Bad Safe-T-Alert CO/LP detector

[jstaffon]

I'm hoping I can get some help from others who have had the same or similar problem. My 2016 Rockwood came with a Safe-T-Alert CO/LP detector located just inside the entry door near the floor. We were dry camping in the mountains of Idaho on its maiden voyage last year and around 3am, I hear this ear piercing beep coming from the downstairs area of my 5th wheel. After some investigating and testing, I found out my batteries were at around 11.3 volts and the CO/LP detector was in a "Failed" state due to low voltage. The solution that evening was to start my generator and let it run all night. The next evening, same thing happened. Needless to say, we cut our trip short and took the trailer back to Camping World to have them check things out. The batteries were tested (ok) and the CO/LP detector was tested to make sure it would sense CO and LP (ok). The low voltage issue I complained about was not checked. Long story short...we've replaced the unit 3 times over the course of several months and still have the same issue. According to the documentation and Safe-T-Alert's Support personnel, the detector is supposed to issue a low voltage alarm at 10 volts and a failure alarm at 7 volts. I'm getting the failure alarm at 11.3 volts. Oddly enough, if I put the detector on the variable voltage supply, it will alarm at 11.3 volts and recover at 11.5 volts. Safe-T-Alert doesn't seem to be interested in fixing the issue. Their solution is to send another unit in hopes of finding one that works as documented. My concern is that there are 100s or 1000s of campers out there with faulty CO/LP detectors. If it doesn't operate as documented, how can you be certain it will save your life if CO ends up in your camper. Right now, I'm operating with a portable CO detector in my bedroom area and I have the Safe-T-Alert unit disconnected. Has anyone else had the same problem or similar and are there any solutions. This has been going on for a year now and can't seem to get anyone to act. I would like to find something permanent instead of using portable detectors. Thanks in advance!

[allen8106]

Deleted

[beemerphile1]

You are destroying your batteries, the detector is not a problem. Look at the web sites of any battery manufacturer and they advise not to regularly go below 50 percent.

I find it hard to believe that the furnace fan will spin fast enough to operate at that voltage.

Do you get the same voltage reading at the batteries as you do at the detector? You could have a corroded (high resistance) connection prior to the detector.

[FLY_4_FUN]

You can head to Home Depot or any big box store and grab a combo LP/CO detector or separate units for $30-40

Please don't take offense to the above posters focusing on your voltage issues as I also believe your detector is working properly. I suspect the low voltage is causing it to go off despite what the specs say on the unit. If you buy a 9v powered unit then you will for sure have a piece of mind solution.

Glad you are keen to keep this safety system working

Cheers

[jstaffon]

allen8106 wrote:

jstaffon wrote:

Krusty wrote:
I think I would be tempted to find and repair the real problem. Why is your voltage going so low?

I asked that same question and I was told that's not unusual for a rig my size when dry camping in the mountains. Highs can be in the 70s with lows in the 20s. My furnace turns on frequently in the evening along with the normal electrical things like the fans for my fridge. I've had my batteries tested by two separate organizations and they are good. If I top off the batteries several hours before I go to bed, everything is ok all night. Realistically, you're up doing things with lights on until you go to bed. I also have solar panels that top off the batteries during the day but the time between sunset and bed time knocks the edge off the batteries and down to about 12 volts. When I monitor the current draw during the day, I don't find any one thing that causes me concerns.

Regardless, you are taking your batteries too low. Therein lies the problem. Use less power, get a bigger battery bank or run the generator longer.

I've been talking to a couple of my HAM friends that also dry camp....also in the mountains of Idaho. They see drops in battery voltage similar to mine and don't see an issue with running the batteries that low. There are occasions where that happens on a regular basis. Because of the harsher than normal conditions in the mountains, Camping World always installs a second battery in all of their campers they sell. Since I have two batteries in parallel I thought maybe one of them was weak or bad. In a parallel configuration, the weakest battery will drag down the good one. However, both test OK.

Regardless of the low voltage issue with the batteries, the issue that concerns me is the fact that the Safe-T-Alert fails at a higher than documented voltage and never goes into a "Low Voltage Alarm State" at something above 11.3 vdc. Documentation states 10 vdc is the low voltage alarm point. Having a good CO detector installed in my camper is important to me. Finding a solution to my batteries doesn't solve the problem that I have a faulty CO/LP detector in my camper. One that the manufacturer doesn't seem interested in fixing. I was hoping someone could recommend a replacement unit or some other DIY solution I haven't thought of yet.

Thanks.

[allen8106]

jstaffon wrote:

Krusty wrote:
I think I would be tempted to find and repair the real problem. Why is your voltage going so low?

I asked that same question and I was told that's not unusual for a rig my size when dry camping in the mountains. Highs can be in the 70s with lows in the 20s. My furnace turns on frequently in the evening along with the normal electrical things like the fans for my fridge. I've had my batteries tested by two separate organizations and they are good. If I top off the batteries several hours before I go to bed, everything is ok all night. Realistically, you're up doing things with lights on until you go to bed. I also have solar panels that top off the batteries during the day but the time between sunset and bed time knocks the edge off the batteries and down to about 12 volts. When I monitor the current draw during the day, I don't find any one thing that causes me concerns.

Regardless, you are taking your batteries too low. Therein lies the problem. Use less power, get a bigger battery bank or run the generator longer.

[jstaffon]

beemerphile1 wrote:
Sounds like it is working as it should. You need to resolve the low voltage issue. Are you purposefully destroying your batteries?

No...I'm not purposely destroying my batteries. Thanks for the words of wisdom.

[jstaffon]

Krusty wrote:
I think I would be tempted to find and repair the real problem. Why is your voltage going so low?

I asked that same question and I was told that's not unusual for a rig my size when dry camping in the mountains. Highs can be in the 70s with lows in the 20s. My furnace turns on frequently in the evening along with the normal electrical things like the fans for my fridge. I've had my batteries tested by two separate organizations and they are good. If I top off the batteries several hours before I go to bed, everything is ok all night. Realistically, you're up doing things with lights on until you go to bed. I also have solar panels that top off the batteries during the day but the time between sunset and bed time knocks the edge off the batteries and down to about 12 volts. When I monitor the current draw during the day, I don't find any one thing that causes me concerns.

[SoundGuy]

Krusty wrote:
I think I would be tempted to find and repair the real problem. Why is your voltage going so low?

Exactly. The OP is misdirecting his concern to the detector when he should be concerned about why his batteries are performing so poorly. There's always a reason, he just needs to find out what that reason is.

[sch911]

If your rig would,run at a normal voltage you,wouldn't have this issue. What else was running during those overnights? You don't need a new detector you need to see why the battery is draining so quickly!

[beemerphile1]

Sounds like it is working as it should. You need to resolve the low voltage issue. Are you purposefully destroying your batteries?

[Isaac-1]

I agree 11.5 volts is way lower than you should be letting a deep cycle lead acid drain down to.

[Krusty]

I think I would be tempted to find and repair the real problem. Why is your voltage going so low?

[haddy1]

I have never had one of those pieces of junk last over about 18 months. I have installed a separate RV rated CO detector and will depend on my nose for any gas leak. After all, that's why they put the odorizer in the propane.

If you are one of the unlucky ones that have a detector that shuts down your gas system every time you use a spray can, I feel for you.