Stay prepared with the most reliable smoke detectors for fire and carbon monoxide detection -- tested and recommended by our ...

They work differently in order to detect smoke. Ionization detectors use a very small amount of radioactive material inside of an ionization chamber with electrically charged plates. When smoke ...

When smoke enters the detector, it disrupts the flow of current and activates the alarm. Ionization smoke alarms work best on fires with active flames, also called “flaming fires,” McKelvey says.

It’s widely known that a smoke detector is a good ionizing radiation source, as they contain a small amount of americium-241, a side product of nuclear reactors. But what about other sources?

it’s everything you need to build an Internet-connected smoke alarm. Smoke alarms, or at least ionization-based alarms with a tiny amount of radioactive americium, are very simple devices.