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Nest Protect is designed to detect smoke and carbon monoxide in a residential environment.
It has multiple sensors to help it understand what's happening in your home, including a Split-Spectrum Sensor to detect a wide range of slow-smoldering and fast-flaming fires.
This guide covers the installation of Nest Protect (Wired) - Model number 06C.
You need Wi-Fi, an iOS or Android phone or tablet, and a free account in order to use some Nest Protect features: spoken room names, wireless mobile notifications, and software updates. During setup, Wi-Fi and a free account are required for wireless interconnect and room naming. After all the Nest Protects in your home are connected, they can communicate with each other without Wi-Fi.
The horn enables Nest Protect to alert you with a loud emergency sound.
The speaker allows Nest Protect to speak with a human voice.
The installation of a smoke and CO alarm should be made by a qualified technician, and all wiring used to install this alarm should be made in accordance with articles 210, and 300.3B of the National Electrical Code ANSI/ NFPA 70, NFPA 72, and/or applicable codes in your local jurisdiction.
Refer to the included Safety and Warranty document for regulatory information and additional precautions.
Before you install your Nest Protect on the ceiling or wall, you'll need to set it up with the Nest app. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play and create a free account. You can use a phone or tablet for setup.
The Nest app will guide you through each step: scanning the Nest Protect QR code, connecting it to the internet, and connecting it to other Nest Protects in your home. Go to g.co/nest/installprotect to watch the video.
Tip: Lay everything out on a table for easy setup.
The Nest app will ask if you have more Nest Protects to set up. If you do, it'll take you through a faster setup. Be sure to keep all your Nest Protects together until they're all set up and ready to be installed.
Tip: Your Nest Protect came packed in a plastic cover. Keep the cover on so your Nest Protect stays clean until you install it.
Once you're done setting up all of your Nest Protects, make sure they've been added to your account. Push the button on one Nest Protect and follow the instructions. All of your Nest Protects should speak up. Now you can install them on the ceiling or wall.
Tip: To double check Nest Protect's room name, press the button once. You'll hear the location you assigned it during setup. It'll say something like,
"Ready in the bedroom."
Protect yourself and avoid blowing a fuse. Switch off the correct circuit breaker for the room where you are installing Nest Protect or remove the fuse from the fuse box.
ELECTRICAL SHOCK HAZARD Failure to turn off the power may result in serious electrical shock, injury and death. |
To prevent electrical shock, make sure the green Unscrew the backplate from the electrical box. Save power light is off on the alarm. You may have to twist the screws to install the Nest Protect backplate later. the alarm to release it. Carefully remove it to keep from damaging your ceiling or wall.
Tip: Your old smoke alarm might make a loud noise when you disconnect it.
Unscrew the backplate from the electrical box. Save the screws to install the Nest Protect backplate later.
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends installing a smoke alarm in the following areas:
Nest Protect should be installed at least 10 feet (3 m) away from cooktops or cooking appliances. Nest Protect should NOT be installed in unfinished attics or garages.
Unscrew the wire connectors to detach the 120V connector from your old smoke alarm.
The exposed wire should be straight.
Hold the white wire ends together, cap them with a wire connector and twist clockwise until it's secure. Do the same with the black wires. There's no need for the red/orange/yellow wire. Simply cap it with a wire connector and twist until secure.
Installing on the ceiling is recommended. Mark where the screws will go using the base as a guide. If you're installing on the wall, make sure it's within 12 inches of the ceiling.
If you have a sloped, peaked or cathedral ceiling, Nest Protect should be 4 inches to 3 feet (10 cm – 1 m) from the highest point.
Screw the Nest Protect backplate to the electrical box, reusing the old screws. You can also screw the backplate directly into the wall or ceiling with the Nest Protect screws. Make sure the screws are all the way in and snug against the backplate.
Tip: All smoke alarms prefer to live in a dust free area, so remove any dust before you install Nest Protect.
Plug the 120V connector into the back of your Nest Protect.
First, tuck any excess wiring into the electrical box.
Line up the three tabs on the back of your Nest Protect with the notches on the backplate. Hold Nest Protect against the backplate and turn it clockwise. Continue turning until it's square with the wall or ceiling. Install the rest of your Nest Protects if you have more.
