CO2 Alarm Going Off

Charles.maine · 05-12-2016, 08:28 PM

So we have not used our Columbus in about 2 months. It has been parked and closed up. I went out a couple days ago to move it into the shop and I heard the CO2 (I think that is what it is on the island) going off. I went inside and hit the reset button and it was fine. I moved it inside and plugged it in to 110. The next day I went out to the shop and it was going off again. I went inside and reset it again and opened all the windows. Hasn't gone off again since. What am I missing? Propane tanks are all shut off. I checked the stove and everything is off. What am I missing???

jtstromsburg · 05-12-2016, 08:59 PM

Did you Propane alarm? Turn off your tanks and see I it holds then. The alarms do go bad as well. They also will how false alarms if battery is low.
Just some things to check.

Charles.maine · 05-12-2016, 09:02 PM

Ok the battery may have been low. I am going to let it sit plugged in and air out for another week and then I will close it up again and see if the alarm comes back on.

dalford · 05-12-2016, 09:06 PM

The alarm in my RV is mounted low to the floor and it is a dual alarm. Both propane and a CO alarm. If no motors running then you should suspect propane. So, check the battery but also check your propane..

raspivey · 05-12-2016, 09:07 PM

Your battery is dead, or almost there. You can't just close it up and let it sit without disconnecting the battery. The CO detector by itself will kill it in a week or so.

**Flybob** · 05-12-2016, 09:08 PM

It will sound when the battery gets low and again when powered back up.

Charles.maine · 05-12-2016, 09:12 PM

Yeah that's what I was thinking. I have it inside now and so it will stay plugged into 110 24/7.

raspivey · 05-12-2016, 09:18 PM

You don't have to do that. You've probably got a battery disconnect somewhere and, if you don't, they're cheap and easy to install. Should give you some more flexibility as to how you store it. But, yeah..it doesn't draw much power, but it'll slowly suck the life out of your battery.

Dennis in Texas · 05-13-2016, 12:21 PM

Charles.Maine, please do not take my comment as anything other than to clarify your comment. It is not a CO2 detector. CO2 is carbon dioxide which is not a toxic or poisonous gas. What you have is a CO detector. CO is carbon monoxide which I a poisonous gas. While they look similar, CO2 and CO, that extra oxygen atom makes all the difference.

Charles.maine · 05-13-2016, 01:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dennis in Texas

Charles.Maine, please do not take my comment as anything other than to clarify your comment. It is not a CO2 detector. CO2 is carbon dioxide which is not a toxic or poisonous gas. What you have is a CO detector. CO is carbon monoxide which I a poisonous gas. While they look similar, CO2 and CO, that extra oxygen atom makes all the difference.

Thanks for the clarification. All I know is the beeping is really annoying!!!

Dennis in Texas · 05-13-2016, 01:38 PM

LOL, I hear you!

Charles.maine · 05-17-2016, 06:59 PM

Ok so the alarm is going off again. I am 100 % positive the gas is shut off. I opened the windows and now it off again. Any ideas. Trailer is inside and plugged in.

djeirlessr · 05-18-2016, 12:14 PM

I know absolutely nothing about batteries but I had a boat that I kept hooked up to power while docked. I forgot to turn the battery charger off and over time my battery got cooked and fumes from the sulfuric said got inside the boat and set off the alarm. The marina owner disconnect the shore power to get the alarm to stop. I only kept it hooked to shore power to keep the refrigerator cold. If I had nothing in the refrigerator I did not keep the boat connected to shore power.

I would assume this would not be a problem for an RV but I don't know.

Duane & Jan
2016 Crusader 295RST FW
2011 Toyota Tundra iForce 5.7 Limited Double Cab 6 speed automatic 4.10 gears

Charles.maine · 05-19-2016, 06:22 PM

Well I am out of ideas on this. When the windows are open the alarm does not go off. When its closed up tight the alarm goes off. I read on another forum when I googled it that when it is locked up tight that the adhesive in the walls, cabinets, foam in the furniture, etc emits a gas that can trigger the alarm to go off. When it is ventilated you don't get that build up. They mentioned that they installed a MAXAIR vent cover (which I did today) and unless they are staying somewhere cold they leave the vent open all the time. I guess that is the route I am going to go and hopefully I don't die in my sleep from LP gas poisoning or blow the trailer up.

jtstromsburg · 05-19-2016, 06:58 PM

I guess I'm still unsure of which alarm it is? CO(carbon monoxide) alarm or propane leak alarm? Propane leak you'd smell, but CO alarm is odorless and deadly. That said, unless you have a flame going on an appliance there can't be an CO coming from the camper.
I'd suggest a new alarm first.
I've had three new campers in the last five years and none of them ha problems with false alarms due to gassing off of foams or adhesives.
Still think there's gotta be a fix other than constant venting

Timex · 05-19-2016, 07:04 PM

I hate to tell you this BUT get ready to purchase a new detector. And a battery disconnect if you don't have 1. The detectors ain't cheap but the disconnects are. I had to replace my detector only after a couple years of first owning my TT. Installed a disconnect and no more worries on this issue, and no more dead batteries.

Now your situation may be different from mine. On my previous TT, the detector went off at(always 2:00 am!) with no gas turned on. It wouldn't reset so I just disconnected for the night so I could get some sleep. Replaced it with a new 1 and no more problems.

Some reasons for the "false" alarms: weak/dead battery, off gassing from upholstery, carpet, glues, aerosol spray, and also too many alarms in the life of the detector. Usually stamped on the back is a date and "they" recommend you replace after 5 years.

Charles.maine · 05-19-2016, 07:09 PM

Its a RV Carbon Monoxide / Propane Gas Alarm

Safe-T-Alert 25-741-BL Carbon Monoxide/ Propane Leak Detector, Black

Timex · 05-19-2016, 07:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles.maine

Its a RV Carbon Monoxide / Propane Gas Alarm

Safe-T-Alert 25-741-BL Carbon Monoxide/ Propane Leak Detector, Black

Yep, and you see the price?

I'd 1st make sure your battery is up to snuff and will hold a charge, ventilate the camper, and I've also read that the battery will off gas and will set it off. So make sure the building can vent too. If you have the camper opened up and spray an aerosol outside, the fumes can drift inside and cause an alarm(happened to me).

markfromark · 05-20-2016, 12:02 PM

My CC had a CO detector do the same thing. I talked to the dealer and they sent me a new one. I replaced it and the problem was solved. Fortunately it was under warranty.

Mark

USMC Okie · 05-20-2016, 03:24 PM

Check your battery at the posts for voltage. Should be 13.7 to 14.2. You do have a battery disconnect. It is in the basement door side near the bottom of the wall on the back side. It is a large red button. Twist for off or on. I had the problem with the alarm as you did in my previous unit and I had to replace the alarm. But a low battery will cause the same thing.

Okie

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