Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, AA Battery Powered, Model COB
Product Information, Not A Review
Quick Specs
What Stands Out
What To Check
The Kidde COB is a carbon monoxide alarm that runs on AA batteries instead of house power. It is Amazon's best seller in Carbon Monoxide Detectors, and Kidde is the name on a lot of the alarms already on American ceilings.
It is built for the outage. Winter storms are when people run propane heaters indoors, cook on camp stoves and park generators by the garage, and carbon monoxide has no smell and no color. A battery alarm keeps watching while the wired ones may not.
The Numbers That Matter
2 AA batteries, no wiring. This is why it earns a spot in the emergency bin. It keeps working when the grid is down, and it can sit on a nightstand or a dresser in whatever room the family gathers in. Kidde says to change the batteries about once a year.
85 dB with an LED light. Loud enough to wake a sleeping house, with a light for anyone who cannot hear it. Press Test/Hush on a schedule so you know it works.
UL 2034 5th Edition. That is the current safety standard for residential CO alarms in the US.
| Spec | What it decides |
|---|---|
| AA battery power | Whether it works during an outage |
| 85 dB and LED | Whether it wakes the house |
| Wall or tabletop | Whether it can move room to room |
| UL 2034 5th Edition | The standard it is built to |
Placement and what to do. Kidde recommends a CO alarm on every level of the home, including the basement, and in or near each sleeping area. Carbon monoxide mixes evenly with room air, so Kidde says it can go anywhere on the wall. If you run an indoor-rated heater like the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy, keep this alarm in the same room. If it sounds, Kidde's instruction is to get everyone out to fresh air right away and call 911, and not to hunt for the source yourself. Kidde says CO alarms should be replaced every 5 to 10 years, so write the install date on the back. Never run a generator, grill or camp stove inside the house or garage, alarm or not.
Who It Is For
The dad who has a propane heater, a camp stove or a generator in the outage plan and wants a warning system that does not need the grid. It is the partner piece to the Mr. Heater Portable Buddy and Coleman 16 oz propane cylinders. For power that makes no carbon monoxide at all, a Jackery Explorer 300 runs phones and lights safely inside, and the First Aid Only all-purpose first aid kit belongs in the same bin.
Every Dad Carry earns a commission on qualifying purchases made through the link above, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
The Short Version
Wired alarms can go quiet when the power drops, which is exactly when families bring generators, grills and heaters too close to the house. A battery CO alarm in the room where everyone sleeps is the simplest safety step in any outage plan.
MIKE MANNING
Ready to buy?