Tip: If you ever need to remove it (for cleaning or battery replacement), turn off power to your Nest Protect at the breaker box or remove the fuse first. Then turn counterclockwise until it disconnects from the backplate.
Breaker box
Press the button on one Nest Protect. It will tell you what to do next. Every Nest Protect in the house should speak up, confirming that they're connected to each other.
When Nest Protect has something to say, it will speak to you in words and light up instead of just beeping. Nest Protect has two kinds of voice alerts: Heads-Up and Emergency Alarms.
When smoke or carbon monoxide levels are heightened but haven't yet reached Emergency Alarm levels, Nest Protect can sound a Heads-Up as an early warning. Nest Protect will pulse yellow and tell you where there's smoke or carbon monoxide.
You'll get an Emergency Alarm when smoke or carbon monoxide reach critical levels. Nest Protect will pulse red, sound a loud alarm, and tell you what room the emergency is in. If there's both smoke and CO present, the smoke alarm will take priority.
Heads-Up alerts and some Emergency Alarms can be hushed by using the Nest app or pressing the button. In some cases, the smoke level may be too high for the Emergency Alarm to be hushed. Only silence an alarm once you have checked conditions at the Nest Protect that first sounded the alarm. Do not silence Nest Protect by disconnecting it from line voltage and removing the batteries. This will disable the alarm so it cannot sense smoke or carbon monoxide, leaving you at risk.
Because there are many different types of fires, you may experience an Emergency Alarm without having first experienced a Heads-Up alert. This means that critical levels of smoke or CO occurred extremely quickly and Nest Protect has to sound the Emergency Alarm.
After all the Nest Protects in your home are connected to each other, if there's a Heads-Up or an Emergency Alarm in one room, they'll all tell you what the danger is and which room it's in.
If multiple Nest Protects are interconnected, a Heads-Up alert or Emergency Alarm can be silenced only at the Nest Protect that originally sounded the alert. You'll need to go to that room to silence all the Nest Protects in your home. Always check the conditions near the Nest Protect that first detected the smoke or carbon monoxide before silencing it.
What You Hear | What You See | What It Means | What To Do | |
Alerts | "HEADS-UP. THERE'S SMOKE IN THE [ROOM NAME]. THE ALARM MAY SOUND." | ![]() | Smoke levels are rising. | Put out the source of the smoke. Then use the Nest app or press the button to hush the alert. |
"HEADS-UP. THERE'S CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE [ROOM NAME]. THE ALARM MAY SOUND." | ![]() | Carbon monoxide levels have been high for a while. | Open a window or door to get fresh air. Then use the Nest app or press the button to hush the alert. | |
(Alarm horn) "EMERGENCY. THERE'S SMOKE IN [ROOM NAME]." | ![]() | The smoke in the room has reached critical levels. | Get out of the house immediately. | |
(Alarm horn) "EMERGENCY. THERE'S CARBON MONOXIDE IN [ROOM NAME]. MOVE TO FRESH AIR." | ![]() | The carbon monoxide in the room has reached critical levels. |
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Silencing | "SMOKE ALARM HUSHED." "CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM HUSHED." | ![]() | You've hushed an alert. Nest Protect will now keep quiet, unless smoke or carbon monoxide remains at critical levels. | Make sure you're safe and have put out the source of smoke or carbon monoxide. |
"THE ALARM IS OVER." | ![]() | Smoke or carbon monoxide levels are decreasing. | Make sure you're safe and have put out the source or smoke or carbon monoxide. |
Nest Protect (Wired 120V) has a small green light located at the top of the button. It will be on as long as Nest Protect is getting AC power from the electrical wires.
If there's a wiring problem or power outage, the green light will turn off and Nest Protect will switch to backup batteries. You'll also see a yellow (instead of green) Nightly Promise light when you turn off the lights for the night.
Nest Protect continuously tests itself, so you don't have to wonder if it's working. Nightly Promise reports on every Nest Protect in your home.
