Kidde Smoke Detector
- Smoke Detectors & Fire Alarm
- Corded electric
- Photoelectric
- 1
- More reviewed than 60%
A dependable hardwired replacement for houses already wired for interconnected alarms. Not the right choice if you cannot access household wiring.
As an Amazon Associate, ProductDome may earn a commission from qualifying purchases made through links on this page.
How it ranks among the 10 smoke detectors & fire alarms we track
4.0★ across 1,400 Amazon ratings, Bayesian-smoothed toward the category average.
1,400 Amazon ratings, weighted on a log scale so huge counts don't drown everything.
1,000+ bought on Amazon last month.
Brand identity, imagery, description and spec coverage.
The ProductDome score is separate from the Amazon rating shown above: it combines the Bayesian-smoothed Amazon rating with evidence volume, tracked demand, and data quality across the 10 smoke detectors & fire alarms we track - how the scorecard works · full smoke detectors & fire alarms data report. Confidence: high - strong rating volume and complete data.Updated 7 days ago. Data-computed, not a hands-on test. Compiled by the ProductDome Research Team.
Overview
The Kidde 20SA10 is a hardwired smoke detector that runs on 120V household power with a sealed 10 year battery built in as backup, so it keeps working through a power outage without the chirping of a swapped 9 volt. It also interconnects with other Kidde alarms in the home.
Unlike Kidde's simple battery only units, the 20SA10 wires into the house's electrical system, which puts installation closer to an electrician's job than a quick swap. The payoff is that one alarm sensing smoke can trigger every connected unit in the house, and there is no separate battery to buy or replace for a decade.
- 120V AC power with sealed 10 year backup battery
- 85 dB alarm with red LED warning light
- Interconnect capability across connected Kidde alarms
- UL 217 10th Edition and FCC tested
Who it's for
Suited to homeowners replacing an existing hardwired alarm, or anyone wiring multiple interconnected alarms through a house. Renters and anyone without access to the home's wiring should look at a battery only model instead.
Strengths and trade-offs
Drawn from this product's published specifications.
- Hardwired power with 10 year battery backup
- No low battery chirps to chase down
- Interconnects with other Kidde alarms
- 10 year limited warranty
- Needs household AC wiring, not a plug and play install
- Interconnect benefit only applies once more than one unit is wired in
Performance notes
Power comes from the home's 120V circuit, with a built in 10 year battery that takes over during an outage, so the alarm never drops into a low battery chirp cycle. The interconnect wiring means any connected alarm that senses smoke sounds every unit in the chain, and Kidde estimates the built in battery saves around $40 in replacement batteries over the alarm's life.
Specifications
| Brand | Kidde |
|---|---|
| Model | 20SA10 |
| Dimensions & fit | |
| Item Weight | 9.4 ounces |
| Item Dimensions D x W x H | 1.9 × 5 × 5 inches |
| Capacity & performance | |
| Upper Temperature Rating | 100 °F |
| Power & efficiency | |
| Power Source | Corded electric |
| Construction & materials | |
| Enclosure Material | Plastic |
| Color | White |
| Included components | |
| Unit Count | 1 |
| Warranty & support | |
| Manufacturer Warranty Description | 10 years |
| Other details | |
| Sensor Type | Photoelectric |
| Number of Items | 1 |
| Operating Humidity | Up to 95% relative humidity (RH), non-condensing |
| BuiltIn Media | Alarm, Mounting Hardware, User Guide |
| Mfr Part Number | 21032863 |
| Product Style | 9th Edition |
| Alarm | Smoke Detector |
| Item Highlight | Wired Interconnect, No Battery Replacement or Low Battery Chirps, LED Status Lights, Ideal for Homes & Apartments |
| Item Type Name | Smoke Alarm |
Other Kidde smoke detectors & fire alarms
How it compares
This product against the closest alternatives we track in smoke detectors & fire alarms.
| Product | Amazon rating | Ratings | ProductDome score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kidde Smoke DetectorThis product | 4.0 / 5 | 1,400 | 4.2 / 5 |
| First Alert Battery Smoke AlarmFirst Alert | 4.6 / 5 | 5,600 | 4.7 / 5 |
| X-Sense Smoke Detector Carbon Monoxide Detector ComboX-Sense | 4.5 / 5 | 4,200 | 4.5 / 5 |
| First Alert SC-9120B Hardwired Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Battery Backup 2 PackFirst Alert | 4.6 / 5 | 574 | 4.5 / 5 |
| First Alert Hardwire Smoke AlarmFirst Alert | 4.5 / 5 | 2,600 | 4.4 / 5 |
Similar smoke detectors & fire alarms from other brands
Questions about the Kidde 20SA10
Common buyer questions answered straight from the product spec data - no fluff, no "it depends".
Does the Kidde 20SA10 still work if the power goes out?
Yes, its built in 10 year battery takes over automatically during an outage.
Can the 20SA10 be installed without an electrician?
It wires into 120V household power, so most homeowners have an electrician or someone familiar with home wiring handle installation.
Will one 20SA10 alarm trigger others in the house?
Only if it is interconnected with other compatible Kidde alarms; on its own it functions as a single hardwired unit.