Smoke Detector Loss of Supervision

(Note: This article is for the SMKT8 smoke detector if this is not your smoke detector or you are unsure what smoke detector you have click here.)

What is it?  

Loss of supervision means that your sensor(s) are not communicating with your Alarm Panel properly.  Your Alarm panel will alert you whenever it loses connection with any of your sensors. 

What causes it & How to resolve it?  

There are a few contributing factors that can cause a Loss of Supervision.

 

The sensor is too far away from the alarm panel or there are too many walls or floors between the sensor and the alarm panel

First, we recommend all sensors be mounted within 100 feet of your Alarm Panel.  If it is further than this or if there are many walls or floors between your sensor and the Panel it can result in poor communication strength and the Panel may not detect your sensor. In essence, minimize the number of obstructions between your sensor and the Panel if at all possible.

 

A low battery in the sensor

If the sensor’s battery is low or has completely died, the signal may not be strong enough to make its way to the Panel. You should have received an alert from your Alarm panel or App to indicate the battery in the device is low and should be changed. For information on changing the battery in your sensor, click here.

 

Certain building materials like aluminum siding or ductwork could cause signal interference

Certain Metallic Surfaces that a sensor can reside upon could be causing your Loss of Supervision. We recommend that you do not install your sensor on a Metallic surface, Near the Ductwork of the home.

 

Radio transmitting devices could cause signal interference

Certain Radio Transmitting devices (HAM Radios, Baby Monitors, even Microwaves) may be broadcasting on a similar frequency as our sensors and could cause interference with the wireless connection from the sensor to the Panel. If there is a radio transmitting device in close proximity to that sensor, attempt to relocate that item or the sensor to a different location.

 

Non-temperature controlled environments

Our sensors are intended to operate in temperature-controlled environments with controlled humidity levels. Avoid Mounting Sensors in Garages, Outside, or in Bathrooms. 

If your sensor is located near a window or door and on days of extreme temperature (outside of the 32-110 degree range), you could encounter a Loss of Supervision. If this happens we recommend moving the sensor to a more temperature-controlled environment.

 

Abnormal damage to the sensor can cause irregular activity

Sensors that have fallen off doors or walls could damage the internal components and prevent the sensor from functioning.

To prevent this please make sure to follow mounting instructions for your sensors.

 

If the above suggestions do not resolve your issue please call us at 855-268-3669