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TheBeans's avatar
TheBeans
Explorer
Sep 01, 2022

Chirping alarms

Our rig has been in storage for the past year and when I went to prep it for an upcoming trip, I heard the infamous smoke-alarm chirping coming from it. Figuring the batteries were dead, I pulled the batteries from the smoke alarm and the Co2 detector and replaced them all with new ones (fully charged verified). But the chirping continues!

What is causing this to happen? Is it fuse related or shore-power related (it's been plugged in to keep a trickle on the batteries when not being used)? We've never had this problem come up before. When chirping has happened in the past we just put in new batteries and it would stop.
  • All smoke detectors have a 10 year life and need to be replaced 10 years from manufacture. Check the date on the back, they can be older than the year of the RV.

    Propane and CO2 detectors have a 7 year life and need to be replaced 7 years from the date on the back.

    This goes for any detector, hardwired, battery back up, or battery only units.
  • The batteries (we have 2) are both kept charged and when we put the rig in storage it's hooked up to a low-trickle power source to keep them charged---especially through the winter.
  • Mine is powered vi the coach battery and not an internal battery source.
    OP: Is your coach battery charged or rig plugged into shore power?
  • Propane/carbon monoxide alarm does have a useful life of about 7 years and must be replaced. New batteries cannot make up for a depleted sensor.
  • Propane detector will be located near the floor since propane is heavier than air.

    Likely a Safe T Alert. And probably hardwired to 12 v power. Mine was like this one.
  • I just had to replace my propane detector. The rig is 5 years old and the useful life on propane detectors is 5 years and they will chirp incessantly so you are forced to either remove it or replace it....120 bucks. Look for something near the floor. It's mounted low because propane is heavier than air and will sink to the floor.
  • Where is the propane detector? The other detectors are 8 years old so they are almost at the end of their useful life.
  • What about your propane detector? If you have never replaced it, it is 8 years old.
  • TheBeans wrote:
    Our rig has been in storage for the past year and when I went to prep it for an upcoming trip, I heard the infamous smoke-alarm chirping coming from it. Figuring the batteries were dead, I pulled the batteries from the smoke alarm and the Co2 detector and replaced them all with new ones (fully charged verified). But the chirping continues!

    What is causing this to happen? Is it fuse related or shore-power related (it's been plugged in to keep a trickle on the batteries when not being used)? We've never had this problem come up before. When chirping has happened in the past we just put in new batteries and it would stop.


    How old are the detectors? Ones built in the last 10 years or so will chirp continually once the replacement time hits. They don't have an infinite life and to keep people from using them for decades and decades they now chirp continually when replacement is needed.

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