Heat detectors are very useful where there's a risk of deliberate smoke or haze on a regular basis that would cause false triggering of a traditional smoke detector. The complicated units can sense a sudden increase in temperature associated with a fire, while simpler units just have a set temperature threshold.
This one has a very weird bit of circuitry that had me double checking the schematic. If you've got any ideas about it then leave a comment down below.
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15 thoughts on “Inside a heat detector alarm. not a smoke detector.”
  1. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars hammerandspannerman1 says:

    Perhaps they use this board in a mains powered unit as well ? So could be a variation in supply which would affect the thresholds?. As you say a battery version won't be affected by this 🤔

  2. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars BedsitBob says:

    Can you recommend any uses, for an expired Carbon Monoxide alarm?

  3. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Steven Baynes says:

    Clive, It's call a "rate of rise of heat detector", I used to install them back on the 80's, very effective

  4. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Pred S. Bundalo says:

    For some reason, I find the photo of the white circuit board especially gorgeous. Kudos to your photography, Clive, and to your printer. The zoomed, high-quality photos really help to see what's going on.

    BTW, I only discovered your channel relatively recently, but I think I've watched at least 50 videos. Very addicting. Besides the electronics, as an American, it's nice to learn about the Isle of Man, the UK, Scotland, and even your quirky friends.

    Keep up the good work, sir.

    –pred

  5. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Polite Cat says:

    i thought all diodes that are orange with that black stripe were zener diodes. is that not true?

  6. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Lenny says:

    Why is the GP Supercell marked as containing lead?

  7. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ste Uk says:

    Could you use the sensor as a ion scanner sort there have at airports to detect drugs. Sort you see at airports on the documentarys

  8. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ste Uk says:

    We have inspection microscope in my laboratory

  9. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Ste Uk says:

    I have thermistors. I can get lots off them from amazon

  10. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars yagoa says:

    What do you think about Stefan Molyneux's videos?

  11. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Phonotical says:

    Zener might be in the circuit as an error and only useful when the board is totally populated and linked to other devices, if they are battery powered I ver several devices the excess could build up

  12. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars DAVID GREGORY KERR says:

    Pin 2 is the TX/RX pin for communications between devices.

  13. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Tom Birch says:

    Does anyone watch mymatevince along with big clive?

  14. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Kim Dara says:

    It seems that the 2N7000 transistor is susceptible to static electricity; just soldering the transistor with an ungrounded soldering iron might blow it out. Once the transistor is mounted in the circuit board it is usually not a problem. However, with the thermal-resister sticking out like that, where someone could touch it; the "mystery" zener diode provides some protection by limiting any external static charge that might accidentally be induced directly into the transistor and causing it to blow out.

  15. Avataaar/Circle Created with python_avatars Hola! Jason martin says:

    I think this is some kinda of bias for gate of the fet. though the leakage current is very low Fets are voltage controlled so need very little current to affect them. Thats the only reason I could see how desoldering the diode would change sensitivity it must have changed the leakage of the diode they are very sensitive to heat.

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