The Kidde Nighthawk KN-COPP-3 is part of the CO & smoke alarm
test program at Consumer Reports. In our lab tests, carbon monoxide alarm
models like the Nighthawk KN-COPP-3 are rated on multiple criteria, such as those listed below.
High CO levels:
High CO levels rates a model's response to CO of 300 parts per million.
Low CO levels:
Low CO levels rates a model's response to CO of 150 ppm.
Display/voice:
Display/voice rates the accuracy of the CO level either displayed digitally or conveyed by voice message.
About This Brand
Kidde owns FireX branded units and offers the Nighthawk and Silhouette lines. Nighthawk comes in plug-in and battery operated units. Price range of carbon monoxide units is $20 to $70. The Silhouette line comes in hardwired units and features a sealed, self-charging lithium battery that lasts for the life of the unit. The units can interconnect with other units and retail for about $60. Kidde also offers combo units, which have a smoke detector feature in addition to the carbon monoxide detector.
Kidde also carries the Intelligent alarm (not tested), which uses one device to detect fast flaming and smouldering fires and carbon monoxide. A voice warning is issued based on what danger is detected. CO alarms are sold in home improvement stores, including Home Depot and Lowes, at Sears, and at food and drug stores.
Smoke alarm prices range from $10 to $70. Kidde makes dual sensor units that use ionization and photoelectric technologies.
Features & Specs - Kidde Nighthawk KN-COPP-3
Power supply The power source of the model. Some have backup batteries (indicated by BB).
Power supply
Plug-in w/BB
Peak memory Indicates whether a model shows peak levels that have occurred.
I bought this based on CR recomendations. This is a good solid device. No problems with it. Thankfully, it has never gone off but, the test button works.<br />There is one issue with this and other brands and smoke alarms too. The alarm sound, when it goes off, is LOUD to the point of hearing damage. OK, yes, we need that during a real alarm. But when you unplug it from the wall, it alarms off the battery at full horn! WHY don't the engineers at Kidde and BRK make these things so the full alarm ONLY happens when actual detection happens?!
How long have you owned it:
More than six months
Bottom Line
By BOM
from Central Florida
4.0
Kidde Nighthawk KN-COPP-3
3/4/2013
Pros
Good display
Long Lasting
Loud alarm
Cons
Difficult Battery Replace
No Low Battery Display
No Unit Failing Indicator
Best Uses
Home Away From Heaters
Inside Near Garage
Comment:
Actually owned this model for over 4 years with no problems. Went dead with an err message at 2:30AM which is distressing, but worked very well while it functioned. Noted later they need ot be replaced every 5 years or so. Battery is a real pain to replace - inside the unit and you need to remove it from the wall mount to change battery.
How long have you owned it:
More than six months
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
By Tim
from North Carolins
(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)
5.0
Kidde's Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm
2/8/2013
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comment:
We had this unit upstairs in the hallway for over six years now, and find it to be extremely reliable. The battery has to be replaced every 12-18 months. I would recommend this CO Monitor to anyone.
How long have you owned it:
More than six months
Bottom Line
Yes, I would recommend this to a friend.
Other User Reviews
2.0
(based on 3 reviews)
By
extravoice
User has 6 Years of experience with this product
4.0
A Great Combo Unit
09/23/2008
Strength
Ideal for the furnace room, where two big threats are a CO leak or a natural gas leak. AC/Battery operation means you can pretty much ignore it most of the time.
Weakness
Paint fumes will trigger a gas alarm.There is no indication that the plug is out and it is running on battery.After 6 years, the thing failed by repeatedly triggering a gas alarm.
I had this unit for over six years and never had a battery problem. I'm not sure why the previous rater's alarm ate batteries so often. I replaced them once a year, even though it didn't need it. The unit will automatically switch to battery without *any* indication if the AC goes out. Perhaps he had a power problem, or maybe just a bad unit. I simply replaced the battery once a year, along with my smoke detector's battery.After 6 years, it finally failed (by repeatedly claiming a gas leak) and I'm going to buy another one.
This detector is a JOKE.....it HAS to have batteries & even New Batteries make it go off!
02/25/2007
Strength
Bought it for Digital readout.
Weakness
SHOULDN'T require a Battery Back up if you do not care to use this feature. Made it virtually worthless.
Maybe mine is junk , I do not know, but seeing the other guys review, it must be correct. I even had NEW batteries that would set this stupid thing off, if you try to use it without batteries, it will keep Beeping and beeping and beeping and if you use batteries, it still beeps, completely worthless. A waste of money.
Unless you're really bored and have lots of money for batteries, DO NOT BUY THIS MODEL. Of course the battery always seems to die in the middle of the night which turns the alarm on. Not a nice sound to wake up to. I would suggest buying a model without the battery backup.
8 people have reviewed this model.
Power supply
