We're checking out the best environmental sensors for our top security system picks for the 2020 holiday shopping season, which are the Honeywell Lyric, the Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus, and the 2GIG GC3e. Environmental sensors include life-safety sensors, flood sensors, and temperature sensors.

If you haven't seen our alarm panel 2020 holiday buying guide or our security sensor 2020 holiday buying guide, then be sure to go and check those out, as they will give a nice introduction to this buying guide for environmental sensors. You will need to make the same compatibility considerations for environmental sensors as you do for security sensors. The sensors you choose must be compatible with your system and communicate at a wireless frequency that is accepted by the alarm panel you are using.

As a refresher, here are the compatible sensor lineups for our recommended systems. Just like last time, the sensor lineups that are italicized and underlined represent the encrypted sensors that provide extra wireless security and protection.

• Honeywell Lyric - Honeywell SiX Series, Honeywell 5800 Series, 2GIG 345 MHz Series
• 2GIG GC3e - 2GIG eSeries Encrypted Sensors, 2GIG 345 MHz Series, Honeywell 5800 Series
• Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus 319.5 MHz - DSC PowerG Sensors, Qolsys S-Line Sensors, Qolsys Legacy 319.5 MHz Sensors, Legacy Interlogix Sensors, Legacy GE Sensors
• Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus 345 MHz - DSC PowerG Sensors, Honeywell 5800 Sensors, 2GIG 345 MHz Sensors
• Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus 433 MHz - DSC PowerG Sensors, Legacy DSC 433 MHZ Sensors

While security sensors look for signs of forced entry and unauthorized access, environmental sensors look for undesirable environmental conditions. Specifically, we offer environmental sensors that look for life-threatening conditions, such as a fire or the presence of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. We also offer environmental sensors for detecting floods, water leaks, and unusually high or low temperatures that indicate a broken HVAC system. We will cover each type of environmental sensor in greater detail later in this holiday buying guide.

Adding environmental sensors to your system offers a few advantages. For one, it makes your alarm system more versatile so that it is looking for more than just security breaches. You will also be able to check off more boxes on your certificate of alarm (CoA), and that could lead to bigger savings on your home owner's insurance. Make sure to check with your insurance company to see if that is the case.

Life-Safety Sensors

Life-safety sensors monitor for unsafe environmental conditions that could result in a loss of life. Specifically, this group is primarily comprised of smoke and heat detectors and carbon monoxide sensors. There are also special combination sensors and listening modules that we will discuss further down the line.

First, we will take a look at some of our most popular smoke and heat detectors. These sensors monitor for both the smoke and extremely high temperatures associated with a fire. It is recommended that you have at least one (1) of these sensors on each floor of your building, particularly inside of sleeping areas and in central and connecting areas such as living rooms and hallways.

When checking out these sensors, you might also look for one-go-all-go functionality. This means that when one detector on the network activates, all of the other compatible sensors on the network will also activate their sounders. This can be very important for ensuring that everyone is alerted to the emergency. Certain jurisdictions may require one-go-all-go as part of building codes, so check with your local fire marshal to see if that is the case.

Here are our top picks for smoke and heat detectors.

Sensor Name	Product Lineup	Compatibility	Range	Encryption	Notes
Honeywell SiXSMOKE	Honeywell SiX Series	Lyric	300 Nominal Feet	128-bit AES	Encrypted photoelectric smoke detector and 135¡ãF fixed temperature and 15¡ãF per minute rate-of-rise heat detector w/ 85 dB sounder. Supports One-Go-All-Go.
DSC PG9936	PowerG	All IQ Panel 2 Plus	2,000 Feet Open Air	128-bit AES	Encrypted photoelectric smoke detector and 135¡ãF fixed temperature heat detector w/ 85 dB sounder. Supports One-Go-All-Go.
2GIG SMKT8e-345	2GIG eSeries	2GIG GC3e	350 Nominal Feet	2GIG eSeries encryption	Encrypted photoelectric smoke detector and 15¡ãF per minute rate-of-rise heat detector when fixed temperature is 104¡ãF or higher w/ 90 dB sounder and freeze detection at 40¡ãF.
Honeywell 5808W3	Honeywell 5800 Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	200 Nominal Feet	None	Non-encrypted photoelectric smoke detector and 135¡ãF fixed temperature heat detector w/ 85 dB sounder and freeze detection at 41¡ãF.

