Why is a piezo alarm preferable to an electromechanical alarm?
An electromechanical alarm has a limited operating life cycle due to the mechanical operating characteristics of that type of alarm. The electrical contact inside the alarm that keeps opening and closing typically has a high failure rate. First, the contact arcs as it opens and interrupts the current flow. This repeated arcing burns the contact and over time will eventually leave the circuit open. The second problem is metal fatigue on the metallic contact. Also, electromechanical alarms can draw up to ten times the current of a piezo alarm. A piezo alarm is superior in many ways to an electromechanical alarm. Piezo alarms do not have any mechanical devices that move, and thus are not susceptible to breakdowns due to fatigue or contact arcing. In addition, piezoelectric alarms are more versatile and can perform in a much wider variety of environmental settings. Also, piezo alarms have a small profile and draw very little current, thus they are suitable for a wide variety of application
