Defective CO/GAS Detector Help

wa8yxm wrote:

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I've never understand the idea behind dual detectors CO/LP.
CO is lighter than air and accumulates up high in a room
LP is heavier than air and accumulates down low in a room

Now maybe a dual CO Detector/Smoke Alarm

That one I can answer (Dual CO/Explosive gas detectors)

The problem is your thinking, Though in the RV service since the primary explosive gas is PROPANE which as you pointed out is heavier than air, we thus call them PROPANE detectors. But the fact is the proper name is Explosive Gas Detector.. Propane is but one of the gasses that can ruin your day explosively.. NATURAL GAS, for example, is lighter than air, and also makes one loud BOOM when properly nixed with air and sparked at.

Other gasses, with varying density (By the way Propane is not "Heavier than air" it is more dense, one pound of propane is the same weight as one pound of ... every other substance on earth).

Alcohol vapors, Gasoline vapors, Methane, Butane, dang near any-ane, and more... The detectors detect all of them.

I'm fully aware of 'explosive' gases having made a living operating/testing/modifying commercial boilers.


But this was about a dual CO/LP detector in an RV installed by an RV mfg.
CO Detector should be mounted at least 5' feet above the floor. On the ceiling is even better
LP (explosive gas) should be mounted low

A dual CO/LP Detector doesn't detect both adequately regardless of where mounted.
Up high it will be too late for LP and down low too late for CO concentrations.

Old-Biscuit wrote:
I've never understand the idea behind dual detectors CO/LP.
CO is lighter than air and accumulates up high in a room
LP is heavier than air and accumulates down low in a room

Now maybe a dual CO Detector/Smoke Alarm

That one I can answer (Dual CO/Explosive gas detectors)

The problem is your thinking, Though in the RV service since the primary explosive gas is PROPANE which as you pointed out is heavier than air, we thus call them PROPANE detectors. But the fact is the proper name is Explosive Gas Detector.. Propane is but one of the gasses that can ruin your day explosively.. NATURAL GAS, for example, is lighter than air, and also makes one loud BOOM when properly nixed with air and sparked at.

Other gasses, with varying density (By the way Propane is not "Heavier than air" it is more dense, one pound of propane is the same weight as one pound of ... every other substance on earth).

Alcohol vapors, Gasoline vapors, Methane, Butane, dang near any-ane, and more... The detectors detect all of them.

I've never understand the idea behind dual detectors CO/LP.
CO is lighter than air and accumulates up high in a room
LP is heavier than air and accumulates down low in a room

Now maybe a dual CO Detector/Smoke Alarm

I also had the 2 AM wake up call caused by low voltage. Before I found out about the low voltage feature I had soapy water all over the under side checking for leaks. I now have a volt meter directly above the detector and added a on/off switch to the circuit.

Hair spray, air freshner, multiple things can cause it to go off.

Those things do go off for carbon monoxide and propane, as well as for methane and hydrogen sulfide (both components of animal flatulence). Our black lab sometimes sleeps right next to it, and when she does, it goes off once in a while. If yours was just replaced last year, it shouldn't be too old yet, but after you've confirmed that there's no gas leak or incomplete combustion which could threaten your life, consider the pet question.

When you buy one look at the date stamped on it

Those detectors have a finite life span. Roughly 5 years. I replaced my original one after 6 years and had to replace the replacement last fall after only two years. They are not really expensive nor hard to replace. Just go buy a new one install it and move on with life.

Mine went off more than once while dry camping. Battery voltage got too low. Started Tow vechicle and was ok. Happened because furnace took too much juice. Dog sleeping by detector? Natural gas?

I sent you a PM