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Salem18's avatar
Salem18
Explorer
Jul 17, 2013

New but old camper question about CO

Alright. Please let me know what you guys think. Just bought a 93 salem 18 foot travel trailer in great shape. Cleaned it up on the inside sunday afternoon. Midnight that night I hear a beep. So I check it out and its the CO alarm. 4 beeps silent 4 beeps. So it wasnt the battery alarm it was the CO alarm. Its just a battery type. No hardwire. Propane has not been turned on since I bought it the day before. What could this be? Windows were open that night. Could it be faulty detector. Maybe the cleaning agents caused it. Kind of a scary deal. Dont wanna go sleep in it the first night and not wake up. Went and bought additonal alarm with lcd screen and put fresh batteries in old one which has a manufacture date of 2010. Please help me out. No generator on camper.thanks
  • RedRocket204's avatar
    RedRocket204
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2013
    Had a very similar experience to what you are experiencing, but on a TT that is a 2007. I was plugged into shore power and all of my 12V batteries were good and charged. I removed the CO detector to find that the wiring attached was frayed and corroded so it was not receiving the proper voltage, very much what the previous posters eluded to. CO detector is mounted where there is storage behind it and the previous TT owner spilled some soap or (?) and it was corroding the wiring. I cleaned everything up and re-spliced the wiring and have not had an issue since. Soap did not actually get on the detector, only the wiring connections.
  • Dtaylor's avatar
    Dtaylor
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2013
    If you look close at the unit, you will probably find an expiration date. Throw it away and buy a new one
  • 2012Coleman's avatar
    2012Coleman
    Explorer II
    Jul 17, 2013
    Agree that its a battery issue - if powered by a battery. Smoke dectors do this too. The guy who runs the storage lot I use says he can hear them all night long when it's quiet.
  • I_am_still_wayn's avatar
    I_am_still_wayn
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2013
    Very unlikely there is any level of CO in your camper. You had the windows open, and no combustibles burning or engines running. I suspect it was the low battery warning.
  • sbowman871's avatar
    sbowman871
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2013
    Most likely it's a low battery warning on the detector itself. If it was seein CO gas and working properly, it would be quite loud and more of a constant alarm. Typically not on/ off with a pause.

    Other conciderations:
    How close we're you to your campfire?
    Was there a lot of other vehicles passing by?

    CO gas is odorless, and tasteless. It's something you want to get fixed before you use your TT again.
  • Jack_Diane_Free's avatar
    Jack_Diane_Free
    Explorer
    Jul 17, 2013
    They do not last forever. Just replace it and you should be good. Ours last anywhere from 4-5 years.

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