Now let's look at carbon monoxide sensors. These devices respond upon detecting unusually high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) gas. This gas is both odorless and tasteless, making it virtually impossible to detect without a proper sensor. The gas is extremely harmful to humans, and it can result in serious injury or death in a matter of minutes. We recommend installing at least one CO detector on each floor of your home or office. They are often installed outside of garages and furnace rooms where CO events are most likely to occur.

Here are our top picks for carbon monoxide sensors.

Sensor Name	Product Lineup	Compatibility	Range	Encryption	Notes
DSC PG9933	PowerG	All IQ Panel 2 Plus	2,000 Feet Open Air	128-bit AES	PowerG CO Detector w/ 85 dB sounder.
2GIG CO8e	2GIG eSeries	2GIG GC3e	350 Nominal Feet	2GIG eSeries encryption	2GIG eSeries CO Detector w/ 85 dB sounder.
Honeywell 5800CO	Honeywell 5800 Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	200 Nominal Feet	None	Honeywell 5800 Series CO Detector w/ 85 dB sounder.
2GIG CO8	2GIG 345 MHz Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	350 Nominal Feet	None	2GIG CO Detector w/ 85 dB sounder.
Qolsys IQ Carbon	Qolsys 319.5 MHz Series	319.5 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus	300 Nominal Feet	None	Qolsys CO Detector w/ 85 dB sounder.

We also want to give some special recognition to some combination smoke and CO detectors from Honeywell. These sensors combine fire detection with carbon monoxide detection into one convenient life-safety device.

Here are our top picks for combination smoke and CO detectors.

Sensor Name	Product Lineup	Compatibility	Range	Encryption	Notes
Honeywell SiXCOMBO	Honeywell SiX Series	Lyric	300 Nominal Feet	128-bit AES	Encrypted photoelectric smoke detector and 135¡ãF fixed temperature heat detector and CO detector w/ 85 dB sounder. Supports One-Go-All-Go.
Honeywell 5800COMBO	Honeywell 5800 Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	200 Nominal Feet	None	Encrypted photoelectric smoke detector and 135¡ãF fixed temperature heat detector and CO detector w/ 85 dB sounder and freeze detection at 41¡ãF.

Lastly, we want to mention a pair of listening modules. These devices actively listen for the Temporal 3 (T3) sound of an activated smoke detector or the Temporal 4 (T4) sound of an activated carbon monoxide sensor. These are commonly used with wired smoke detectors and CO detectors that would otherwise have no way of interfacing with an alarm system. If your smoke detectors or CO detectors are one-go-all-go, then, a single listening module can take over your entire wired detector network.

Here are our top picks for smoke & CO listening modules.

Sensor Name	Product Lineup	Compatibility	Range	Encryption	Notes
Encore FireFighter FF345	Encore 345 MHz Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	200 Nominal Feet	None	Offers both T3 Detection for Fire & T4 Detection for CO
Interlogix SLX-AD-T3	Legacy Interlogix 319.5 MHz	319.5 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus	200 Nominal Feet	None	Only offers T3 Detection for Fire. Not for use with CO detectors.

Flood Sensors

Next, we'll be looking at flood sensors. These devices use probes to detect water caused by a flood or leak. It only takes a small amount of liquid to activate one of these sensors, so your system will be alerted before any serious damage occurs. Many of these sensors double as temperature sensors, so expect to see quite a bit of cross-over with that section as well. For best results, use your flood sensors in low-plane areas where leaks are likely to occur, such as underneath toilets, water heaters, and in basements. You might also see that some flood sensor have a reporting delay that is used for false alarm prevention. This will be listed in the notes section in the table when applicable.

Let's check out our top picks for flood sensors.