When you turn out the lights for the night, Nest Protect will glow green for a moment – that means everything is working. If it glows yellow, one of the Nest Protects in your home needs your attention. For instance, the batteries are low, Wi-Fi is down, or there's an issue with the sensors. Just push the button or use the Nest app to see what's wrong.
Usually Nest Protect has its light turned off, but it can light your way as you walk underneath it in the dark. You can enable or disable Pathlight and set its brightness with the Nest app.
Perform a manual test of your wired Nest Protect at least weekly. During a test, all interconnected Nest Protects in your home check their sensors, power, Wi-Fi connection, light ring, emergency horn, speaker and microphone.
When you run a test, Nest Protect will give you a countdown before sounding the alarm so you have time to move away from the loud noise.
Test procedure:
Nest Protect can automatically perform a monthly test to confirm that its speaker and horn are working properly. You can choose to enable this option during initial setup with the app, but you can change it at any time. For more information, visit g.co/nest/soundcheck
What You Hear | What You See | What It Means | What To Do | |
Daily use | | ![]() | Nest Protect is working. The green light means AC power is connected. | Sleep well thanks to Nightly Promise. |
![]() | Nest Protect has tested its sensors, power and Wi-Fi to confirm they are working correctly. | |||
![]() | Pathlight lights your way at night as you pass under it. | |||
Emergency Preparation | "READY. PRESS TO TEST." | ![]() | To set up or run a manual test. | Press the button. Nest Protect will walk you through next steps. |
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Nest Protect has been designed to be as maintenance free as possible, but you should keep it clean. As with any smoke alarm, dust buildup on the outside or inside of Nest Protect can stop it from working properly.
To clean Nest Protect:
In case of a power outage, Nest Protect will use three AA Energizer® Ultimate Lithium batteries (L91) for backup. These batteries can be purchased at your local retailer.
If your Nest Protect needs servicing, first contact our support team at g.co/nest/support to get a return number and shipping information.
General maintenance
What You Hear | What You See | What It Means | What To Do |
"THE SENSORS HAVE FAILED IN THE [ROOM NAME]. REPLACE NEST PROTECT NOW." Single chirp every 60 seconds. | ![]() | Nest Protect has tested its sensors and there is a problem. | Clean according to instructions on p. 20. If the problem persists, replace Nest Protect. |
"THE BATTERY IS LOW IN THE [ROOM NAME]. REPLACE THE BATTERY SOON." | ![]() | Low battery. | Change the batteries of Nest Protect soon. |
"THE BATTERY IS LOW IN THE [ROOM NAME]. REPLACE THE BATTERY NOW." Single chirp every 60 seconds. | ![]() | Low battery. | Change the batteries of Nest Protect now. |
"NEST PROTECT CAN'T SOUND THE ALARM IN THE [ROOM NAME]."Two chirps every 60 seconds. | ![]() | There's a problem with the horn of Nest Protect. | Replace Nest Protect now. |
"NEST PROTECT HAS EXPIRED. REPLACE IT NOW." Two chirps every 60 seconds. | ![]() | Nest Protect has expired and reached the end of its life. | Replace Nest Protect now. |
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Like any smoke and CO alarm, Nest Protect has a limited life. You will need to replace Nest Protect after 10 years with a brand new Nest Protect. You can check the date of replacement written on the back of Nest Protect to see when it will expire.
About two weeks before it expires, Nest Protect will light up with a yellow light. Press the button and it will say, "Nest Protect has expired. Replace it now." Buy a new alarm and recycle the expired one. Make sure you test your new Nest Protect once it's installed.
Once Nest Protect has expired you will need to recycle it according to local regulations. Please visit g.co/nest/recycle for more information.
You can reset Nest Protect to erase all your settings and reset the wireless interconnection with other Nest Protects. You may want to do this when you move to a new home. Follow the steps below on each Nest Protect you want to reset.
Your Nest Protect will still detect smoke and carbon monoxide after being reset.
Go to g.co/nest/protectreset for complete reset instructions.
Here you can download full pdf version of manual, it may contain additional safety instructions, warranty information, FCC rules, etc.
Download Nest Protect (Wired 120V ~ 60Hz) Smoke Monoxide Alarm Manual
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