The CAVIUS line-up
| 2107 CAV10WF | 2203 CAVMP | Nano | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | Battery, 10-year life | 240-volt mains | 10-year battery |
| Size | 78 mm | Not stated | 40 mm |
| Sensor | Photoelectric | Photoelectric | Check the label |
| Linking | Radio, to other Wireless Family alarms | Wireless, with the Wireless Family | Stand-alone |
| Listed standard and warranty | AS 3786:2014, 10 years | AS 3786:2014, 10 years | Check the box |
| Who fits it | No wiring or internet needed | A professional or registered electrician, CAVIUS says | No wiring |
How the Wireless Family links up
When one Wireless Family alarm activates, they all sound. The CAV10WF does it by radio, with no wiring or internet, and has a 10-minute hush button for nuisance alarms.
CAVIUS is upfront that wireless range depends on your building materials, and says to test the link at every install. Two layers of mesh help keep insects and dust out.
We couldn't find CAVIUS's wireless frequency, the maximum number of linked alarms, or the backup battery type in the CAVMP on the pages we read. Ask before you plan a big home around it.
The SmartSense Hub and app
The SmartSense Hub plugs into your internet router and connects Wireless Family alarms to the CAVIUS app. From your phone you can see which alarm is going off, run tests and fire drills, and get low-battery reports. It plugs in, so there's no electrical work involved.
Before you buy CAVIUS
- Need the alarms to sound together? The Nano is stand-alone, so it won't meet a rule that requires interconnection.
- Replacing hardwired alarms? The CAVMP is the mains model, and a licensed electrician fits it.
- Plan to test the radio link room by room once the alarms are up.
- Look for AS 3786 on whichever model you choose.
What you can do, and what's licensed work
You can
- Put up CAV10WF alarms, which need no wiring.
- Plug in the SmartSense Hub and set up the app.
- Press the hush button when cooking sets one off, then air the room.
Leave to a licensed electrician
- Installing or replacing a 240-volt CAVMP.
- Removing an old hardwired alarm the CAVMP is replacing.
What we'd suggest
CAVIUS makes most sense in a home that's mainly battery alarms and wants them linked without cabling: CAV10WF alarms throughout, plus a CAVMP wherever a hardwired alarm has to stay hardwired. Test the radio link in every room once they're up. We'd skip the Nano anywhere the rules need the alarms interconnected.
Want a specialist to sort it?
Tell us the job and your postcode. We match the licence-checked local electrician who does this kind of work, and they call you. No ring-around, and your number goes to them alone.