tramX,
<!doctype html>
<html lang="en">
<head>
<meta charset="utf-8">
<title>append demo</title>
<script src="http://code.jquery.com/jquery-1.10.2.js"></script>
</head>
<body>
<select id="select_device_list" name="" size="1"></select>
<script>
$( "#select_device_list" ).append( "<option value='f'>f</option><option value='a'>a</option>" );
alert($( "#select_device_list" ).val());
</script>
</body>
</html>