Portable smoke alarm that fits onto a key ring - initiated by smoke - leave by your bed, useful when staying in a new place/holiday/camping/traveling.-- Osborn, Jul 02 2002 (?) Portable smoke alarm http://www.etravele...m/salsmokaldoo.html5"X2.5"X1" [FarmerJohn, Jul 02 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004] Boffo http://www.halfbake...rchexpression=boffoIt's a [phoenix]ism [angel, Jul 03 2002, last modified Oct 17 2004] So just how often does your pocket catch fire?-- DrCurry, Jul 02 2002 I wouldn't go bar-hopping with this one in my trousers. But an admirable invention, nonetheless.-- polartomato, Jul 02 2002 Smoke alarms contain radioactive material, and therefore I would think it would be ill advised to keep one so close to your family jewels all day long.-- JakePatterson, Jul 02 2002 [DrCurry] Depends on whether or not you're carrying your voice-activated lighter.
Boffo idea, by the way.-- phoenix, Jul 03 2002 Boffo?-- NickTheGreat, Jul 03 2002 Jakepatterson: Most ionisation smoke detectors use about 10 microCuries of Americium, an alpha emitter. They're usually quite adequately screened by the thin aluminium can they come in - only dangerous if ruptured. Alpha is blocked even by thin, low density materials like paper - the danger would arise if the device is ruptured. The answer is to use an optical absorbtion detector. A well proven and available technology.
I actually do carry a small smoke detector and a small halon fire extinguisher and a smoke hood and a Maglite and 30 metres of parachute cord in my hand luggage when I travel.......
This proposed device would need some sort of a clip or other gadget to allow it to be hung high up in the room. In a pocket, it might be masked from smoke until it was too late.-- 8th of 7, Jul 03 2002 [8/7], they must love you at the security checkpoints.-- wiml, Jul 03 2002 wiml: from that list, I would say that he is the one trying to sneak past the checkpoints.-- DrCurry, Jul 04 2002 random, halfbakery