Nighthawk KN-COEG-3 manual Part Six - Frequently Asked Questions

Part Six – Frequently Asked Questions

Q.How many alarms do I need in my house? How much square footage will one alarm cover?

A.We recommend you place alarms near the sleeping area(s). If you have a multi-level home, you should place an alarm on each level of the home. A good rule of thumb for the number and placement of CO and Gas alarms for your particular home is to place CO and Gas alarms near smoke alarms that have been installed to meet current building code requirements.

Generally, one alarm can be adequate for 1,200 to 1,500 square feet of living space. The most important determination for the number of units needed is whether an alarm can be heard in all sleeping areas.

Q. Can you explain what “time-weighted alarm” means? A. Because carbon monoxide is a cumulative poison, two factors determine how the body is affected by CO: the level of exposure and the length of exposure. For example, being continuously exposed to low levels of carbon monoxide for many hours can be as dangerous as being exposed to higher levels of CO for a short period of time.

The microchip inside your Nighthawk CO and Gas alarm moni- tors the air for the presence of carbon monoxide and computes the levels and length of exposure, alarming when you should be concerned about CO exposure.

For more information about the alarm, see page 5-1.

Q. Do I have to press the test button to get a CO or Gas reading?

A. No. Your Nighthawk CO and Gas alarm continuously moni- tors the air for carbon monoxide and gas. An updated reading is shown on the digital display every 15 seconds. If there is no CO or Gas present, the digital display will show a zero. The alarm will alert you to the presence of CO or Gas automatically.

To test the internal components and circuitry of your alarm, press the Test/Reset button. For complete instructions on testing your alarm, see page 1-5,6.

Q.What happens if the power goes out?

A. If a good battery is in the unit, the alarm will display a blink- ing dot for at least 20 hours while still providing protection against CO or Gas exposure. Please note however, that the alarm will sample for the presence of gas once every eight minutes while on battery backup. Gas could be present during this eight minute period without alarming. Please see page 1-5.

Q.How do I get the alarm to show something besides “0.” OR, How can I determine if the sensors are operating correctly?

A.Please refer to “Testing Sensor Response” on page 1-6 for com- plete instructions on how to test your alarm’s electronics and sen- sor functions.

Q.You warranty the alarm for five years. How will I know when it doesn’t work anymore and I need to buy a new one?

A.In any event of malfunction, your alarm will alert you with malfunction signals. These signals are described in detail on page 1-6.

Q.What do the numbers mean on the digital display when

Ipress the “Test/Reset” button?

A.The numbers you see when you press the Test/Reset button are NOT a CO reading or a Gas alarm. This is a simulated read- ing the alarm displays as it tests its electronics. The numbers dis- played when the Test/Reset button is pushed should be between 100 to 400 (usually around 200). These numbers are shown after the “Gas” test is complete.

Q.I called in someone to inspect my home for CO after my unit alarmed, and he couldn’t find anything wrong. Why? Does that mean this unit “false alarmed”?

A.No. Please read the information explaining why a CO prob- lem can be difficult to diagnose on page 4-2. Also, please read the information on page 1-6 to make sure you experienced an alarm and not a malfunction alert.

Q.I tried to test the alarm (see below) and it still reads “0.” Why?

–by running the car in the garage

–by holding it to the tailpipe of the car

–by putting it next to the furnace vent

A.DO NOT try to test your alarm by doing any of the above! Testing the alarm using any of the methods listed above usually does not yield satisfactory results and could in fact be dangerous. To accurately test the alarm, please follow the guidelines given on page 1-5,6.

Never operate a vehicle in a closed garage, as high levels of CO can be built up in a short time. With an attached garage, dan- gerous CO levels develop inside the home as well as within the garage.

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