What kind of sensor technology is used in most modern smoke detectors?

Modern smoke detectors primarily utilize ionization or photoelectric sensor technology due to their effectiveness in detecting smoke from different sources. Ionization sensors are particularly good at detecting fast, flaming fires, which produce little smoke, while photoelectric sensors are better at detecting slow, smoldering fires that produce a lot of smoke. Many contemporary smoke detectors combine both technologies to enhance their reliability and responsiveness to various types of fires. This dual-sensor approach ensures that they can respond to a wide range of fire scenarios, making them a preferred choice in residential and commercial settings.

The other sensor technologies mentioned, such as infrared, magnetic, and ultrasonic, are not typically used in standard smoke detectors for fire detection. These technologies have different applications, like object detection or motion sensing, but do not provide the same level of efficacy for smoke detection as ionization and photoelectric sensors do.