2025 Cornerstone "Add-On's/Accessories" - Proteng?

[NXR]

Can you tell if there is still FM200 in your devices, YES! Each tube has a shot of nitrogen in them to form a small bubble...a quick look at the device will confirm there is still suppression fluid contained within the device.

Good to know, thanks. But it's still a point-in-time indication. It's like people who refuse to use a TPMS but say they check the tire pressures every day they drive. Better than nothing but that's it.

And if the extingushant was found to have leaked out during the pre-departure checks, what then?

This is where a separate detection and alarm system would still provide warning to the people inside because they certainly are not going to stay parked until the Proteng system is repaired.

Ray

[NXR]

All of these systems are just another insurance policy but with a one-time premium payment. It's often a judgement call as to how much insurance is enough for you. I sometimes see brand new motorhome tires for sale with a date code that is ancient. There's little doubt the owner bought that tire as extra insurance but never needed it. The best insurance policy is the one you never need but it's great to have when you do.

So get to work on that fire detection system and alerting system coupled with Proteng and then I'll just shut up or even recommend the solution. As if that matters to anyone. The recommendation part, I mean.

I'd wager that BallFour might even allow you to use their coach as a test bed.

Take care,

Ray

[BallFour]

Originally Posted by NXR

Maybe a "Build your own" could work?

An even simpler solution than a loss-of-pressure switch for remote alerting could be battery-powered home smoke detectors that are "meshed". For example, we use the Nest Protect 2 detectors at the house. If we're asleep on the second floor and the basement Protect 2 triggers it also triggers every Protect 2 device in the house to beep and they all announce "Smoke detected in the basement" or whatever the alarm is.

For a couple of hundred dollars a Nest Protect 2 (or competing system) could be placed in the engine compartment with another placed in the driver area. The detectors communicate with each other via radio but do not use Wi-Fi or Bluetooth so there is no reliance on another system to communicate with each other. The detector in the driver area also covers the living area with a second safety system.

Since we use the Nest Protect 2's in the house I also keep one in the motorhome because it will talk to us about what the problem is, not just beep nonsensically, and it will alert to their app via Wi-Fi and the Internet. We have it for our own protection and for when we leave the dog inside.

Maybe a detection and alarming system could be a new offering by NIRVC?

Ray

This is a very intriguing idea. Home Depot sells a 4-pack for ~$546 (so ~$137 each). I suppose I could install #1 in the coach proper, #2 in the bay which houses both the Aquahot & transfer switch, #3 in the large open basement space which houses the cooler/power sliding trays/inverter/house batteries), and #4 in the pusher X15 engine compartment. That would leave only the generator compartment "undetected". For an additional $149 (the price for an individual Nest Protect), I could buy #5 and cover that space. Total cost = $695 before tax.

I've researched YouTube and found one ("Outside Our Bubble", David Bott) where they had installed three units (two in the coach and one in the large basement compartment).

My only concern is with the two engine compartments (generator and X15), since they are not "closed spaces" and may inhibit the performance of the detectors -- both from exposure to the elements and from not "capturing" the smoke quickly perspective. I suppose proper positioning could limit those issues.

Does anyone have any experience with installing smoke detectors in the basement and engine compartments -- in particular, the Nest Protect smart smoke detector variety.

Thanks in advance.

Stan

[NXR]

The Protect 2 does have an early warning alert where it tells you something is going on but it's not yet at the official alert levels.

You would need to experiment with placement to assure an area subject to a lot of air flow could trigger but not false alarm. Not sure how you would do that but as fast as a real fire can ramp up it may be a non-issue.

You may need to be "creative" when you assign names to each detector. Only "basement" is a standard one. I use "office" for the one inside the living area even though I no longer work.

I didn't know anybody had already done that. I'll need to check it out. Thanks for the heads-up.

Ray