Product Description
Defender CA6150 10-Year Carbon Monoxide Alarm
The Defender CA6150 carbon monoxide alarm combines an ANSI/UL 2034-listed residential alarm with a useful low-level readout. Press the display button to see the current CO level, the highest level in the last 30 days and how long that peak lasted, with readings down to 10 ppm. Two factory-sealed lithium batteries provide ten years of operation under normal conditions, backed by a ten-year limited factory warranty.
Reasons to Buy the Defender CA6150
- UL 2034 listed: Listed to ANSI/UL 2034. This is a battery-powered, single-station alarm; it does not interconnect with other alarms.
- Low-level readout on demand: Press the display button to read CO from 10 ppm, well below the levels that sound the alarm.
- Peak reading and duration: See the highest CO level detected in the last 30 days and how many minutes CO stayed within 10% of that peak.
- Sealed ten-year power: Non-removable batteries mean no battery changes. Replace the alarm ten years after installation.
- Secure mounting: The mounting plate and retaining screw keep the alarm in place. The unit activates when slid onto its plate.
- Separate controls and status lights: Dedicated display and test/reset/mute buttons, power, alarm and service lights, self-diagnostics and end-of-life notification.
Reading CO Is Different from Sounding an Alarm
The CA6150 manually displays detected readings from 10-999 ppm when you press its display button. Its automatic current display operates from 30-999 ppm. Its audible alarm responds to concentration and exposure time; a 10 ppm reading does not mean it will sound at 10 ppm.
| Function | CA6150 behavior |
|---|---|
| Button-operated current readout | Detected CO within the last minute, 10-999 ppm |
| Automatic current display | 30-999 ppm |
| Peak recall | Highest detected reading within the last 30 days, 10-999 ppm |
| Peak-duration recall | 1-999 minutes; total time within 10% of the peak |
| Alarm at 70 ppm | 60-240 minutes |
| Alarm at 150 ppm | 10-50 minutes |
| Alarm at 400 ppm | 4-15 minutes |
These are the manufacturer's specified alarm-response test points, not a claim that the alarm can never activate below 70 ppm. Follow the owner's manual whenever an alarm sounds. Alarm silence should not be interpreted as proof that the air is safe.
See It Tested: 50 PPM for 60 Minutes
We tested six carbon monoxide alarms and monitors at 50 ppm for 60 minutes. Watch to see which devices provided warnings and which remained silent, and why a listed alarm and a low-level monitor do different jobs.
Actual 60-minute test using 50 ppm NIST-traceable carbon monoxide calibration gas.
CA6150, LL6270 or the Two-Model Kit?
Choose CA6150 for its listed residential-alarm role and button-operated low-level readout, where this alarm type meets your installation requirements.
Choose LL6270 as an addition if you want automatic low-level monitoring and warnings without needing to press a button. It displays from 5 ppm, gives a visual alert at 9 ppm within ten minutes and an audible alert at 15 ppm within sixty minutes. It is not UL listed and supplements a listed alarm. View the Defender LL6270.
Choose the kit when you want both functions: a listed residential alarm plus supplemental low-level monitoring. View the CA6150 + LL6270 kit.
Technical Specifications
| Model / product type | Defender CA6150 / single-station residential CO alarm |
|---|---|
| Listing | UL listed to ANSI/UL 2034 |
| Sensor / sampling | Water-based electrochemical sensor with nuisance-gas filter / every 10 seconds |
| Display tolerance | ±20% from 30-400 ppm at 50% RH and 72°F ±5°F |
| Audible signal | 85 dB at 10 feet |
| Power | Two factory-sealed, non-replaceable lithium batteries; ten-year operation under normal conditions |
| Replacement | Ten years from installation; sensor end-of-life signal after ten years of operation |
| Warranty | Ten-year limited factory warranty for alarm and batteries |
| Operating conditions | 40-100°F; 10-95% relative humidity |
| Instrument size / weight | 5½ × 3¾ × 1â…œ inches / 8 oz |
| Housing / manufacture | White flame-retardant ABS / Canada |
Use in suitable conditioned indoor locations. This model does not detect smoke or other gases, is not intended for vehicles or unconditioned spaces, and is not an occupational-exposure compliance instrument. Full installation, testing and warranty instructions are in the manual.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the CA6150 meet building-code requirements?
