Important safety issue please read

[TonyOIB]

So we picked up our BRAND NEW MH from our North Carolina CW dealer about 2 months ago. Excitedly went over the all the features and benefits with our tech, and was sent on our merry way. After about 10 days of camping on various trips we thought maybe we would check our SMOKE detector since our old TT detector would almost drive us out of the coach if we even made toast and we hadn't heard a peep from our new one... WELL we were pretty upset to find that the protective tape on the battery had never even been pulled and the smoke detector was pretty worthless that way. Then decided to check the CO2 and propane detector's as well only to find that the battery tape was NOT PULLED on the CO2 either. TO THINK we camped 10 nights without either of our safety devices was just SCARY! SO PLEASE anyone in a newer RV, if you have NOT physically yourselves checked your SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DO IT RIGHT NOW!

[barmcd]

I'm not surprised they were left in place since pulling them starts the clock on the battery. I am somewhat surprised that they didn't tell you that in your pre-delivery walk through.

[minnow]

Since it was bought at a CW, the OP should be forever thankful that’s the only problem he’s had.

[bamaboy473]

Is using caps for, "SCARY", having something to do with Halloween? Surely it wasn't something to lose sleep over, and doing a thorough once-over would seem to involve the systems that operators use; not latent ones. Please don't tear the CW staff a new one over this.

[NITEHAWK]

Camping World isn't the only one.
I went into an exfriend's 2004 Mountain air about five years ago and, after checking everything I could, I finally found the problem. The electrical panel in the bedroom had a terminal labeled: Smoke Alarm. Only problem was there was no wire in the box that wasn't terminated. So, where is/was the smoke alarm wire?

Here, all this time the couple were counting on the smoke alarm/Newell to provide a warning.
Test your co2 alarm and smoke alarm EVERY spring. Also your propane sniffer.

[Bigd9]

Thanks for the Heads Up Tony! Even though my coach is 12 years old, your post made me go and check mine. I found the smoke detector battery was corroded and leaking. It is now on my list of "things to buy"!

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

Is using caps for, "SCARY", having something to do with Halloween? Surely it wasn't something to lose sleep over, and doing a thorough once-over would seem to involve the systems that operators use; not latent ones. Please don't tear the CW staff a new one over this.

I was going to say,,

I too want my smoke detector working but there have been a couple of times that we camped with a dead detector because I didn't realized that the battery had died. Sure, I replaced batteries asap but at the same time, those situations didn't cause any fuss.

Testing to make sure our detectors are working is something we all need to routinely do. New or old, it's a good idea to do this before every trip..

[windsorbill]

at least in California, you can't buy a 9 volt "battery only" powered smoke detector for your home. They outlawed it several years ago. They now sell lithium ion self contained battery only smokes. They claim they last 10 years. when the device starts to beep, you change the whole device.

[richardgood]

Originally Posted by TonyOIB

So we picked up our BRAND NEW MH from our North Carolina CW dealer about 2 months ago. Excitedly went over the all the features and benefits with our tech, and was sent on our merry way. After about 10 days of camping on various trips we thought maybe we would check our SMOKE detector since our old TT detector would almost drive us out of the coach if we even made toast and we hadn't heard a peep from our new one... WELL we were pretty upset to find that the protective tape on the battery had never even been pulled and the smoke detector was pretty worthless that way. Then decided to check the CO2 and propane detector's as well only to find that the battery tape was NOT PULLED on the CO2 either. TO THINK we camped 10 nights without either of our safety devices was just SCARY! SO PLEASE anyone in a newer RV, if you have NOT physically yourselves checked your SAFETY EQUIPMENT. DO IT RIGHT NOW!

Mine is hard wired. I have however installed a battery operated one also.

[geordi]

Originally Posted by minnow

Since it was bought at a CW, the OP should be forever thankful that’s the only problem he’s had.

Originally Posted by bamaboy473

Is using caps for, "SCARY", having something to do with Halloween? Surely it wasn't something to lose sleep over, and doing a thorough once-over would seem to involve the systems that operators use; not latent ones. Please don't tear the CW staff a new one over this.

Definitely - There are PLENTY of other things that CW will screw up for you to make this funny by comparison! Expecting the dealer people (whoever they are) to remember everything in a delivery walkthrough is comedy though. Their job is to get enough done to get it off the lot and make room for the next profit center to roll in. Discovering all the things they left out is part of the joy of buying brand new.

Originally Posted by windsorbill

at least in California, you can't buy a 9 volt "battery only" powered smoke detector for your home. They outlawed it several years ago. They now sell lithium ion self contained battery only smokes. They claim they last 10 years. when the device starts to beep, you change the whole device.

There's actually a very smart reason for this: There's a tiny amount of radioactivity in the detectors that slowly erodes over time, until the detector is no longer capable of properly functioning. This happens silently, whether it is powered up or not. The sensitivity drops off until they would practically have to be on fire themselves to alert. EVERY detector older than 10 years should be replaced completely, no matter what power source it uses.

[hohenwald48]

Originally Posted by windsorbill

at least in California, you can't buy a 9 volt "battery only" powered smoke detector for your home. They outlawed it several years ago. They now sell lithium ion self contained battery only smokes. They claim they last 10 years. when the device starts to beep, you change the whole device.

I think you still have to pull the tape tab to get them to work initially.

[TripleEEE]

Glad you survived for the first 10 days.

I check/change batteries every Spring prior to camping season.

On a new unit I function test everything. I don't trust the hired help....

[rvethereyet]

Originally Posted by TripleEEE

Glad you survived for the first 10 days.

I check/change batteries every Spring prior to camping season.

On a new unit I function test everything. I don't trust the hired help....

Its that simple

[baraff]

Definitely need a working smoke detector. Ours doubles as a kitchen timer.