We have a Protechtor Carbon Monoxide detector (Atwoods Mobile Products) in our coach. It is mounted in the cabinet above the table in the galley area along with the remote Heart Interface control/indicator panel. (We have a Heart Interface Freedom Model 20 inverter/charger unit.)
Prior to replacing the house batteries this spring, the carbon monoxide detector periodically chirped. After I replaced the house batteries, it did not show any fault and did not chirp. During our trip, no fault nor chirp occurred. We normally stayed at campgrounds with 50A electrical service.
After we got home from our trip, I did not plug our coach into the 35A power outlet at our house for a few weeks. After a few weeks, I noticed the carbon monoxide dector was periodically chirping and showed the yellow fault light. I connected the coach to the 35A power outlet about 1 week ago.
This morning, I checked the voltage on the two house batteries (Continental 8D lead/acid batteries). I measured 13.17 volts across the terminals on one battery and 13.18 volts across the terminals on the second battery.
I checked the Heart Interface remote panel. It was showing 13.0 volts and was indicating below 10A.
I checked the EMS readout. It was showing the following:
L1 - 117 volts, 12 amps
L2 - 117 volts, 0 amps
I have a 35 amp power outlet serving the MH and I plugged the coach into this outlet almost 1 week ago.
The Protechtor LP Gas Detector Series 200 does NOT show any error (blinking green LED for power and solid green LED for valve (or value??)) nor is it making any audible alarm.
Does anyone have any idea why the carbon monoxide dector is showing a fault and chirping periodically? Or any idea what I should check next?
Thank you.
Morris,
How old is your CO detector? They (and the LP detector) generally have a 7 year life and should be replaced if older than that. It could just be that your detector is "aged".
Even if the LP is not displaying a fault, if it is over 7 years old you should replace it as well.
Smoke detectors usually have a 7-10 year life. The date of manufacture should be on the back of the unit. If it doesn't have a date and you don't know how old it is, you should consider replacing it as well.
Michelle
Since we purchased the coach from the previous owner last fall, I do not know the age of either. Tomorrow afternoon or Tuesday, I will try to remove the CO detector from the panel to see if it has the date of manufacture on the back.
Thank you very much.
Morris,
I replaced our Carbon Monoxide detector a little over two years ago. They are now manufactured with a date shown on the front that indicates when they should be replaced. They are easy to re-order. IIRC the one I replaced was made in Illinois. You should find the information you need on the back of it. One of the easier tasks you will encounter. The cost was about $40.
In my opinion, no one should have just one CO detector and there must be at least one CO detector in the bedroom. We use battery operated (3-AA) CO detectors with a digital display that reads out the actual amount of CO.
On all hard wired detectors (propane, CO, smoke) we put a small Radio Shack switch next to each detector to turn off the 12-volt supply. We do a hard-reset when they go off accidently by turning switch off and back on and we find this fixes all problems. These detectors don't care about 120-volt systems or start battery condition. Your detectors had a hard reset when you changed house batteries, which clear them up.
Turning off the step battery disconnect does not turn off hard wired detectors (& refrigerator).
Detectors are inexpensive and redundancy is a good idea to save lives. And when only one goes off, it is more likely a false alarm.
An update:
I removed the existing CO detector and disconnected the red wire to the detector and waited a few seconds. Then reconnected the red wire and reinstalled the existing CO detector. The chirping stopped and the indicator light changed to a flashing green light. Then later on, it changed to a solid green light. So it appears the CO detector just needed to be reset.
The existing CO detector is a 1999 manufactured unit and mounts flush in the wall.
I purchased a house CO detector that runs on AA batteries and plan to disconnect the existing CO detector and somehow mount the house CO detector over the existing CO detector.
I have also purchased a replacement Protechtor LP gas detector. Haven't received it yet.
Thank you everyone for your help.
Don't put your new CO in the kitchen area.
Save a life of a loved one, put your new CO detector in your bedroom or wherever you sleep.
CO kills much easier when sleeping.
Ahhh...good idea.....I will check on possible locations in the bedroom area. I have wondered if the location of the current wired in CO detector is too close to the gas cook top and possibly the gas water heater and furnace. The gas cook top is located on the opposite side of the coach (passenger side), just across the walk way from the current detector location. But I guess the hot water heater and furnace are vented outside though.
Thank you very much for suggesting the CO detector to be located in the bedroom instead of in the current location.