Product Review: Kidde KN-COSM-B Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector with Voice Alarm

Having recently invested in a high output heater for my Stealth Van Dwelling, the idea of health hazard came to mind. True the heater has a low oxygen shut off, and being a catalytic type heater is not suppose to produce carbon monoxide, but things often don't work out the way they should.

As I plan on heating my van through cold Minnesota winter nights the idea of adding a safety measure more often thought of for permanent structures came to mind. I wanted both a smoke detector and a carbon monoxide detector to protect me from becoming what's commonly referred to as "DEAD".

Off to the home center I went, looking for a single device that would do both jobs. Plus I required one that was battery operated as well.

By in large the majority of carbon monoxide detectors are designed to be plugged into an electrical wall outlet. There were many to choose from in this configuration.

It did take a bit of looking, but one stood out from the crowd that would meet all my requirements. The Kidde KN-COSM-B combined unit, complete with talking alarm for about $35 seemed to suit the bill.

With 3 AA batteries, it is a stand alone detector that will take care of business. Little did I know at the time I mounted it that it would receive it's first dramatic test within a few days.

Installation was simple, just two screws secured it to the ceiling of my van. I didn't notice that of the 3 batteries, one was to be installed reverse to the other two. This resulted in strange beeping and apparent lack of proper operation.

With the batteries corrected, the alarm settled in and started it's silent vigil.

Less than a week later, as I was driving across town, I smelled a funny sweet odor I couldn't identify. My first thoughts were antifreeze because of the sweetness. Checking under the hood revealed nothing abnormal so I opened the side door of the van.

The odor was much stronger in the back half of the vehicle, but still nothing visible as to the source.

I lifted the lid to a storage compartment and was greeted with a huge billowing cloud of dark smoke. Electrical fire, I had been smelling burning wiring insulation. The alarm immediately sounded, loud and clear. The voice kept repeating "Fire, Fire" the electricity to the problem area was quickly disconnected and the smoke never did become fire. To silence the alarm it was taken down and removed to outside air.

Though I sensed a problem before the alarm did, knowing it would sound to the extent it did is reassuring. If it had been night time with me asleep, the alarm sounding would have been a life saver. As it turned out, everyone was safe, and the damage due to burning wiring amount to about $50.

Over all an experience indicating that whether you're mobile or stationary, having a working smoke and carbon monoxide detector could easily save your life.