GE Security SafeAir Carbon Monoxide Detector 250-CO

Product Details

• Item Weight: 8 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• ASIN: B00354C9DE
• Item model number: 250-CO

By : General Electric
List Price : $84.95
Price : $47.95
You Save : $37.00 (44%)

Product Description

The GE SafeAirTM 250-CO carbon monoxide (CO) detector is an accurate and reliable means of alerting building occupants of potentially dangerous levels of CO in the protected area. The internal electro-chemical sensor communicates with a sophisticated on-board microprocessor that accurately tracks CO levels over time. This commercial-grade detection technology results in quick response, reliable sensing, fast reset time, and superior false alarm immunity. Its small size allows the 250-CO to blend inconspicuously with any decor, and its smooth contoured design is compatible with both residential and commercial environments. Unaffected by normal indoor temperature variations, the GE 250-CO actually self-adjusts for environmental changes and operates reliably under a wide variety of conditions. It also monitors its own performance and automatically compensates for sensitivity drift throughout the course of its service life. Like all CO detectors, the 250-CO has a limited service life. When it reaches this point, the 250-CO's six-year end-of-life timer automatically triggers a warning, locally, at the control panel, and optionally, at a central monitoring station, indicating that the device should be serviced. An integrated temporal four-horn provides local signaling capability for the 250-CO, and it easily interfaces with any Listed intrusion or fire alarm system by means of its 150mA output relay, which may be connected to the auxiliary input on the control panel. Its low current draw results in little additional demand on the system power supply. The 250-CO fully complies with the latest UL 2075 requirements which allows for installation in a wide range of residential and commercial settings.

Technical Details

• Complies with the latest UL 2075 requirements
• Allows for installation in a wide range of residential and commercial settings
• Low current draw results in less demand on the system power supply
• Accurate and reliable means of alerting building occupants of potentially dangerous levels of CO
• Sophisticated on-board microprocessor accurately tracks CO levels over time

Customer Reviews

I had the previous model (240 I think is the number) and sure enough it started giving the end of life signal 5 years after the house was built. I am second owner so took a while to find what was beeping (once every 5 minutes) and then by dumb luck I hit the test button and it quieted it. Turns out this is a documented feature and quiets the end of life alert for 36 hours.. I mention in case someone else may run across this and it helps them... Because it took me several days to give up and look for replacement and then wind my way to the manual.
These hard-wired detectors really need an on/off switch.
This is a replacement model and GE even offers a $10 cover that is the old size to save painting - although $10 seems pretty steep for this type of part.. Nonetheless, it sounded like it may be have been designed as a straight-forward swap. I saw nothing other than a minor wiring change in the DYI boards so I ordered with high hopes.
This is not the case though so be prepared:
1) The mount holes are totally different so you will need to drill. I just used top one and seems secure enough.
2) The wires come in on the other side of the beam unless you turn it upside down, but, the configuration of the new holes don't look conducive to turning updside down, IMO.. Not sure how one would deal with this if you have the wires on one side of beam behind the dry wall. I did not have dry wall to deal with but you may, so just mentioning.
3) The final incompatibility generated lots of chatter on the DYI boards and is a new feature (circuit in the detector) that requires slightly different wiring to your alarm system. This is probably an upgrade and good so I will not knock it, however, just another thing different, to learn about and deal with. You may need to do slight re-wire. I lucked out and could leave the feature out but you may not be able to do this if your current detector is wired to the NO (Normally Open) bank of your security system.
The instructions were only given for systems that are wired NO. After I poured over the wiring instructions for a couple of hours and figured out how this was interfacing I went to install and found mine used an NC hook up... That may not be the preferred install but that is how it was and not being a security system expert I decided to leave it. Leaving out the new circuit, the installation ended up to be a fairly easy swap, but I sure wasted a lot of time and angst prep'ing for it. So you may want to check your current wiring out beforehand.
If your current wiring is compatible with instructions and you want/need to wire in the new circuit, looks like you will just need an extra piece of wire.
As for the End Of Life alert. This will go off in 6 years and I have to say I am not looking forward to it on this new model. The old model beeped twice every five minutes and you can turn off for 36 hours if you know the secret method. This was livable until I got it replaced. Five minutes is annoying but not immediate so once I heard it I could go down at my leisure and turn off... This was nice and would have been nicer had I had the instructions or better yet if there was an on/off switch.
The new model is "even more secure" as it beeps every fifteen seconds for EOL so you hear it and cannot ignore it... This is great to find the alarm and check it out, but once found it is over the line of annoyance every 36 hours IMO. Personally I think all these hard-wired devices have all gone over the line and need an on/off switch so normal human beings don't have to call emergency services or vacate their home due to noise when these things malfunction - which is far from a rare occurrence I have had this 2 times in 2 years - not this particular detector, but this would have been the third had I not surreptitiously hit upon hitting the test button...
All in all this unit it is a replacement for the old and the circuitry seems to allow for a robust and sophisticated alarm system security hook up. I would recommend.

I researched the 250-CO detector quite a bit before buying it. This unit replaced a 240 which is no longer available.
The most gripes I read about this were from people who mosy likely took it out of the box and tried to stick it up without reading the enclosed instructions. I read the instructions and put it up with little difficulty.
The "footprint" of this device is different from the 240 it replaced, so we had to do a little painting. I would not waste money on the "converter" which covers the 240 "footprint".
One main difference is that the green indicator light now flashes every minute or so instead of staying on continually. So it flashes like the smoke detector.
These last about five years and have to be replaced. WELL WORTH the price of protection.

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