Your home’s electrical system is designed to provide you with convenient power at all times of the day and night. Whether you are planning on hanging lights or installing new circuit breakers in your home, it is essential to entrust these tasks to an electrician serving San Jose . With the help of your electrician, you can make sure that all of the components of your electrical system are working great. One of the most important electrical devices in any home is the smoke alarm. To highlight the importance of keeping your smoke alarm properly maintained, here is a look at how these devices work. 
The Different Types of Smoke Detectors
In order to understand how smoke alarms work , it is helpful to understand the different types of smoke detectors that are available. When you are selecting a new smoke alarm, you will have the choice of either an ionization detector or a photoelectric detector. Each type of detector relies on innovative technology in order to pick up on the presence of smoke in your indoor air.
Ionization Detectors
Ionization detectors rely on an innovative process that is known as ionization radiation. Inside each ionization detector, there is a tiny amount of an isotope that is known as Americium 241. This isotope decays at a predictable rate. In the event that smoke passes through the detector, the Americium 241 will suddenly start to decay more quickly. This process creates positively charged atoms, which will turn the smoke alarm on and cause it to sound.
Photoelectric Detectors
Along with ionization detectors, photoelectric detectors are also commonly found in the home. Unlike ionization detectors, which work due to a chemical reaction, photoelectric detectors are equipped with light-emitting diodes and sensors. The light emitting diode sheds a steady stream of light into the sensor. When smoke enters the chamber, it will partially or fully block the stream of light. As a result, the smoke alarm will know when to turn on.