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smoke detector

Smoke detectors are devices that detect smoke in the air and generate a loud acoustic alarm signal. Smoke detectors are used in security and alarm systems in buildings, public facilities, rooms, halls, means of transport and in halls of any kind where they detect smoke and thus provide early warning of fires and prevent them.

Smoke detectors work according to different methods and detect smoke or its suspended particles in the air. They can be based on an optical principle or on ionization.

Smoke detector, photo: feuerwehr-hamberge.de

Smoke detector, photo: feuerwehr-hamberge.de

Smoke detectors with optical detection work according to the Tyndall effect. This effect is based on the fact that a light beam is reflected by suspended matter and scattered widely. The scattered light of such a reflected light beam can be detected by light-sensitive sensors, by photodiodes or phototransistors.

This principle is implemented in optical smoke detectors. The smoke flowing through a chamber is penetrated by a light beam from a light-emitting diode. The light beam is reflected by the smoke particles and detected by a photodiode or phototransistor, the signal of which triggers the alarm sound at a predetermined threshold. If the air is clear and unpolluted, the light is not scattered and no alarm is triggered.

Informations:
Englisch: smoke detector
Updated at: 21.04.2016
#Words: 205
Links: signal, security, fact, light, beam
Translations: DE
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