Sensor Name	Product Lineup	Compatibility	Range	Encryption	Notes
DSC PG9985	PowerG	All IQ Panel 2 Plus	2,000 Feet Open Air	128-bit AES	PowerG Flood Sensor w/ 6-Foot Detection Probe.
2GIG FT6e-345	2GIG eSeries	2GIG GC3e	350 Nominal Feet	2GIG eSeries Encryption	2GIG eSeries Flood Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 95¡ãF and Freeze Detection @ 41¡ãF.
Qolsys IQ Flood-S	Qolsys S-Line Series	319.5 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus	600 Nominal Feet	Qolsys S-Line Encryption	Qolsys S-Line Flood Sensor w/ 6-Foot Detection Probe. Has a 1 to 3 minute reporting delay.
Honeywell 5800FLOOD	Honeywell 5800 Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	200 Nominal Feet	None	Honeywell 5800 Series Flood Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 95¡ãF and Freeze Detection @ 45¡ãF. Has a 25 second reporting delay.
2GIG FT6-345	2GIG 345 MHz Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	350 Nominal Feet	None	2GIG 345 MHz Flood Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 95¡ãF and Freeze Detection @ 41¡ãF.

Temperature Sensors

The final type of environmental sensors we'll be checking out are temperature sensors. These sensors look for unusually high or low temperatures that indicate a broken HVAC system. When a temperature sensor is used for high-temperature detection, it should not be confused with a heat detector that looks for extreme temperatures only associated with fires. Instead, the high-end for a temperature sensor will usually activate at around 90¡ãF. When a temperature sensor is used for low-temperature detection, it will sometimes be referred to as a freeze sensor. On the low-end, a freeze sensor will typically activate at a slightly higher than the temperature at which water freezes, which is 32¡ãF. This is done to give the end user a bit of notice so that they can take action before the pipes freeze. You can typically expect a freeze sensor to activate between 40¡ãF and 45¡ãF. Most temperature sensors will offer both high and low temperature detection. And just like in the previous category, there is a lot of crossover with flood sensors, so you may see some repeats from the previous selection.

Here are our top picks for temperature sensors.

Sensor Name	Product Lineup	Compatibility	Range	Encryption	Notes
DSC PG9905	PowerG	All IQ Panel 2 Plus	2,000 Feet Open Air	128-bit AES	PowerG Temperature Sensor w/ customizable high and low temperature detection.
2GIG FT6e-345	2GIG eSeries	2GIG GC3e	350 Nominal Feet	2GIG eSeries Encryption	2GIG eSeries Flood Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 95¡ãF and Freeze Detection @ 41¡ãF.
Qolsys IQ Temp-S	Qolsys S-Line Series	319.5 MHz IQ Panel 2 Plus	600 Nominal Feet	Qolsys S-Line Encryption	Qolsys S-Line Temperature Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 100¡ãF and Low Temperature Detection at 40¡ãF.
Honeywell 5800FLOOD	Honeywell 5800 Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	200 Nominal Feet	None	Honeywell 5800 Series Flood Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 95¡ãF and Freeze Detection @ 45¡ãF. Has a reporting delay of 25 seconds.
2GIG FT6-345	2GIG 345 MHz Series	Lyric, GC3e, 345 MHz IQ2+	350 Nominal Feet	None	2GIG 345 MHz Flood Sensor w/ High Temperature Detection @ 95¡ãF and Freeze Detection @ 41¡ãF.

Contact Us

Remember to contact us if you have any questions about environmental sensors or their compatibility. The best way to reach us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. This is also a good email to use if you are interested in starting new monitoring service. Remember that we are available to check email from 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Suffering from a serious house fire is an unfortunate reality that many people experience every single year. Understanding the most common causes of house fire can help you take preventive measures and stay prepared. With our helpful tips, you can prevent a serious fire in your home!

