SMART HOME CONTROL

Carbon monoxide is an odourless, colourless and non-irritating gas, making it difficult for humans to detect. However, it is particularly toxic and responsible for many domestic poisonings, unfortunately very often fatal. It is therefore becoming extremely important to protect yourself from it in each of our homes, which is the purpose of this article of the day with this new z-Wave CO detector and can therefore be integrated into home automation boxes and, consequently, an integral part of the system and scenarios of the connected house.

This gas comes from poor combustion, often from domestic heating systems combined with poor ventilation. Its density being close to that of air, this gas spreads very easily and quickly in the fireplace making it all the more dangerous.

We are at a time of year when our heating systems are operating at full capacity. It is therefore important to raise your awareness of this domestic risk and to introduce you to this peripheral of the z-wave Fibaro range, which will be able to prevent and protect the inhabitants of your home from this major risk!

As a reminder, carbon monoxide poisoning represents between 6000 and 8000 cases per year in France. It is the leading cause of death from intoxication in France.

The Fibaro CO sensor from Fibaro
CO detectors are quite rare in the list of Z-Wave home automation devices or quite expensive. With its new peripheral, Fibaro is expanding its catalogue a little more and offers us a carbon monoxide detector designed and connected for less than 100€.

Fibaro and known for its very stylish peripherals. Its smoke detector had already revolutionized the home automation environment, small, discreet and design, it fits perfectly into the home decor without denoting, while ensuring the protection of the fireplace against fire.

With its new FGCD-001 detector, Fibaro continues this lineage. It's not surprising that the same detector as the brand's smoke detector is used.

Identical housing
Identical size
Same feeding mode
Identical secondary functions

Indeed, take a Fibaro smoke detector, substitute the smoke detection function with components capable of detecting carbon monoxide and you get a connected CO detector, capable of warning you in case of CO in the air while indicating the room temperature via the same device.

The technical characteristics
Module type: Z-Wave transmitter
Power supply: 3V Lithium Battery CR123A
Battery life: 3 years
Service life under typical conditions: 8 years
Measuring range of the CO concentration: 0-450 ppm
Measurement accuracy: ±10ppm / ±5%.
Radio frequency: 868.42 MHz
Transmission distance: 50m free field, 40m indoor
Dimensions: 65 x 28 mm (diameter x height)
Operating temperature: 0-50°C
Operating humidity: 0% - 93%.
Temperature measurement range: 0 to 60°C
Alarm response time (default setting): 50ppm 60-90min; 100ppm 10-40min; 300ppm <1.5min
Noise level: 85 dB at 3m
Standards: R&TTE 1999/5/EC; RoHS 2011/65/EU; EN 60950-1

How to install a carbon monoxide detector?
The installation of a carbon monoxide (or CO) detector is an important point for optimal operation of the device and a guarantee of detection and alerting the occupants of the home. It is therefore important to comply with the few rules relating to the installation of the detector. They are not complicated, but, nevertheless, it is imperative to respect them.

First, this detector must be installed in the room where the fuel appliance is located. Ideally, therefore, in a house:

the room where the boiler is located
the kitchen if you cook with gas
the living room if you heat yourself with a fireplace or stove
the garage if you perform frequent operations on internal combustion engines

Mount the detector on a wall
Place the detector more than 30cm from the ceiling
Keep a minimum distance of 180cm from the ground
Make sure to place the detector above the highest level of the sashes
Observe about 2m with the combustion source
Finally, make sure that no obstacles are placed within a 30cm radius.

And on the side of smart home hub
Of course, this device is supported by the Fibaro gateway, that goes without saying. It is also supported by the Eedomus box and by Jeedom. We will soon see how to install this new detector on the last two as well as the options and possible configuration on each of them.

This detector has a z-wave plus chip, which makes it less energy consuming and installable further from the box, an important point when you know that many boilers are in garages and basements, sometimes far from the home automation system.

For the most curious among you, know that this device behaves exactly like its little brother the smoke sensor of Fibaro on the Jeedom and Eedomus boxes.

Conclusion
As always, Fibaro delivers a very good quality device, well finished, discreet and pretty to look at. But above all, it makes it possible to make your home a little more secure against the risks of CO poisoning. So yes, this device has a cost, it is still displayed at a price a little less than 100€, but it is an important security axis of the home that deserves this investment to protect our families.

Finally, like its little brother, this new device also allows you to raise the temperature in the room where it is installed in the home automation system.