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tacomaker · 10-11-2012, 08:09 PM

Took the MH on a guys football road trip and the first night I was awoken to the co detector going off at 3am lol. I had bought a battery operated one just so I had two and that one never went off so I figured the hard wired one was bad. When I tore it off the ceiling to tear the speaker out because it wouldn't shut off I noticed it had an expire date of Aug 2011. You think that's why it went off? The new detector didn't alarm so that's my guess. To be safe I shut off gen and shut off gas supply so we could sleep with piece of mind.

Had two great first nights in there and put 2,000 miles on it round trip. Guys had a great time. Wife and I are meeting some friends this weekend to try camping for our first time. Better get in one time before winter hits.

Tony Lee · 10-11-2012, 08:27 PM

CO, not CO2

Was it just chirping occasionally to let you know the battery needed changing.

If any CO detector goes off, you really should check out the reason before going back to sleep with the windows wide open

tacomaker · 10-11-2012, 08:39 PM

CO yes my bad. No wasn't chirping was just a solid shriek and wouldn't quit until I ripped the speaker out. No batteries as its hard wired. I'm hoping it did it because it was a year past its expiration date but who knows. Like I said the new one I just bought never registered anything so who knows. Definitely scary to wake up to.

perdick · 10-13-2012, 01:38 PM

I am confused. My understanding is that the smoke detector is on the ceiling and the CO/and or propane is down at floor level.

SarahW · 10-13-2012, 01:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perdick

I am confused. My understanding is that the smoke detector is on the ceiling and the CO/and or propane is down at floor level.

Ditto.

Tony Lee · 10-13-2012, 05:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by perdick

I am confused. My understanding is that the smoke detector is on the ceiling and the CO/and or propane is down at floor level.

Propane - heavier than air - so detector close to the floor not too far away from all the propane appliances.
BTW Propane detectors typically draw 100mA so not generally battery powered. Powered by coach batteries and sometime wired to disconnect the propane supply at the tank.

Smoke usually rises, so mount detector on the ceiling or high on the wall, but NOT within 8" of the wall-ceiling corner or near cupboards, doors and windows.. One outside the bedroom and one inside is ideal. Photoelectric type best for kitchen (but not close to stove)

CO (almost the same density as air) (as distinct from CO2 which is heavier) generally as for smoke detector in living rooms, but for extra protection, could put an extra one half-way down the wall above the head of the bed. CO poisoning can occur when generator exhaust fumes even from adjacent vehicles enter the coach.
CO doesn't stratify like propane or CO2 down low, or like smoke up high, but mixes with the air fairly quickly. However, since it is a product of combustion, it is first likely to rise towards the ceiling just as smoke does.

OR read the instructions that come with the detector (but need to make allowance for special conditions pertaining to RVs).

Always confusion between CO (product of incomplete combustion) and CO2 (which we breath out and is a normal component of fresh air), both of which are lethal in some conditions. CO2 is easily reversed by breathing fresh air (old (cruel) demonstrations where a mouse keels over when dropped into a gas jar full of CO2, but comes to life immediately when taken out.)
CO poisoning is VERY difficult to reverse because it binds to haemoglobin in preference to oxygen so once that happens, even giving pure oxygen does very little good and even small concentrations breathed over a long time can cause death.
Both CO and CO2 are essentially colourless and odourless and for a time anyway, symptom-free.