smoke detector
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smoke detector
An electronic device that detects smoke in the air and, at a certain concentration, triggers a loud alarm to warn of a possible fire.
In jeder Wohnung ist die Installation von Rauchmeldern gesetzlich vorgeschrieben.
In every apartment, the installation of smoke detectors is required by law.
The word is made up of 'Rauch' (smoke) and 'Melder' (detector/reporter). A 'Melder' is a device that signals or reports something. So a 'Rauchmelder' is literally a device that reports smoke.
Als die Batterie leer war, fing der Rauchmelder an zu piepen.
When the battery was empty, the smoke detector started beeping.
When a smoke detector detects smoke, you say it 'löst aus' (is triggered) or 'geht los' (goes off). The sound it makes is often described with 'piepen' (to beep) or 'schrillen' (to shrill/ring loudly).
Mitten in der Nacht ging plötzlich der Rauchmelder los.
In the middle of the night, the smoke detector suddenly went off.
In connection with mounting, the verbs 'installieren' (to install) or 'anbringen' (to put up/attach) are used. You usually install or attach a smoke detector to the ceiling.
Wir müssen in der neuen Wohnung noch Rauchmelder anbringen.
We still need to put up smoke detectors in the new apartment.
alarm system
'Rauchmelder' and 'Alarmanlage' can both warn people and trigger a loud alarm. However, a 'Rauchmelder' is a single device that detects smoke and warns of a possible fire. An 'Alarmanlage' is a larger technical system and can warn of various dangers, for example a break-in or a fire. Learners may confuse the words because both set off an alarm. If you are specifically talking about smoke in an apartment, you say 'Rauchmelder'. If you are talking about a whole security system, 'Alarmanlage' is more precise.
In der Küche piepte der Rauchmelder, weil etwas im Ofen verbrannt war.
The smoke detector beeped in the kitchen because something had burned in the oven.
Meine Freundin schaltet die Alarmanlage ein, bevor sie das Haus verlässt.
My friend turns on the alarm system before she leaves the house.