Carbon monoxide alarm

[franco928]

Seems like we solve one problem an another one pops up....

So we drove about 3 hours last night loaded w 3 dirtbikes, gas cans, etc. Also were running the fridge on propane. Stopped for a break and noticed the carbon monoxide alarm was going off, so we shut off the propane and opened all the windows. Assumed maybe fumes from gas? Later When we arrived at our camp it was going off again, so we aired it out w everything open (can we say bugfest?) and after multiple resets it eventually stopped. Just now it started again while we were sitting inside. We were running the ac so I turned it off, opened all windows and have the fan going. The propane is off, and there's a good amount of air circulation. But it won't stop and the light is just staying red. In starting to worry but if there is fresh air running through I'm assuming we aren't in danger. Any suggestions of what is going on?

[lbrjet]

Probably low battery.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[franco928]

Thanks, it's connected to the trailer battery which says full charge, so I don't think it's that. Unless there's some other secret battery I'm not seeing

[northstar1960]

you either have a leak somewhere or a bad alarm . are you plugged in ? if so then not battery . if not then it could be your battery low voltage . running the fridge on propane should not make a difference since all the hardware is on the outside .this is a process of elimination it's either a gas leak inside or from your toys . is the garage empty and all gas outside ? how about the stove/oven . hot water heater ? but then again all the gas controls are outside .furnace using that ?
you can disconnect the alarm buy a carney and see if he lives A mouse will do in a pinch . buy a separate remote co alarm and see what it does .

[lbrjet]

With the trailer plugged to a power source the battery will show full charge on the panel in even if it is bad. When you get it figured out let us know.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[DaveSchwartz]

Most CO detectors are sensitive to other flammable gases than just CO. CO is a flammable gas (look it up) being largely a byproduct of incomplete combustion. The detector disc uses controlled combustion (i.e. combination with oxygen) on its surface in a catalytic fashion to produce a small current that then triggers the alarm. In a toy hauler, there are could be lots of sources of combustible fumes, so the garage needs to be well-ventilated if you have a vehicle in it.

Carrying gas in cans inside is probably the chief culprit in this case.

I used to have one that kept going off due to the tiny amount of hydrogen being produced by a battery on a trickle charger in the next room.

[northstar1960]

Originally Posted by lbrjet

With the trailer plugged to a power source the battery will show full charge on the panel in even if it is bad. When you get it figured out let us know.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

If he was plugged in then it wouldn't matter if batteries are low as the unit would operate off the converter. no need for batteries when plugged into shore power

[lbrjet]

The first occurrences were before plugging into shore power. This tends to indicate low battery. My last post was intended as a heads up that a full battery reading while plugged in is meaningless.


2010 F250 5.4L 3.73
2011 Flagstaff 831FKBSS
Equal-i-zer 4pt 12K

[franco928]

Thanks, we were not plugged in and still reading a full battery. After about 3 hours of it going off every 10
Minutes, we gave up and snipped a wire. Going to get a portable monitor and see what's happening, although we survived the weekend sleeping in it so I think the detector may be faulty.

[northstar1960]

you need to be safe first and foremost . just because the battery indicator says full does not mean it's accurate . be careful . most likely it's a faulty monitor but be safe
when was the last time you charged the battery ? and how much have you used it since then ?

[Radio]

Originally Posted by DaveSchwartz

I used to have one that kept going off due to the tiny amount of hydrogen being produced by a battery on a trickle charger in the next room.

x2.

I had that happen as well. Blamed a gas space heater, blamed the CO detector, blamed the 9v battery. Figured out by accident it was a deep cycle battery used as backup for ham radio equipment. The trickle charger had dried it slap out.

[DaveSchwartz]

Originally Posted by Radio

Figured out by accident it was a deep cycle battery used as backup for ham radio equipment. The trickle charger had dried it slap out.

Funny... that was exactly what I was doing.

73 Dave VA3DGS

[franco928]

FYI we got a plug in monitor that is registering at 0. So I think it's safe to say that unit was faulty