LP gas detector for hearing impaired?

[Lloyd132]

For more than a week I've searched the internet and called manufacturers for a reference to a 12VDC LP gas detector suitable for the hearing impaired; I can't hear the high frequency standard 85 db alarm.

Does anyone know of a dedicated product or a "work-around" to modify a standard alarm?

Thanks.

["007"]

Welcome Lloyd132 to irv2.
I would get in touch with this company "SAFE-T-ALERT" and see if they make a detector for hearing impaired if not maybe they can suggest some way of rigging up a flashing light off one of their detectors.

[Lloyd132]

Thank you, 007; I'll follow-up.

[Lloyd132]

Okay, just for closure: I've now heard from all of the major LP alarm manufacturers. None of them were able to suggest a product or a modification that would be of use to a hearing impaired person.

I would have bet money that there were enough of us in RV'ing to warrant a dedicated product, but guess I'd have lost that bet.

So, what do I do - sleep with the windows open?

[wa8yxm]

Considering how loud those thigns are ... But then I do know about frequency selective hearing.

One thing I found, long, long, time ago, was a lamp that listened for just that frequency and if it heard a loud screach on that frequency.. It turned on..

I'd try to find such a thing... I do not have any info on it, forget where I got it, and otherwise can not help you with finding it.

Option 2:

Some Explosive Gas detectors have control leads for a propane solenoid.

It would be possible to use this type and a normally closed relay and a 2nd Sonalert, With the propane detctor on and in "normal" mode the power to the relay would pull the contacts open and thus no sound from the alternate frequency alarm.

If the unit went into ALARM it would of course turn off power to the gas valve (What it thinks is the gas vavle) but which is really the relay's coil.. causing the 2ndary alarm to sound at a frequency you could hear.

Should also be possible for an Electronics techinican (Which I happen to be) to replace the noise maker, Sonalert makes them in many different "Tones" if you like.

[Lloyd132]

wa8yxm, thank you very much for your reply; I've since checked into Sonalert and found two models whose frequencies I can hear; both are powered from 10-45VDC.

Max current draw on one is 150mA; the other is 50mA (though I wonder if one or the other is listed incorrectly and they should be the same since the only difference between them is the frequency.

I've taken apart my hard-wired, 12VDC, Atwood Protechtor, series 2001, LP alarm; and maybe identified the sound-emitting canister. That's as far as I can go on my own, though:

1. If that is the correct canister, it has four lugs soldered into the circuit board and I don't know how to deal with that when replacing it with the Sonalert;
2. I don't have a clue whether or not the Sonalert's power draw matches what may be available to it on the Protechtor circuit board.

As an electronics technician, can you direct me?

Thanks.

Lloyd

[MegaRoadie]

Lloyd:

My solution for most hearing problems has been solved by my Service Dog Gibson ! Cell phone, home phone, smoke alarm, LP Gas alarm, doorbell all put him on alert and he lets me know ASAP ! Hard to ignore being jumped on, licked, barked at and simply pestered until I move my rickety behind and find the problem or source of the noise !!!

When he isnt alerting he is a wonderful listener, non-judgemental even though I can be very irritating with my own opinions, he eats very little and is a great companion, and more importantly he works even with a loss of all power, which helps when ya try to live in Florida and those terrible huricanes and tornados seem to steal power a lot !

just a thought...

I do NOT suffer from mental illness, but rather enjoy it daily !

[Lloyd132]

MegaRoadie, I had my hunting dog, Harley, sitting by the computer when I was testing various Sonalert tones; his ears pricked, but he remained silent. He has too many years of field hunting whistled directions to react hysterically to what he'd consider just one more sound.

If you'll supply me with Gibson's preferred diet I'll send the address to which you should ship him.

Lloyd

[Triker56]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lloyd132 So, what do I do - sleep with the windows open?

How about getting a Hearing service Dog?

["007"]

, thank you very much for your reply; I've since checked into Sonalert and found two models whose frequencies I can hear; both are powered from 10-45VDC.

Lloyd, they say they are powerd 10-45VDC you should only have to swap the 12V wiring on your existing LP Detector with the new one.