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Smoke alarm on ceiling.
Product review
Updated April 2021

Smoke alarms

We tested 12 models to see which respond fastest to smoke.

Orca OM107H-LS
April 2018

Orca

OM107H-LS

Price
$22
Score
80
Good
Recommended

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    Test results

    • 65
      Ease of use

    More test results

    • Smouldering fire sensitivity

      Good

    • Flaming fire sensitivity

      Good

    Model

    • Avg price

      $22

    • Alarm type

      Photoelectric

    • Noise

      96dBA

    • Battery type

      Sealed lithium

    • Size

      Standard

    Features

    • Battery life

      10 years

    • Alarm life

      10 years

    • Warranty

      10 years

    • Hush period

      9min

    • Carbon monoxide alarm
    • Alarms can be linked
    • Voice alerts

    More info

    • Notes

      -

    • Availability

      -

    Member reviews

    9 Member reviews

    Faulty

    Pros

    Good review

    Cons

    I estimate a failure rate of about 50%, i.e. activations of alarms (often in middle of night) with no apparent cause

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Kenneth T.

    Used 6 months or more

    The false alarms have begun...

    Pros

    Cheap, easy to install

    Cons

    We have installed these in every room in our house. A month ago (7 months after install) the one in our dining room started going off for no reason. It could be hushed for 5 mins before going off again. Battery was changed, alarm still went off. Tonight the alarm in my child's room went off randomly. Having read several reviews I now understand that this model/brand is unreliable. Would not recommend.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Elizabeth A.

    Used 6 months or more

    False Alarms

    Pros

    No need to change batteries. Cheap.

    Cons

    I installed this alarm in my motorhome. I had one false alarm while driving. I have had two in the early hours of the morning. At none of these times has there even be the remote chance of any smoke around.
    I bought a dual pack and hope to get my money back on the used one and the unused one.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Jocelyn A.

    Used 6 months or more

    False alarms galore

    Pros

    None

    Cons

    Out of 6 Orca alarms 4 have developed faults and cause false alarms within the first 2-3 years. We have been woken middle of night 3 times, and our neighbours have rung us while we were on holiday saying our smoke alarm has been going off all afternoon. Total waste of money - how we have to invest in replacements (will not be this brand) for them all as we don’t trust them.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    James H.

    Used 6 months or more

    Orca brand did not last one year let alone 10 years!

    Pros

    Big hush button, nothing much else going for it.

    Cons

    Of four Orca's, 3 would go off during the night as if I had a fire. I would hush then a few minutes later, the same thing. Swapped out in Dec 2019, deinstalled in March, May & June 2020, barely six months later. These were replacements from other photoelectric 10 year long life brands that had also failed. I'm left with lots of different holes in the ceiling depending on the size of their ceiling plates. Very unreliable. I am now trying Goldair brand. I've been labelling the units for dates I purchased and kept receipts although how ironic, the actual receipt ink faded to nothing on one!

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Rita M.

    Used 3 - 6 months

    Don't buy

    Pros

    It worked for a few months

    Cons

    Alarm went off without warning and wouldn't stop. Luckily I had a spare red battery block thingy so ended up putting that back in to disconnect the power to the alarm. Crap brand as have also had problems with their 9v units

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Previous member

    Used 1 - 3 months

    Low Battery beeping after 1 year

    Pros

    Nothing

    Cons

    Positioning checked by Fire Service following false alarms.
    Now experiencing low battery beeping after 1 year.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Murray S.

    Used 6 months or more

    Keeps beeping as for low battery indication

    Pros

    Never had a need to go off so I assume it would have worked.

    Cons

    Was meant to last 10 years. After only one year the smoke alarm keeps beeping as in for low battery indication even after inserting a new battery.

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    Claudia S.

    Used 6 months or more

    Model OM.588H-LL manufactured 10/07/2112

    Pros

    Easy to install. Responded very loudly on the two or three occasions we burnt toast so badly the smoke drifted through to the living area. Claimed ten year lithium battery life

    Cons

    Started chirping last evening (31/07/2018) Phoned distributor. They considered six years was quite a reasonable life & suggested I fit an alkaline battery! Not at all impressed, particularly when you consider I can buy Consumer recommended alternative brands for just $20.00

    Recommend it?

    No, this product has too many drawbacks.

    C T L.

    Used

    Have you used this product? Share your opinion with Consumer members

    See all 9 member reviews

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