As a homeowner, it is your duty to make sure that your house is equipped to detect a fire and receive a prompt emergency response. This means installing an alarm system and programming enough smoke and heat detectors to cover the entirety of your house. You should have at least one smoke detector on every floor of your house. There should also be a smoke detector inside each bedroom, as well as inside each large central area, such as living rooms and dens. Hallways are also great locations for smoke detectors. Meanwhile, you can install standalone heat detectors inside areas not suitable for smoke detectors, such as kitchens, garages, attics and bathrooms.

However, a smoke and heat detector won't actually stop a fire from occurring. It will only alert you and/or a central monitoring station to a fire that is already in progress. That is why you need to take proper precautions to prevent fires in your home. If you know how most fires occur, then you can properly do you part to prevent them. With that out of the way, here are the top 10 causes for house fires and ways that you can prevent them.

10. Household Lighting

A light bulb housed inside a glass lighting fixture or light globe has the potential of starting a fire if it is not set up properly. This is especially true if it is very close to a lamp shade or something flammable. Also, knocking over a lamp onto the carpet can cause a fire if you are not careful.

Solution: Make sure to use light bulbs that comply with the recommended wattage specification of the lighting fixture. Also try not to leave lights left on overnight or while you are away. And remember to not place anything flammable around your lights and light bulbs!

9. Flammable Liquids

Many fires in the home occur to the careless use of flammable liquids. This usually concerns fuels such as gasoline or kerosene. However, some fires even occur due to rubbing alcohol or liquor that has been spilled and exposed to an open flame.

Solution: Always label your flammable liquids, and put them in a safe area away from heating sources and open flames. Make sure the other members of your household know not to use these liquids outside of their intended purposes.

8. Outdoor Barbecues

Barbecues are a lot of fun, but they can also turn into a fire hazard! A malfunctioning or greasy grill can cause a fire, as can general carelessness. A gas or propane leak can also result in a serious fire. If the fire manages to reach a tablecloth or household wall, disaster can strike.

Solution: Never use faulty or barbecue equipment, and make sure your grill is cleaned regularly. Always supervise your grill station while cooking to make sure a fire does not occur. You might also consider using natural gas and propane detectors. You might also consider the 2GIG STVGRL1-345 for compatible systems to make sure you do not leave your grill on.

7. Christmas Trees

Christmas trees are a must-have for the holiday season! But they can result in a house fire if you aren't careful. This is especially true if you have a dried-out tree that is surrounded by Christmas lights. Keep in mind that this can potentially happen with any holiday lights!

Solution: Keep your Christmas tree hydrated by watering it regularly and removing any dead wood from the trunk that would prevent it from soaking up water. Make sure you turn off your lights when you go to sleep. If you really want to be careful, just get an artificial fire-safe Christmas tree.

6. Candles

Candles smell great, and they really brighten up a room. But they are also an obvious fire hazard. Some carelessness can quickly result in a house fire and some expensive damage!

Solution: Never leave candles unattended, and make sure you put them out before you leave or go to sleep. Also remember to keep them away from flammable objects like tissue boxes and books. And be sure to avoid knocking a candle over!

5. Electrical Appliances

Many electrical appliances like toasters and clothes dryers can cause fires. This is often the case when the appliance has access to something flammable nearby, such as paper towels or cotton.

Solution: Check your appliances regularly, and replace them if they are faulty. Make sure to supervise your electrical equipment when it is in use. It is also a good idea to keep up with proper maintenance, including cleaning the lint trap in your dryer.

4. Curious Children

If there are children in your household, then they might be curious to know what happens if an object catches fire. A silly mistake or genuine curiosity could result in the end of your home.

Solution: Teach your kids fire-safety at an early age, and make sure they understand the consequences of playing with fire. Supervise younger children, and make sure they are not putting your home at risk. You might even want to enroll your children in a fire-safety class at a school or with your local fire department. Make it a family activity, and consider it a good learning experience for yourself as well.

3. Smoking Indoors

It's your home! If you want to smoke indoors, then that is your right. But just be aware that it can lead to a fire if you aren't careful. Many fires occur in bedrooms while smoking. This is often the case when the person smoking is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Solution: To be extra cautious, you should restrict smoking to outdoor areas only. If you really want to smoke indoors, try to avoid doing it in bed or around flammable objects. Better yet, take up vaping, or quit the habit altogether.

