I was a patient man with my gas detectors but not anymore.

[StephJohn2010]

Okay. I realize that LP detector under the sink and the carbon monoxide detector in the bedroom are important, BUT! I'm at my wits end with both.

First my bedroom carbon monoxide detector. It is a Costar unit and only 2 years old. I was forced to snip its wires (it is hard wired in to our RV). It would beep twice every 30 seconds and apparently that means the unit is dead and needs replaced. I will soon be replacing it with some other brand other than Costar. Probably won't be hardwired either.

Secondly, my Safe Alert RV propane detector under sink will go off for no reason. I'd say once every three weeks. We have a dog but I've heard that one before. My dog was nowhere near the unit when it went off tonight. I've had the propane OFF for the past 6 days. Why is it going off?

Does anyone else have problems eith either of these things? I need help because none of this makes any sense.

[Hybridhunter]

traveylin wrote:
I was in a class c and found that occasionally the propane alarm would go off. Once a week usually in the early morning. After getting home,we did a point by point check out of the entire system and found a cracked compression joint under the RV. During no wind situations enough gas would accumulate to trip the sensor. Nuisance alarms have to be considered real till proven otherwise. Valving in the tank to prevent alarms indicates something.......

Ours would do the same thing at higher altitudes after multiple start attempts with the fridge. I ended up fixing it by caulking around the fridge. A small draft can set these things off.
And a propane detector is really a _____ane detector. They detect pretty much any airborne combustible, except particulates.
So many aerosols, some cleaning agents, gassing from RV storage tanks, etc.

[xctraveler]

Had repeated LP alarms from detector near floor and near door in former gasser. Usually happened at slow speeds when maneuvering in a campground. Replaced the exhaust donuts when the engine began making LOUD noises. LP detector stopped complaining!

I didn't know it was supposed to be responsive to exhaust fumes, but I guess that was the problem as when the donut finally let go we had a chorus of LP AND CO detectors sounding off. Had to drive with front windows open for a few miles to be able to breathe! (we were on a twisty mountain road with no place to pull off)

[BillMFl]

My house batteries are under the steps and very close to the propane detector. It used to go off at random when we were parked and plugged in. Replaced the batteries with sealed ones and it hasn't gone off since. Fumes of any kind can set them off.

[Bumpyroad]

Canadian Rainbirds wrote:

Bumpyroad wrote:
my propane? detector fired off when I used an aerosol.
bumpy

Many aerosols use propane as a propellant. Read the warning label on the can.

Read the directions??
only for sissies.
bumpy

[Canadian_Rainbi]

Bumpyroad wrote:
my propane? detector fired off when I used an aerosol.
bumpy

Many aerosols use propane as a propellant. Read the warning label on the can.

[tropical36]

StephJohn2010 wrote:
OP Here: Now that i've read a bit on this forum, the cause could be low voltage. I've had my powergear leveling system tell me "low voltage" before when i've taken up the leveling jacks from time to time. I'm gonna get a multimeter tomorrow. If it is low voltage, what do I need to do? Replace engine batteries?

First determine if your converter or inverter/charger is indeed working and as long as you'er plugged in to shore power, even a weak battery wouldn't cause this problem. Having said that and assuming that these detectors are fed from the chassis like most, does the engine start OK?
If fed from the house batteries, then again the charger should be keeping them up to par while plugged in and if like mine, the chassis battery also. Try checking voltage both ways on the house batteries. With the neg. cable disconnected and also connected to see if there's a difference.
Just for the record, low voltage will definitely set them off as a safety factor and also the reason they're usually fed from the chassis battery. This battery isn't used when dry camping and not at all likely to run down like the house batteries eventually will with heavy use.

[dezolen]

My Propane detector drove me nuts having replaced it 2x only to discover main battery connection was loose. Once I tightened it was fine. Specs say 9-14 volts or whatever. I checked at 11.9volts and it would not operate properly

[edatlanta]

My new CO/LP detector arrived yesterday. I installed it and it made it through the first night without so much as a peep. So much for them lasting 60 months.

On a side note, one of the other hosts here had a propane leak in their Class A. This host was close to me and when I heard this yesterday afternoon I asked him for $85.00 to cover my new detector which I didn't need due to his leak. I didn't get the $85.00, but it was good for a laugh.

[hershey]

Propane detectors - CO2 detectors - Gray water tank levels - Black tank levels: all complicated devices designed by an evil mind to frustrate the RVer.

[traveylin]

I was in a class c and found that occasionally the propane alarm would go off. Once a week usually in the early morning. After getting home,we did a point by point check out of the entire system and found a cracked compression joint under the RV. During no wind situations enough gas would accumulate to trip the sensor. Nuisance alarms have to be considered real till proven otherwise. Valving in the tank to prevent alarms indicates something.......

[edatlanta]

My voltage is spot on and my detector has been in service for 19 months. I full time so it hasn't been in an unusually hot or cold RV. The manufacture date of this unit was 11/2011 and I installed it in 2/2012.

Just a cast of early death I suppose. Oh well.

[hotbyte]

This so reminds me of Friends episode with Phoebe vs Fire Alarm

[jerseyjim]

My coach mfr stated that both these sensors were REQUIRED to be hard-wired. As such, they drained my 12V starter battery (while unused) within 3-4 weeks. Mfr also stated that because they were legally required to be hard-wired,they could not tell me how to disconnect them. But...if I went to my dealer, he would be happy to install a toggle switch for them. Having a bunch of toggles in my workbench, that's what I did. So...every time I put my coach in "storage", I flip the switch, that turns these sensors off. And, every time I turn them on, I hit the "test" button(s) and I guess they still work just fine as the "test" does what the books says they should do. Since 2001.

[Sully2]

Bumpyroad wrote:
my propane? detector fired off when I used an aerosol.
bumpy

Yepper! I know they dont like the smell of Windex at all also.