aesthetic.
The Nest Protect
There’s also a circular button in the middle with a standard blue light that illuminates softly when it detects motion. However, the same light turns red in alarm mode and the middle button silences the device. As with many other smoke detectors, the silence button is hard to find and the action is so small that I would wonder if I actually pressed the button if the alarm didn’t immediately silence. With Google Nest Protect, there’s no guesswork—the tactile feel and slight “encapsulation” of the button speaks for itself (especially since the alarm is immediately silenced).
The Nest app is also well designed – it’s very simple and easy to use (once your device is synced, that is). Checking the status of your device at any time is simple and easy.
The good look and feel of the Google Nest Protect wouldn’t mean a thing if the device malfunctioned, so I simulated a smoke scenario with a synthetic smoke canister designed specifically for testing smoke detectors.
This Smart Battery Sends A Message To Your Phone When Your Smoke Detector Sounds
After spraying two cans of smoke at the device, it took 10 seconds for the alarm to start: “Smoke emergency in the office!” Then it started sounding like a regular smoke detector as it continued to explain the danger. Compared to other smoke detectors, the Nest Protect had one of the fastest alert times. In the event that this device was connected to other devices, they would all alert with the same speed and clarity.
When I silenced the alarm, it went off immediately, a feat that many other smoke detectors fail to achieve. One tap of the big button and the device went silent.
The Google Nest Protect retails for $119 at nearly every retailer that sells it, with multi-packs also available for a small savings per device. That’s a lot of money for a smoke detector. But if I consider what cheap devices offer, I find the price to be reasonable.
X Sense Smoke Detector Carbon Monoxide Detector Combo, 10 Year Battery Smoke Detector With Display, Auto Check, 3 Pack
During my hands-on testing, three of the eight smoke detectors from other brands simply refused to silence, while the other three required several “pauses” before the alarm would stop. A software-synchronized device for mobile access, and much less expensive than the Protect, also required the purchase of a separate hub. Another device in my test that had voice commands wasn’t as transparent as the Protect, didn’t have customizable room names, and didn’t connect to other devices.
Google Nest Protect did all of these things well. The only challenge I had was syncing with the app, which was more of a hassle than a deal breaker. All things considered,
Nest smoke detector battery type, nest battery powered smoke detector, nest smoke detector battery drain, nest smoke detector low battery, google nest smoke detector battery, replace battery nest smoke detector, nest battery smoke detector, nest protect smoke detector, battery for nest smoke detector, nest smoke detector battery replacement, nest smoke detector battery change, nest battery operated smoke detector