Smoke Alarm BRK Model 0827/SA350 - Teardown

The BRK & First Alert 0827/SA350B is a Single Alarm (SA) unit with a 10-year, Tamper-proof, Lithium battery. It cannot be interconnected to other smoke alarms. It cannot be connected to 120 Volt AC Power.

According to the Specifications sheet and User Manual , the model number is 0827 and the catalog number is SA350B. The tag on the back of the unit also says Model 0827. There is a BRK Model No. SA340, so I am not sure why or if BRK is changing how they choose model and catalog numbers.

The 0827/SA350 replaced the SA340. The advantages are:

1. A lithum battery with similar dimensions to a 9-volt transistor battery. The SA340 used a 3-cell custom battery pack.

2. An upgraded Application Specific Intergraded Circuit (ASIC) that eliminated many of the external components.

For Maximum Resolution, Click on the Body of the Picture.

Front of the SA350B — Front of the BRK Smoke Alarm Model SA350B.

Back of the BRK Smoke Alarm Model SA350B before removing Battery Pullout Ring.

BRK Smoke Alarm 9-Volt Lithium Battery Voltage Measurement.

Component Side of BRK Smoke Alarm Model SA350B Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

Back of the SA350B Printed Circuit Board — Back Side of the BRK Smoke Alarm Model SA350B PCB.

Micro Chip RE46C180. — BRK uses an Application Specific Intergraded Circuit (ASIC), RE46C180, manufactured by Micro Chip - Data Sheet

Comments:

All I used was a small screwdriver to push the plastic taps inward so I could open this unit. There was another plastic tap holding the battery in place. Afterwards, I did reinsert the original battery, but I could have just as easily inserted an alkaline 9-volt battery. The back of the box and Specification Sheet [1] say "meets code for sealed, tamperproof, 10-year battery". I was expecting more of a deterrent.