On a recent Internet of Things Podcast episode, we took a question on our Voicemail hotline from Sam. Given all of the recent Matter news, Sam is wondering if there are any smoke detectors that support Matter right now. It’s a good question because some people aren’t clear about what the first device types will support.
Unfortunately, smoke and carbon dioxide detectors aren’t in the first bunch of supported device types. That’s not likely to change for quite a while either.
We reached out to First Alert, for example, and it didn’t have any support plans to announce. However, there already are working groups for new device types, including smoke and CO2 detectors. So give it time.
If you think about the Matter launch that just happened, it’s understandable.
This is Matter 1.0, or the very first implementation of the new connected device specification. Device certifications require time, effort, and money. Most of the Matter partners are focused first on a smooth launch and transition, which is essentially the state we’re in right now. And the first device types are those that have a large, widespread user base. Think of the basics such as light bulbs, switches, and outlets. Aside from being the most used and deployed, these are among the simplest of smart home products.
Once we get over the initial hump of this transition, other supported device types will follow. Stacey has information from many of the Matter partner brands here that explains what the devices are and when to expect full Matter support. Unfortunately for Sam, smoke detectors just aren’t high on the priority list right now. The focus is more likely to turn toward sensors, locks, and smoke detectors as there’s more demand for such connected products.
I’d also note that most of the first Matter devices will be one-time purchases: A connected bulb or outlet, for example, should last as long as you live in your home. Smoke detectors are on a more regular upgrade cadence as it’s recommended you swap them out every ten years or so. As a result, many homeowners have relatively new smoke detectors and will be waiting to upgrade them to a newer connected version.
To hear Sam’s question in full, as well as our discussion on the topic, tune in to the Internet of Things Podcast below:
Smoke alarms are highly regulated. Most likely you won’t see anything until one of the large manufacturers decides to enter the Matter market.
But there is a trivial work around. Just have a Matter based device nearby listen for the smoke alarm. Alexa already does this with Alexa guard. This solution is going to be far cheaper than any Matter based smoke alarm and it totally side steps regulatory issues.
Jon’s comment is bang on.
What I’m hoping happens sooner than later is thread connected smoke alarms – so that the smoke alarms can talk to each other, and one alarm can sound in the whole house.. (not that my house is big enough that I can’t hear the alarms all over.
Listen for the alarm on Matter, then use Matter connected audio devices to also sound the alaram.
BTW, in most cases to receive the insurance discount your alarms have to be hardwired and networked back to a monitored alarm panel. I have this and the discount far exceeds the cost of monitoring. It will be many, many years (if ever) before Matter based alarms qualify for this,
Google (for Nest Protect) and First Alert are already part of the working group on smoke detectors for Matter. There’s no guarantee it will actually happen, but the trajectory is in place.
There are a couple of third-party smoke detectors that work with HomeKit, so it might even be that we see those first.
Bosch and Netatmo have HomeKit-compatible smoke sensors that meet EU requirements, while first alert has a couple of OneLink models for the US.
I think we need to have a little more clarity around this statement from the article:
“ A connected bulb or outlet, for example, should last as long as you live in your home. ”
based on US government numbers, the average American lives in one place for seven years. So, sure, some of these electronic devices will last seven years. Some won’t.
The usual rule of thumb is to expect an electronic device (and if it has a radio inside, it’s an electronic device) to last about twice the length of the warranty. And it’s not guaranteed to do that.
many smart bulbs have a warranty period of two years. But they may also list a lifespan of about 15,000 hours. 15,000 hours is about eight years if you use it four hours a day, so, yes, the bulb may last until your next move. But if it’s a porch light that you leave on all night, it might only last three or four years.
Smart plugs also will typically have a lifespan of about seven years, but less if you use them more or if you use them with higher energy devices.
These aren’t 30 year purchases. The networking components do degrade over time, and they are being exposed to heat while they are in use. That’s a radio inside, and it doesn’t come with a lifetime warranty.
I just see a lot of people who buy smart devices and think it’s like buying a manual light switch, or a plumbing fixture, where the only issue is physical wear and tear on the device, and there isn’t much of that. Once you add electronics, you’re in an entirely different device class and you need to set your budget expectations accordingly.
As I have said elsewhere, I personally budget my smart devices on a three-year life cycle. If they last longer than that, that’s great: it means more money in the budget for other stuff. But most of the time the cycle is pretty similar to a mobile phone. The devices can degrade, new technologies can come out, there may be new features that I want. If I budget everything for a three-year replacement cycle, in my own home I end up with the cost quite similar to my mobile phone and contract, and that’s acceptable to me. I see the physical devices as the means of delivering the services I want, not so much as a hardware investment.
But whether you budget the way I do or not, I do think it’s important to know that most of these devices are going to last significantly less than 10 years. Which is about the same as the expected lifespan of a smoke sensor in the United States. So I don’t think it’s expected longevity That is the difference.
I agree with @John Smirl that it is likely the increased regulatory requirements around smoke sensors that are probably what’s added the complexity of the design and development of that device class.
The most common failure modes of smart electronics are the electrolyte of electrolytic capacitors evaporating and then the capacitor fails, the seal on a hermetically sealed component (like a crystal fails), lightning damage.
The problem is that fixing those issues is expensive; 5 cent capacitors turn into $1 each. Fixing all of these issues doubles the cost of the unit. Experience then shows that no one will pay this higher price for increased longevity, everyone just keeps buying the cheap stuff. So no one builds long life-time units.
People are also unrealistic about the longevity of smart electronics. They keep comparing the lifetime of a smart switch to a dumb one. A dumb switch is nothing but a hunk of metal. Given how a dumb switch is built it could conceivably last a thousand years. If longevity is your goal, don’t by smart devices.
Sorry, @Jon Smirl. Voice error, and I didn’t catch it before it posted.
BTW, most smoke detectors utilize radioactive Americium (element 241) in their construction. The regulatory burden of manufacturing something containing a toxic, radioactive element is insane.