It is UL listed to ANSI/UL 2034, the standard building codes reference for residential CO alarms. Whether a battery-powered, single-station alarm is accepted depends on the job. New construction and major remodels typically require alarms powered by the building's wiring with battery backup, interconnected when more than one is required. Many jurisdictions accept battery-powered alarms in existing homes. If the installation is for a permit or inspection, check with your local building department first.
Why does the display show CO when the alarm is silent?
The display and the alarm follow different rules. At 30 ppm or higher, the screen shows the CO level automatically. The horn and red ALARM light only activate when CO reaches the concentration-and-time points required by UL 2034: within 60-240 minutes at 70 ppm, 10-50 minutes at 150 ppm, or 4-15 minutes at 400 ppm. Our 50 ppm test video above shows this in practice.
How do I check CO levels below 30 ppm?
Press the Display CO Level button. The screen shows three readings, five seconds each: the current level detected in the last minute (10-999 ppm), the highest level detected in the last 30 days (10-999 ppm), and how long that peak lasted (1-999 minutes). To clear the peak memory, press Display CO Level, then press Test/Reset/Mute while the readings are showing. A long beep confirms it is cleared.
What if I want a warning below the UL 2034 alarm points?
Add the Defender LL6270 Low-Level Alarm. It gives a visual alert at 9 ppm and an audible alert at 15 ppm without pressing a button. Defender's own manual notes that people with medical conditions may want a device that signals below 30 ppm.
Can the LL6270 replace the CA6150?
No. The LL6270 is not UL listed, so it does not meet code where a listed CO alarm is required. The CA6150 covers that requirement but does not warn automatically at low levels. Use the LL6270 in addition to a listed alarm, or get the kit with both.
Does the kit make the two units interconnected?
No. The CA6150 and LL6270 operate as separate single-station devices. If your code requires interconnected alarms, the kit does not meet that requirement.
Where should I install it?
Put at least one alarm outside each sleeping area and one on every level of the home. Add one inside any bedroom where the door is closed at night. Mount it about five feet off the floor, at eye level. Avoid these locations:
- Within 5 feet of cooking appliances, furnaces, water heaters or space heaters
- Garages, dusty areas and rooms where cleaning or painting supplies are stored
- Bathrooms and laundry rooms, or within 3 feet of them
- Exterior walls, and areas below 40°F or above 100°F
- Within 1 foot of where a wall meets the ceiling or floor
- Within 1 foot of wireless devices
How do I test it, and how often?
Hold the Test/Reset/Mute button for at least 2 seconds. The alarm beeps 4 times, pauses, then beeps 4 more times while the red ALARM light flashes. This confirms the electronics and horn are working. Test it weekly, and again whenever the home has been empty for a while.
What should I do if the alarm sounds?
Press Test/Reset/Mute, call 911 or your fire department, and get everyone outside or to an open door or window. Stay there until responders arrive and the home has been aired out. Muting silences the horn for 5 minutes; if CO stays at 70 ppm or higher, the alarm sounds again within 5 minutes. If it goes off again within 24 hours, have a qualified technician inspect your fuel-burning appliances.
What do the chirps mean?
- One chirp per minute, green POWER light blinking: low battery. Replace the alarm.
- One chirp per minute, red SERVICE light glowing: end of life after ten years. Replace the alarm.
- Two chirps per minute, red SERVICE light blinking: internal fault. This signal cannot be muted. Contact warranty service.
Can I replace the batteries?
No. The two lithium cells are factory sealed with soldered connections. When the low-battery or end-of-life signal comes on, replace the alarm. A low-battery signal well before ten years may be covered under warranty; see Warranty Service below.
Manuals and Warranty