2. Heating Equipment

We get it - you need your heater to get through those rough winter months! Maybe you even have a Japanese-style kotatsu that you absolutely love? But that comfort device can quickly result in a fire if you aren't careful.

Solution: Keep your space heating devices away from flammable items and objects like laundry and curtains. Avoid knocking these devices over, and don't use them while unattended. And if you have a furnace, have it inspected regularly!

1. Cooking

Most fires occur in the kitchen due to cooking accidents. It really shouldn't come as much of a surprise. The kitchen is the number one source of fires in the home.

Solution: We would love to tell you to just eat out and avoid cooking altogether. But that isn't really feasible. Instead, we'll just have to give you the same old message as always. Follow safe cooking practices, and never leave your oven or stove unattended. Also make sure to install heat detectors in your kitchen. Maybe take a cooking class if you have a tendency to burn dinner!

If you have any questions about fire-safety, you can always reach out to us for help! The best way to contact us is to email support@alarmgrid.com. Just remember that we usually only respond to emails during our regular business hours of 9am to 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! Today, we're taking a quick look at the new DSC PG9936 PowerG Smoke & Heat Detector. This device is great for anyone looking for a reliable fire-safety sensor for use with a PowerG-compatible System. The new sensor offers some impressive features, and it is super easy to use!

The DSC PG9936 replaces the older DSC PG9916. The new model features an updated designed and enhanced detection for improved functionality. However, most of the specs from the PG9916 return to the PG9936. If you have an existing PG9916, then it will continue to work just fine. But it's great to see a new smoke and heat detector available!

For smoke detection, the PG9936 uses photoelectric technology. This is arguably the most consistent and more reliable smoke detection method available, and it will help ensure that any fire is detected as quickly as possible. The sensor also features a built-in 135¡ãF fixed temperature heat sensor for redundancy. This will give you peace of mind in knowing that any fire will be properly detected.

Any system that supports PowerG can use the DSC PG9936 Sensor. This includes any Qolsys IQ Panel 2 Plus and any DSC PowerSeries NEO with added PowerG Receiver. It can be easily auto-enrolled by putting the panel into its enrollment mode and then powering on the PG9936 by inserting its batteries. You are welcome to check out the PG9936 Install Guide for more information.

Also returning to the DSC PG9936 is one-go-all-go support. This means that if the sensor is activated, all other PowerG Smoke Detectors paired with the panel will also activate. This is very important for ensuring that everyone in the building is properly alerted to the fire. Remember that each PowerG Smoke Detector has an 85 dB sounder for alerting building occupants.

Each PG9936 uses three (3) AAA batteries for power (included), and has a three (3) battery life on average. The sensor features a tri-colored LED status light for assisting with enrollment and troubleshooting. It measures five (5) inches across and is 2.5 inches deep. There is a test button on the device for easy testing when needed. Remember to place your system on test mode first!

You can get the PG9936 from the Alarm Grid website right now! If you have any questions about the DSC PG9936 Smoke & Heat Detector or any of our other products, please email us at support@alarmgrid.com. Our support team checks emails between 9am and 8pm ET M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!

Hi DIYers! Today, we're taking a look at why one-go-all-go smoke detectors can help ensure that everyone in the building is alerted during a fire. Simply put, a one-go-all-go smoke detector will cause all of the other compatible smoke detectors on the system to activate at the same time.

Having all the smokes in your home activate at the same time can be crucial for ensuring that everyone is alerted in the event of a fire. This is especially true for larger homes that need several smoke detectors for complete coverage. Most alarm systems can have some type of interconnected one-go-all-go smoke detector network. However, implementing this feature properly can be difficult, and it requires additional equipment and wiring. Another important thing to remember is that the one-go-all-go feature is best achieved by using the same detector model across the network.

