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09-29-2013, 11:38 AM
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#1
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Big D, Texas, ya\'ll
Posts: 274
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Carbon Monoxide detector going crazy
My friends have a 1999 National Tradewinds motor home. Recently, the carbon monixide detector keeps going off. We had to cut the wires to disconnect it. When we reconnected the wires, it would be silent for a few minutes; then begin beeping again. Replaced it with a new one and it does the same. It is located close to the floor in the hallway.
A little background: While stored in their driveway, plugged in to a land line, on some mornings when they would go out to the motor home to open it up, the detector would be beeping. While my friend was working in the MH, laying new carpet, no one got sick or died, not even the dog. We took a four day weekend a few weeks ago, with the alarm disconnected, and there was no hint of odor, illness, etc. It was extremely hot here in Texas that weekend and consequently we spent a lot of time in our motor homes with both A/Cs running. We also spent a lot of time with them in their MH and detected no odors, no one even got a headache, runny eyes, etc.
Does anyone have any knowledge of why this would happen? And, yes, he knows he needs to get it fixed because he knows how dangerous it is to not have it working properly.
Thank you for your help.
Happy Trails.
__________________
Larry & Norma, Dallas, Texas
2001 39 ft. National Tradewinds LTC
2003 Suzuki GV ] PressurePro TPMS
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09-29-2013, 11:51 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,269
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Not sure of the timeline from your post.
Did the problem start during the carpet installation or before ?
Fumes from the underlay or new carpet can take months to dissipate.
If you extend the wiring and move the detector higher in the coach , temporarily , does the alarm take longer to activate?
Doing this may help narrow it down to carpet /underlay fumes.
The air flow from the A/Cs may have dissipated/ vented, the fumes, and any situation with movement in the coach, is different than having it sit overnight unoccupied .
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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09-29-2013, 12:01 PM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 944
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragman
My friends have a 1999 National Tradewinds motor home. Recently, the carbon monixide detector keeps going off. We had to cut the wires to disconnect it. When we reconnected the wires, it would be silent for a few minutes; then begin beeping again. Replaced it with a new one and it does the same. It is located close to the floor in the hallway. A little background: While stored in their driveway, plugged in to a land line, on some mornings when they would go out to the motor home to open it up, the detector would be beeping. While my friend was working in the MH, laying new carpet, no one got sick or died, not even the dog. We took a four day weekend a few weeks ago, with the alarm disconnected, and there was no hint of odor, illness, etc. It was extremely hot here in Texas that weekend and consequently we spent a lot of time in our motor homes with both A/Cs running. We also spent a lot of time with them in their MH and detected no odors, no one even got a headache, runny eyes, etc. Does anyone have any knowledge of why this would happen? And, yes, he knows he needs to get it fixed because he knows how dangerous it is to not have it working properly. Thank you for your help. Happy Trails.
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Yes, do correct the problem right away. If your sleeping and the problem becomes real you will not wake up to get out.
You said it is close to the floor, if not mistaken the LP gas detector are the ones close to the floor, and the carbon monoxide detector should be located closer to the ceiling (12 - 18") on my coach LP is hard wired, carbon monoxide is battery operated. Yours may be different.
I have 1999 also, first thing I did when I got it was replace both smoke detectors and the carbon monoxide detector. Also added a second carbon monoxide detector up front in the main area. I need to check or replace the LP gas one myself, on my to do list.
Save travels,
Charlie
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09-29-2013, 12:59 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Monaco Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Clovis, CA, USA
Posts: 13,090
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__________________
2004 Monaco La Palma 36DBD, W22, 8.1, 7.1 MPG
2000 LEXUS RX300 FWD 22MPG 4020 LBS
Criticism is easier than Craftsmanship
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09-29-2013, 01:06 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Monaco Owners Club
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Varies Depending on The Weather
Posts: 8,517
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragman
Recently, the carbon monixide detector keeps going off. We had to cut the wires to disconnect it. When we reconnected the wires, it would be silent for a few minutes; then begin beeping again. Replaced it with a new one and it does the same. It is located close to the floor in the hallway.
Thank you for your help.
Happy Trails.
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The CO detector should not be located near the floor. Typically the LPG detector is mounted down there and should be close to the kitchen area. The CO detector should be in the bedroom where people are generally sleeping and mounted under a cabinet or on a wall.
If the old one and the new one are both alerting you to a problem then go find what the problem is and correct it.
Knowing what type of detector it is FIRST will focus your attention to the right areas.
Dr4Film ----- Richard
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09-29-2013, 01:16 PM
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#6
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Moderator Emeritus
Ford Super Duty Owner
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Bryan, TX when not traveling.
Posts: 22,942
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The sensors on the CO monitors have a finite life and are to be replace in the 5 to 10 year range. You will need to check the manufactures literature for the recommended life.
If the originals are in your RV, by all means replace them for your safety.
