Gotta replace CO/LP alarm after 5 yrs -- who knew?

[profdant139]

You probably already know this. But I did not know that the sensor does not last forever. Now I do -- it started beeping (fortunately while the trailer was sitting in the driveway). They are supposed to be replaced every 60 months.

So I have now calendared the next replacement, assuming that I still own this trailer 5 years from now. (I intend to, but who really knows??) . Better to do the replacement as a routine maintenance item, rather than as an emergency repair on the road!!

And the other fun fact is that instead of using wire nuts, the manufacturer used permanent crimped devices to join the wires. So I had to clip them. The sensor is, of course, mounted near the floor. So to re-wire, I had to lay flat on the floor, strip the wires on the converter, and then use a wire nut to re-join -- lots of fun.

I wrapped each wire nut with duct tape to make sure it does not come unscrewed as we bounce down the highway. (I did not want to use a crimped fitting because I would then have to cut off even more of the already-short wires coming from the converter.)

Still learning, after 13 years of RVing!

[George3037]

ScottG wrote:

BB_TX wrote:
My 1st one started beeping at 5 yrs. And my 2nd one started beeping after another 5 yrs and I replaced it 2 weeks ago. Almost like a built in timer.

That is my suspicion. If I can remember, I'm going to disconnect mine over the winter hibernation and see if I can get more than 5 years out of it.

I also suspect a few extra years can be had if disconnected from the battery each winter. I bought a 7 year old TT last year and the detector was one of the first things I checked. Sure enough, it was original and expired but was not beeping or alarming so I suspect it was disconnected every winter.

I replaced my propane only detector with a CO/propane unit and dated the face with a felt tip pen.

[SidecarFlip]

Nothing lasts forever.... Not even you....

[Isaac-1]

You really should use RV certified units for both, RV CO and LP detectors are designed to operate in a wider range of temperatures and humidity than residential units, they also have a different trip point for alarming. RV certified smoke detectors also have their low battery alarm set to go off when the battery still has more life left in it, as RV's often sit empty for a considerable amount of time, so it is good for them to have more reserve time to chirp low battery for a couple of weeks, vs a residential model which may only chirp for a day or two before going completely dead.

[beemerphile1]

Smoke detectors also have an expiration date.

Don't ignore the CO detectors and smoke detectors in your house also.

[Gdetrailer]

Yes, newer units manufactured in the last 10 yrs now have a built in timer that starts counting the minute power is applied which will signal you when that the unit has expired and needs replaced.

I would highly recommend upgrading to one with a DIGITAL READOUT.

The digital readout will let you know down to 1 PPM resolution if it has detected CO well below the alarm thresholds..

here is one that operates from AA batteries with LCD display..



The downside of this one is you have to manually push the backlight button at night, not real handy to remember to look at during nightime.

I have several like this one which is 120V with battery backup that have LED digital readout in my home..



Very nice bright LED readout comes in handy because I do have wood burner, gas furnace as backup heat and gas water heater.. Sometimes if the wood burner stack gets too cool toward the end of the load I lose stack draw.. The CO readouts tells me way before any alarm to take action..

Battery backup allows the detector to continue to operate but display is blanked out and turned on something like once a minute for a second or so.

For LP detection, I would suggest just buying a separate LP gas detector..

[ScottG]

BB_TX wrote:
My 1st one started beeping at 5 yrs. And my 2nd one started beeping after another 5 yrs and I replaced it 2 weeks ago. Almost like a built in timer.

That is my suspicion. If I can remember, I'm going to disconnect mine over the winter hibernation and see if I can get more than 5 years out of it.

[BB_TX]

My 1st one started beeping at 5 yrs. And my 2nd one started beeping after another 5 yrs and I replaced it 2 weeks ago. Almost like a built in timer.

[Johno02]

Replaced mine recently after it started beeping its 5 yr warning. Took about 5 minutes, includeing time to get down on the floor, and then for DW and I to get me back up. Two wire nuts to remove and reattach. Ordered and received my from Amazon.

[GordonThree]

Mine died after only four. I didn't bother to see what it's manufacturer date was. Could have been sitting for years in a warehouse before getting installed.

The replacement just plugs into an outlet rather than go through the trouble of replacing with an RV specific unit. Battery backup keeps it going for the rare event my inverter is offline.

[2oldman]

I need to replace my CO thing. Probably a household smoke detector would be good too. I've been playing it not safe for many years.