Design and Fabrication of Smoke Detector Alarm - Project Information and Background

This article provides information about the Design and Fabrication of Smoke Detector Alarm project, including its objectives, distinctive activities, and identified issues and solutions. It also discusses the engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project.

CE 2.1 Project Information
Name of the project: Design and Fabrication of Smoke Detector Alarm
Location of the project: Please fill
Project Duration: Please fill
Organization: Please fill
Role and Designation during the time: Team Member of the project
CE 2.2 Project Background
CE 2.2.1 Characteristics of the project
This particular project of Design and Fabrication of Smoke Detector Alarm was my
second significant project in engineering career. The smoke alarm is the device, which senses
smoke, usually the indicator of fire. This type of alarm might issue the signal into any fire
alarm control panel as the major portion of this system of fire alarm. The fire detection is the
most important and vital aspect in building designing. The automatic detection of fire or
smoke was easily done with the help of this smoke detector. There were two distinct methods
that helped in detecting smoke within our project. The two methods were photoelectric and
physical process. We have utilized these two methods in our detector. We even compared the
results of smoke detector and heat detector, thus increasing fire detection.
CE 2.2.2 Objectives developed for the project
The specific project of Design and Fabrication of Smoke Detector Alarm consisted of
various significant objectives. They are as follows:
 To design as well as fabricate smoke detector alarm.

 To analyze and calibrate MQ2 smoke sensor.
 To develop audio warnings or buzzers for indicating the presence of smoke.
 To develop visual warnings like LCD or LED for indicating smoke detection.
CE 2.2.3 My area of work
My major area of work in this particular project of Design and Fabrication of Smoke
Detector Alarm was to prepare as well as present sketches that are showing location of
equipments and wirings. I was even responsible for creating and maintaining inventories of
the electrical materials like material costs and quotation. Preventive upkeeps were given and
every day rounds or readings were conducted by us. My other areas of work were
documenting the project report properly and hence were sure that if the project report is not
made properly, it might be bringing major issues.
CE 2.2.4 Project Group
Figure 1: People involved in the project

CE 2.2.5 My responsibilities throughout the project
I was an important part of the project. My major responsibilities included
constructing, calibrating and maintaining the various electrical instruments. I even trouble
shoot as well as repaired these various instruments whenever required in my project. The
other responsibilities in this specific project included conducting inspections for the quality
control and assurance programs. I also reported the findings that we have achieved in the
project and provided several recommendations and suggestions. My next responsibility was
to analyze and interpret the electrical test information for the purpose of resolving design
related issues or problems. I was successful in executing all the responsibilities and duties
provided to me.
CE 2.3 Distinctive Activity
CE 2.3.1 Engineering knowledge and skills applied in the project
I have utilized my electrical engineering skills and knowledge in this project of
Design and Fabrication of Smoke Detector Alarm. The most significant skill that was applied
by me in this project was proper utilization of tools, several calibration equipments as well as
wires for building the electrical systems. The existing wiring was tested in the process for the
sole purpose of safety and quality control. The older electrical systems were also updated by
me in this project for meeting the current codes and safety regulations that were needed here.
Another important skill that I have used is reading the blueprints for learning where the panel
boards, circuits and outlets are found or positioned.
CE 2.3.3 Comprehending the Theory of Project
The smoke detectors have prior detection when compared with heat detectors, hence
are preferred for fire detection. They also find application in detecting, and hence
determining smoking within premises wherever it is being banned. The smoke detector can

be defined as the device, which has the ability in sensing the smoke eventually as the major
pointer of fire or the non smoking area. For the sake of human safety as well as safeguard
properties against this fire in both the settings of domestic or commercial, various solutions
for the smoke detection is being developed. All of these designs subsequently vary by
depending on methodology of the smoke detection. The specific photoelectric detector of
smoke utilizes the optical beam for searching for the smoke. When any of the smoke particle
clouds the beam, the photoelectric cell could sense the reduction in the intensity of light and
finally triggering an alarm. Simultaneously, the chamber of ionization smoke detector is
faster in sensing the flaming fires, which can produce extremely lesser smoke. This employs
a typical radioactive material for ionizing the air within the sensing chamber and thus
triggering the alarm.
The various components used here are MQ2 smoke sensor, Atmega 32A, LCD
module, Buzzer, LED and Power supply module. MQ2 sensors are eventually utilized within
the gas leakage for the detection of equipments, and are thus suitable for the detection of
LPG, i-butane, alcohol, Hydrogen and smoke. The microcontroller is the computer on any
chip. This microcontroller is a typical compact microcomputer that is being designed for
controlling the overall operation of each and every embedded electronic system within
several applications like the motor vehicles, medical devices, office machines, home
appliances, robots, vending machines, mobile radio transceivers, and other electronic devices.
There is generally one chamber that is being constructed for the reason that any
smoke particles could not enter, and thus this smoke detector can constantly compare the
flow of current within this sensing chamber with the respective flow in reference chamber.
When any type of difference is being noticed or developed, the alarm is then triggered. It is
the most frequently utilized design for any type of detection of smoke. This hence affects The

characteristics of voltage that could be utilized for pulling high voltage at the specific base of
the transistor where the supply to this chip on board could be completed.
The primary objective of this project was designing a typical circuit, which can easily
detect the smoke and then trigger an alarm. This design of the system has been subdivided
into three steps. They are hardware designing, software designing and finally fabrication. The
specific sensor could easily detect the smoke within the range of around 300 to 10,000 ppm,
hence giving the analog output voltage between 0 v to 5v after depending over the total
quantity of the detected smoke. We have used the sensitive material of SnO2 that has the
conductivity much lower in the clean air. When this conductivity increases with the overall
increase in the concentration of the combustible gases, a respective analog voltage is being
generated at the specific output. For the significant microcontroller interfacing the sensor, the
alarms as well as the LCD, this is to be programmed, and thus software designing was done
by us. We at first tested the circuit and found it to be perfectly functioning and thus the last
stage was fabrication. This fabrication was for facilitation of fitting the entire design on the
smaller board and within the compact manner.
CE 2.3.4 Identified issues and their solutions
2.3.4.1 Issues
There were some of the most important issues that I had faced in this project. The first
and the foremost issue that I have faced here is the longevity of the batteries of our smoke
detector alarm. The battery that we had selected for this project was not giving a longer
duration and thus a chirping sound was taking place for the low battery condition. These
batteries were utilized as the major power sources for the detector designs. The next
significant problem that I had faced here was connecting the 110 volt AC electrical wiring for

all the hard wired fire alarms on the same circuit. This particular type of interlinked fire
system eventually allowed a single detector for triggering every causes of fire.
2.3.4.2 Solutions
I provided relevant suggestions to all of these problems in the project and hence was
able to solve them all eventually. For the first issue of batteries, I provided the suggestion to
change or alter the batteries. I suggested that we should use an easy to open and swing out
battery tray. These types of batteries comprise of a battery compartment that is easily
accessed from the front units. Hence, these alarms should be removed from the base plate for
accessing from back and then replacing it with a fresh alkaline cell. For the second issue of
circuit, I suggested to utilize a tripped circuit breaker in this cause. This tripped circuit
breaker caused the 110 volt hardwired smoke detector for start beeping. Hence the AC power
was restored.
CE 2.3.5 Plan to produce creative and innovative work
We had made a plan for this particular project. Our plan was producing innovative
and creative project by simply working collaboratively. We segregated the work properly and
all of us properly our duty or responsibility properly. Furthermore, regular follow ups were
being taken by us in the project.