Ken
__________________
Amateur Radio Operator (KE5DFR)|No Longer Full-Time! - 2023 Cougar 22MLS toted by 2022 F150, 3.5L EcoBoost Tow Max FX4 Lariat Travel with one Standard Schnauzer and one small Timneh African Gray Parrot, retired mechanical engineer
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09-29-2013, 05:12 PM
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#7
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Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Powell River, B.C.
Posts: 31,269
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragman
. When we reconnected the wires, it would be silent for a few minutes; then begin beeping again. Replaced it with a new one and it does the same. It is located close to the floor in the hallway.
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Thought of something else.
Is this a combo CO & LP detector ? You replaced with new, same model?
Another possible test if you want to try. Vent the coach , turn off all propane systems; with the furnace off and the fridge shut down and propane shut off; you eliminate all possible sources for CO and LP to trigger the detector . Then if the detector goes off your back to carpet fumes or CO entering the coach from outside. ( While stored in their driveway )! Had my detector go off from some , J.....ss running stale gas in his Jeep 100' away.
__________________
99DSDP 3884, Freightliner, XC, CAT 3126B, 300 HP /ALLISON 3060
2000 Caravan toad, Remco & Blue Ox.
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09-29-2013, 06:10 PM
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#8
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Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 67
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mine goes off if the battery's flat.
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09-30-2013, 07:42 AM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: Big D, Texas, ya\'ll
Posts: 274
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Thanks to all for your replies and suggestions. I'll pass this on to my friend.
And my mistake; it is undoubtedly the LP detector, not the CO detector which is in the bedroom. Thanks for setting me straight on that.
HAPPY Trails,
Larry
__________________
Larry & Norma, Dallas, Texas
2001 39 ft. National Tradewinds LTC
2003 Suzuki GV ] PressurePro TPMS
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09-30-2013, 08:50 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: May 2009
Location: AZ Mountains
Posts: 394
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As TX iceman said, the sensing element in either detector has a finite life and needs p4riodic replacement. There are a bunch of reasons why a propane detector will alert, including dog farts, hairspray, butane lighters, etc. While a defective propane alarm likely won't kill you overnight, you better check out all causes before your next trip. You just MIGHT have a small leak somewhere around the stove/oven. PS - that dude who installed the carpet . . . .does he have a gas problem?
__________________
KG7DKF
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10-01-2013, 12:57 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 672
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Check your batteries for a boiling cell. Believe it or not, this will set the propane detector off. This has happen twice on my MH and both times it was a bad battery emitting fumes from a dead cell that was boiling. The fumes get into the MH and set the detector off. Sounds crazy, but it can be a cause.
__________________
Fred Kennerson
2003 Dolphin L/X 6320
Yucaipa, Ca
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10-01-2013, 03:38 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,976
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kennersonf
Check your batteries for a boiling cell. Believe it or not, this will set the propane detector off. This has happen twice on my MH and both times it was a bad battery emitting fumes from a dead cell that was boiling. The fumes get into the MH and set the detector off. Sounds crazy, but it can be a cause.
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x2, same thing happened to me. my batteries are under my entry stairs, in a supposedly well sealed compartment too.
i installed lifeline agm batteries and that fixed my problem.
__________________
01 WINNEBAGO 35U W20.8.1L 5sp allison SW Wa,. Good Sam, SKP. RVM 198 AMSOIL fluids. BANKS ecm program. SCAN GAUGE II w/ Ally temp. 2 LIFELINE GPL-6CT AGM Batts on their sides. Michelins, TST tptts. K&N panel air filter. AERO mufflers. TAYLOR plug wires. ULTRA POWER track bar. KONI fsd shocks, toad '21MB GLA FWD on dolly
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10-01-2013, 05:34 AM
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#13
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Senior Member
Join Date: May 2005
Location: Full-timers - Home is where we park it.
Posts: 4,722
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ragman
Thanks to all for your replies and suggestions. I'll pass this on to my friend.
And my mistake; it is undoubtedly the LP detector, not the CO detector which is in the bedroom. Thanks for setting me straight on that.
HAPPY Trails,
Larry
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Lots of good advice has been given. It is critical to determine if there is a real problem or if they are false alarms.
Definitely have your friend check the water level in his batteries. Overcharging (as indicated by low water level) due to a bad cell can set off an LP alarm.
Also as has been stated, the sensors in all alarms (smoke, CO and LP) have a finite life and need to be periodically replaced. Our LP alarm started going crazy after about 7 years. I turned off the LP, aired out the motor home; and the alarm still kept going off. We replaced the LP alarm and no more problems. We are also on our second smoke alarm and our second CO alarm for the same reason.
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10-01-2013, 05:51 AM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TXiceman
The sensors on the CO monitors have a finite life and are to be replace in the 5 to 10 year range. You will need to check the manufactures literature for the recommended life.
If the originals are in your RV, by all means replace them for your safety.
Ken
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X what ever we are up to now.
We (fire company) would recommend every 5 years. I think Safe air gas has one with a 7 year life. (House units)
__________________
2017 F350 Lariat Diesel Dually, White, Hitch Kit.
2013 Dutchman Voltage 3200 Epic II 5th wheel.
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