Defective Porpane Detector?

[kennersonf]

Recently my propane detector has been activating. After I reset it, everthing is OK for a few days, and then it goes off again. The motorhome is stored in my driveway with a cover on it. It even goes off with my propane bottle turned off. Has anyone had this type of problem? My guess is it is that the detector is defective after all these years.

[JC2]

Quote:

Originally posted by Fred K: Recently my propane detector has been activating. After I reset it, everthing is OK for a few days, and then it goes off again. The motorhome is stored in my driveway with a cover on it. It even goes off with my propane bottle turned off. Has anyone had this type of problem? My guess is it is that the detector is defective after all these years.

Propane and other types of detectors found in RV's should be replaced every 4-5 yrs. On the back should be a date indicating yr of manufacture. We just recently replaced ours after 4 1/2 yrs. You can get a replacement of similiar dimensions (measure it)at a RV dealer, one of our sponsors, RV Upgrades Type Lp detector in the search box.

[Dave G]

I had same problem a couple of years ago. Replaced the detector. Problem solved.

[kennersonf]

Thanks for the input. I think I'll just go ahead a replace it. I know the coach was built in November of 2002. I bought it new in June 2003. Camping World has the same one for sale. It's a Safe-T-Alert model 442-A which is a flush mount. I might replace the carbon monoxide detector as well. Again, thanks.

[Ray,IN]

Good idea. These items do wear out, when depends on initial quality, working environment, insect occupancy,etc.

[bdpreece]

Things other than propane will also set off the detector. In my case my alarm would keep going off and I found one of my batteries was shorted out and letting off a gas that would set off my alarm.

[wa7hra]

I had the same problem with mine. However, when I moved from the soggy Nothwest to the Arizona desert, the problem went away.

Reach you own conclusion.

Bob, wa7hra

[Mike Canter]

I test my leak detector on a regular basis with an unlit propane torch and all the windows open in the MH. It only takes a real quick small amount of propane to set it off. The way I figure is that if it works it doesn't need replacing. I also test my smoke detector with my wife's cooking on a routine basis when she forgets to turn on the vent fan (lol). The only one that has not been tested is the carbon monoxide tester. Does anyone know an easy way to test those?

[NeilV]

Quote:

Originally posted by Fred K: Recently my propane detector has been activating. After I reset it, everthing is OK for a few days, and then it goes off again. The motorhome is stored in my driveway with a cover on it. It even goes off with my propane bottle turned off. Has anyone had this type of problem? My guess is it is that the detector is defective after all these years.

Defective detector or defective 12 Volt supply. Check your batteries and charging system first. Be mindfull that on some rigs the propane alarm is hooked up to the chassis battery which does not usually get charged by the converter but only when the engine is running.

How old are the batteries?

[kennersonf]

Quote:

Things other than propane will also set off the detector. In my case my alarm would keep going off and I found one of my batteries was shorted out and letting off a gas that would set off my alarm.

I believe I've found the problem. It was a boiling battery. I have four Trojan 105s in the coach. Two of them are the originals and two were replaced under warranty a year after I bought the coach. I keep the coach plugged into 50 amp shore power. It has a 2000 watt inverter with a three stage charger, so keeping it plugged in doesn't hurt the batteries. I religiously check the battery water fluid. Two weeks before the alarm started going I topped off the water. After Brian's post I thought I'd just make sure so I checked the batteries. Well, the two original batteries had boiled off most of the acid. Even after disconnecting the coach from shore power, one of the batteries kept boiling. It was so low in voltage it was drawing from the other batteries. Well, I took the two obviously bad batteries out of the loop and kept the two newer ones connected. My propane detector has not gone off since. I'll soon be in the market for four new batteries. I'm going to stick with the Trojan 105s even though they are a little more expensive.

[JC2]

Quote:

Originally posted by Fred K: <BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Things other than propane will also set off the detector. In my case my alarm would keep going off and I found one of my batteries was shorted out and letting off a gas that would set off my alarm.

I believe I've found the problem. It was a boiling battery. I have four Trojan 105s in the coach. Two of them are the originals and two were replaced under warranty a year after I bought the coach. I keep the coach plugged into 50 amp shore power. It has a 2000 watt inverter with a three stage charger, so keeping it plugged in doesn't hurt the batteries. I religiously check the battery water fluid. Two weeks before the alarm started going I topped off the water. After Brian's post I thought I'd just make sure so I checked the batteries. Well, the two original batteries had boiled off most of the acid. Even after disconnecting the coach from shore power, one of the batteries kept boiling. It was so low in voltage it was drawing from the other batteries. Well, I took the two obviously bad batteries out of the loop and kept the two newer ones connected. My propane detector has not gone off since. I'll soon be in the market for four new batteries. I'm going to stick with the Trojan 105s even though they are a little more expensive. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I would still give serious consideration in replacing your LPG/Carbon Monoxide and smoke detectors if they are the originals as their reliability is questionable after 5yrs. Better to err on the side of caution and play it safe.

[Sacramento Bob]

Fred, I see you have found your cause. But, just in case it does pop up again, let me relate my cause to a similar situation. I found that the toilet was losing water in the bowl and gas (methane) from the black water holding tank was the culprit. Cleaned out the groove that the flush blade rested in and my mysterious activation went away. Oh, I should also mention that I too replaced the detector but the mysterious activation continued until I corrected that toilet problem.

[rogueii]

I had to replace mine about a year ago.

[kennersonf]

Quote:

I found that the toilet was losing water in the bowl and gas (methane) from the black water holding tank was the culprit.

Bob, the toilet problem crossed my mind when I was trouble shooting the problem since the sensor is right across the walk way from it, but it was holding water. I do have the problem of losing water from time to time. I solve it by scrubbing the flushing ball and surrounding sealing area with "Soft Scrub". The detector has not gone off since I took the bad batteries out of the circuit. I even turned the gas on at the tank just to make sure. My motorhome is parked in the driveway with a cover on it and I don't have any trips planned in the near future. Before I take the motorhome on a road trip again, I'll be replacing the four batteries and the two detectors (carbon monoxide and propane) as well.