Kidde · Hardwired smoke alarm (sealed 10-year battery)
Kidde i12010S / i12010SCO: age, expiry and what replaces it
Quick answer
The i12010S is Kidde's wired-in ionization smoke alarm with a lithium backup battery sealed inside, so there is no battery to change. Ten years after it is first powered it double-chirps to say it is done, and Kidde's page now points to the 20SA10 as the upgrade. The i12010SCO is the smoke + CO version with the same sealed battery; its page did not name a replacement when we checked.
Last checked
At a glance
- Sensor type
- Ionization1
- Power
- 120 V AC house wiring, backed up by a 3 V lithium battery sealed inside the alarm1
- Can you change the battery?
- No. The guide says the sealed battery is meant to last the alarm's whole life and is not replaced2
- Where the date is
- The guide places the date of manufacture and the model number on the back of the alarm. It also asks the installer to write a "replace by" date, 10 years from first power-up, on the side2
- When to replace
- Ten years after it was first powered. At that point it double-chirps (with a double LED flash) every 30 seconds2
- Snoozing the end-of-life chirp
- Pressing the button quiets the end-of-life chirp for about 3 days at a time, up to 30 days in total. It buys time to get a replacement; it does not extend the alarm's life1
- Low-battery signal
- A single chirp every 60 seconds for at least seven days. Because the battery is sealed, the guide says to deactivate and replace the whole alarm2
- Before you throw it out
- Kidde says to deactivate it first: take it off the bracket, break through the marked spot on the back label with a screwdriver and slide the tab to OFF. This drains the lithium battery and is permanent2
- Interconnect
- Up to 24 Kidde devices on one loop, 18 of which can trigger the others. The guide keeps smoke alarms to 12 and alarms of all kinds to 18, citing the NFPA limit2
- Other brands on the loop
- The guide approves it only with Kidde/Nighthawk products and lists the compatible models, including the i12040, i12060, i4618 and KN-COSM-IBA2
- The i12010SCO
- A separate model: hardwired smoke + CO alarm (ionization smoke sensor, electrochemical CO sensor) with the same kind of sealed lithium backup and spoken "Fire!" / carbon monoxide warnings3
- i12010SCO end of life
- Its guide gives the same signal: a double chirp every 30 seconds ten years after first power-up, with the same 3-day snooze up to 30 days4
- Warranty
- 10-year limited1
- Ordering number (i12010S)
- 210104071
Replacing it
- Replacement named by Kidde
- Kidde's i12010S page shows the 20SA10 under "Upgrade to". The i12010SCO page did not name a replacement when we checked1
- Keep the old wiring plug
- Kidde's 20-9003 adapter guide lists both the i12010S and the i12010SCO among the older harnesses it can join to a new Kidde alarm with the newer connector5
- Smoke + CO alarms in general
- Kidde's replacement guide gives CO and combination alarms 7–10 years depending on the model, so go by the guide for your exact model6
- Recalls
- Search CPSC's recall list for your exact model before reusing or reselling an alarm7
Related models
- Kidde KN-COSM-IBA Hardwired smoke + CO alarm
- Kidde i12060 Hardwired smoke alarm
- Kidde i12040 Hardwired smoke alarm
Other models that cite the same adapter
Each link goes to another model page that cites the same adapter document. Whether two alarms can share a plug is answered in that document, on the model page.
- Firex i4618 20-9003
- First Alert ADK-12 20-9003
- Kidde i12040 20-9003
- Kidde i12060 20-9003
- Kidde KN-COSM-IBA 20-9003
Common questions
Where is the date on a Kidde i12010S?
The guide places the date of manufacture and the model number on the back of the alarm. It also asks the installer to write a "replace by" date, 10 years from first power-up, on the side2
When should a Kidde i12010S be replaced?
Ten years after it was first powered. At that point it double-chirps (with a double LED flash) every 30 seconds2
What replaces the Kidde i12010S?
Kidde's i12010S page shows the 20SA10 under "Upgrade to". The i12010SCO page did not name a replacement when we checked1
Which adapter guide lists the Kidde i12010S?
Kidde's 20-9003 adapter guide lists both the i12010S and the i12010SCO among the older harnesses it can join to a new Kidde alarm with the newer connector5
Sources
- Kidde — Worry-Free Hardwired Interconnect Smoke Alarm i12010S (product page) checked 2026-11-04
- Kidde — i12010S Smoke Alarm User Guide (PDF) checked 2026-11-04
- Kidde — Hardwired Combination Smoke & CO Alarm i12010SCO (product page) checked 2026-11-04
- Kidde — i12010SCO Smoke & CO Alarm User Guide (PDF) checked 2026-11-04
- Kidde — 20-9003 Wiring Adapter User Guide (PDF) checked 2026-11-04
- Kidde — Alarm Replacement Guide checked 2026-11-04
- CPSC — Recalls & Product Safety Warnings checked 2026-11-04
Facts are restated in our own words. If a source page changes, the "checked" date tells you how fresh our reading is. Spot something out of date? Open an issue on GitHub.
Published November 4, 2026. Part of the Kidde brand hub.