X-Sense SC07-W interconnected smoke and CO alarm: features and specs

The X-Sense SC07-W is a combination smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarm that links wirelessly with other X-Sense alarms. It runs on a sealed battery and needs no wiring, which makes interconnected alarms possible in homes where running new cables between floors is impractical. This overview explains its listed features and certifications, and what to confirm for your own home.

Two sensors in one unit

Inside are two separate sensors. A photoelectric smoke sensor has a light source and a light-sensitive cell in a small chamber: when smoke particles enter, they scatter light onto the cell and set off the alarm. An electrochemical CO sensor produces a small electrical current that changes when carbon monoxide is present. Carbon monoxide is colourless and odourless, and a smoke sensor does not detect it, which is why combination alarms carry a dedicated sensor for it.

How the wireless interconnection works

When one linked alarm detects smoke or CO, all interconnected alarms sound, so an alarm in the basement is also heard on the upper floors. X-Sense says up to 18 X-Sense alarms can be linked in one network, with a range of up to 820 ft (250 m), and names multi-storey homes, basements and detached garages as typical uses. Wireless range in a real house typically depends on walls, floors and building materials, so treat the listed figure as a maximum.

The SC07-W has no Wi-Fi and no base station connection. The alarms communicate with each other, not with a phone or a home network.

Silencing and testing

Pressing the Test/Silence button on the alarm that started the alert temporarily silences all interconnected units. The same button is used to test the alarm. Manufacturers generally advise testing alarms regularly; the manual says how often and how.

The sealed 10-year battery

Power comes from a built-in, sealed lithium battery that X-Sense lists for ten years, so there are no battery replacements and no low-battery chirps along the way. Sealed-battery alarms are generally replaced as a whole unit at the end of their service life, so it helps to note the installation date when you put one up and to follow the manual's end-of-life instructions.

Installation without wiring

The alarm mounts on a wall or a ceiling with the included bracket, screws and anchors. It measures 5.7 x 5.7 x 2.0 inches (about 14.5 x 14.5 x 5 cm) and weighs 0.7 lb. Where alarms should go, and how far they should sit from kitchens, bathrooms and corners, is set out in the manual and in local building and fire codes. Follow both.

Certifications

The alarm is ETL listed, which means it has been tested by Intertek, a nationally recognised testing laboratory. X-Sense states that it meets UL 217, the North American standard for smoke alarms, and UL 2034, the standard for carbon monoxide alarms. These are the standards that home smoke and CO alarms in the United States are generally certified to. Other countries use their own standards (in Canada, for example, CAN/ULC-S531 for smoke alarms and CSA 6.19 for CO alarms), so check what applies where you live.

What to check before you buy

• How many you need: this pack contains one alarm; interconnection needs at least two, and up to 18 can be linked.
• Compatibility: it links with X-Sense alarms; confirm in the manual that any other models you plan to link use the same wireless interconnection.
• No app alerts: without Wi-Fi or a base station, it works on its own and with linked alarms only.
• Local codes: check where alarms are required in your home, and whether your situation (such as new construction or a renovation) calls for hard-wired alarms.
• Certification for your country: look for the marks your local codes require.
• The manual: follow it for placement, testing and replacement.

The short version

• Combination smoke and CO alarm with a photoelectric smoke sensor and an electrochemical CO sensor.
• Wireless interconnection with up to 18 X-Sense alarms over up to 820 ft; no Wi-Fi or base station.
• The Test/Silence button temporarily silences all linked alarms.
• Sealed lithium battery listed for ten years; wall or ceiling mounting without wiring.
• ETL listed; X-Sense states it meets UL 217 and UL 2034.

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