For those with wired alarm control panels, there is often a way to achieve a one-go-all-go setup using hardwired smokes. This is possible with both 2-wire smokes and 4-wire smokes, but both require the proper equipment. Many wired panels offer a way to conveniently reset the zone used for 2-wire smokes after a fire alarm has been cleared. This is needed for getting the smoke detectors to stop sounding and to reset the detector so that it can trip again, if necessary.

For the Honeywell VISTA Panels, all 2-wire smokes must go on zone 1. This zone will automatically reset, and power will be briefly dropped to the smokes after the alarm is cleared. Multiple 2-wire smokes are wired together in parallel, with an end of line resistor (EOLR) for wiring supervision. A good 2-wire smoke detector to use is the System Sensor 2WTA-B, which also includes a built-in sounder.

Unlike 2-wire smokes, 4-wire smokes have less restriction regarding where they can be wired. In fact, a 4-wire smoke on a Honeywell VISTA System will generally go on any hardwired zone, except for zone 1. Again, the smokes can be configured for a one-go-all-go setup, but this will require additional equipment and wiring. This also allows the smokes to take up fewer systems zones, as they can all use the same zone and programming settings.

One downside to using 4-wire smokes is that they often require additional resources to work properly. In order to get a 4-wire smoke to stop sounding, power to the device must be dropped. But unless the system has a built-in relay, this cannot be done without additional hardware. This can require an external relay, and possibly an additional power supply as well. Proper operation will also require an end-of-line power supervision relay to check whether or not power to the smokes has been interrupted. If you do decide to go the 4-wire route, the System Sensor 4WTA-B is a good option.

More recently, certain wireless smoke detectors also offer one-go-all-go functionality. Honeywell really took the initiative here by making their Lyric SiXSMOKE Sensor a one-go-all-go device. This sensor is exclusively compatible with the Honeywell Lyric Alarm System, and provides a very easy way to achieve a robust one-go-all-go setup. One-go-all-go is also compatible with the new Honeywell SiXCOMBO, which also offers heat and CO detection.

If you have a different wireless system than the Lyric, then there might still be way to attain a one-go-all-go setup. In most cases, this will require using 4-wire smokes with a compatible wireless transmitter. The transmitter will need to be able to support Normally Open (NO) life-safety devices with an end of line resistor. However, this is not possible for every wired-to-wireless converter.

Additionally the standard equipment for any 4-wire smoke is also required. This includes a relay, power supply and resistor. One transmitter that will work for this application is the Honeywell 5817CBXT. This module is part of the Honeywell 5800 Series, and it will work with nearly any alarm system that accepts the 345 MHz wireless frequency. Remember, the transmitter or converter must communicate at a frequency accepted by the alarm control panel.

Additionally, Qolsys recently released the Qolsys IQ Hardwire 16-F for 319.5 MHz systems. This is a 16-zone wired to wireless converter that is great for bringing over hardwired sensors to a newer wireless system. Zone 16 on the module is a Normally Open loop specifically designed for 2-wire smokes. The loop will support up to ten 2-wire smoke devices, which are wired in parallel with an end-of-line resistor. This revolutionary module represents the first way to bring 2-wire smokes over to a wireless all-in-one system. The necessary resistors come included with the module.

Additionally, if you have an existing network of high-voltage smokes, you can integrate them into a wireless system using a takeover module. These are devices that listen for the unique temporal sound of an activated smoke detector. If the existing smoke detector network is one-go-all-go, a single takeover module can accommodate the entire network. Alarm Grid offers takeover modules that operate at the 319.5 MHz (Interlogix/GE and Qolsys), 345 MHz (Honeywell and 2GIG) and 433 MHz (DSC) wireless frequencies. That way, you can conveniently take an exiting high-voltage smoke network and start using it with your new wireless security system!

If you need help choosing smoke detectors for a one-go-all-go setup, please don't hesitate to reach out to us! We can help you determine the perfect fire-protection devices for your security system. You can send an email to support@alarmgrid.com, or you can call us at (888) 818-7728 during our normal business hours of 9am to 8pm EST M-F. We look forward to hearing from you!