Smoke alarm on ceiling.
Product review
Updated April 2021

Smoke alarms

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

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

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