Detector and antifreeze??

wa8yxm wrote:
Well as I recall the pink stuff is propolene glycol.. This might just be a relative of Propane.. But since the propane detector is really an explosive gas detector.. Alcohol fumes will do the trick.

NOTE I am no where near sure on the spelling of Propolene.

:B

I think you hit the answer right on the head.
I checked the label on the generic stuff I bought and it had ethyl alcohol as the 'first' ingredient.

Can't find the ingredients on line for the Camco. But perhaps this junk stuff had a 'higher' level of alcohol that set the detectors off.
Where as the Camco never did.

Just was a big pain. Neighbors where I have my RV parked thought it was of course a fire alarm and freaked out! Never a dull moment owning an RV. :C

Well as I recall the pink stuff is propolene glycol.. This might just be a relative of Propane.. But since the propane detector is really an explosive gas detector.. Alcohol fumes will do the trick.

NOTE I am no where near sure on the spelling of Propolene.

I'm sure you're correct, but just for the record did you turn off your propane? If the propane is shut off then it's pretty much an open/shut case on the AF. If the alarm doesn't go off, well.....

dewey02 wrote:
I've had this happen 2 years in a row. I just ventilate and then pull the batteries during winter storage. It is the antifreeze that causes the alarm....

Thanks!
At least it's not just me and I am 'not' going crazy.....(from being in Florida and having to winterize the MH go figure). :R

Because of the unusual cold here all the stores are out of RV antifreeze and I did have to by some off brand I have never heard of before. It does smell more and the detector sure didn't like it.

When living up North I have always used Camco RV Anti-freeze and never had this problem. Actually thought I would never have to winterize ever again, wrong.

Soooo, I guess the tip of the day is beware if you use an 'off brand' RV antifreeze.

I've had this happen 2 years in a row. I just ventilate and then pull the batteries during winter storage. It is the antifreeze that causes the alarm. Many people have blamed the alarm, outgassing of batteries, etc...but it is the antifreeze itself.

Haven't thought much about it, but it does seem that the AF I used this year had a lot more smell that anything I have used before. It was a no-name brand from Auto Zone here local. Apparently it works OK, just had a lot more odor.
Not going to worry much about it until things warm up a bit and we get ready to de-winterize. May have to flush a lot more.

moved from technology

I have seen some brands of RV antifreeze with ethyl alcohol listed as an ingredient on the label along with the normal propylene glycol. Ethyl alcohol is a volatile organic and could be the cause of your issue.

never heard of this before. how old is your detector??

Check the MSDS sheet for the manufacturer of your brand and or call the company and ask.