Gas Detector Replacement?
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Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
Gas Detector Replacement?
Every time I pull my ATV into my trailer the gas detector goes off. So that means it's working, right? LOL
My trailer is 13 years old and I think it's fair to assume that it still has the original gas detector in it. I've been told they have a limited life span that is far less than 13 years.
Is there anything I need to know about replacing the gas detector? Is one brand or type of detector better than others?
My trailer is 13 years old and I think it's fair to assume that it still has the original gas detector in it. I've been told they have a limited life span that is far less than 13 years.
Is there anything I need to know about replacing the gas detector? Is one brand or type of detector better than others?
Cargo Master
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,745
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From: West Virginia
I would assume the gasoline detector in a TH is going to be similar to the propane detector in design and function. These things have a five year life span IIRC. When I had to replace my propane detector, I simply cut the wires and then shopped Amazon.com with the part number. Found the identical unit in a choice of black or cream colors for a reasonable price. By buying the same unit I ensured the hole in the wall would be properly covered and the wiring would be the same. I don't imagine any one brand is more desirable than another.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 1,674
Likes: 676
From: DeMotte, IN
One addition to wrvond comments, when my propane detector reached about 5 years, it started the annoying chirping to let you know to replace it. Do not like to assume, so I would guess yours could be similar. They are inexpensive, so option 1, buy a new one and see if it does the same. Or, option 2, I believe mine had the date stamped on the back of it. Check to see if yours has a date tag.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 1,169
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From: Bismarck, ND
I'm assuming you're referring to a Carbon Monoxide (CO) gas detector?
If so, then yes, they have a 5 year lifespan. Their should be a date on it somewhere.
As far as the detector going off when you drive the atv inside, that sounds right to me. You're running an internal combustion gas engine, making CO exhaust, in a small enclosed area. I'd hope the detector is going off.
If so, then yes, they have a 5 year lifespan. Their should be a date on it somewhere.
As far as the detector going off when you drive the atv inside, that sounds right to me. You're running an internal combustion gas engine, making CO exhaust, in a small enclosed area. I'd hope the detector is going off.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,031
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From: East Central Ia
Yes I was told five years and that goes for the ones in homes also, easy to replace. Mine went off during the winter storage. Another time parents bought new CO one as an additional and complained it kept going off. Come to find out old ones were dead and furnace was bad. They were lucky.
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Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
I finally got off my duff and ordered a replacement. It's a combo propane and CO detector.
I was staining the cabinets in the RV today. I thought that the smell of the stain was heavy enough it set off the detector, but it didn't.
I was staining the cabinets in the RV today. I thought that the smell of the stain was heavy enough it set off the detector, but it didn't.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 1,244
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From: South Central Indiana
If your dog passes gas anywhere near the detector it will set it off, lol. Same with certain hair sprays. My unit still has the original CO/Propane detector and is going into it's 7th year. The thing about these units is they will tell you when they need to be replaced. If you carry a cordless vac or something of that nature, run it over the detector to suck out any dust or debris that may be inside. This will prolong its life. That being said I have a replacement sitting in the camper just in case. These things have a habit of going off between 12am and 6am. Made by Safe-T-Alert.
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From: Wyoming
That's the same brand I ordered. I found a cross reference that said it was an exact fit for the OEM model I have now.
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I replaced the Carbon Monoxide tester, but the propane detector has a light on it saying it is in working order.... It seems to function according to the way it is suppose to work but I know it is older than 5 years I am thinking of just keeping this one and use it until it tells me its not working.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2016
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Our camper came with only one propane detector...mounted near the appliance cluster (furnace, water heater, stove, and refrigerator) toward the rear of camper. We had a gas regulator (near front of camper) decide to leak after midnight. Lucky I don't trust the auto tank selector and keep one tank shut off or both tanks would have emptied. Also lucky the wife woke up and smelled the gas inside our camper. Point is, I'll be adding a detector in the front of the camper.
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Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
It looks like my CO/gas detector is already on its way out. For no apparent reason, it was going off when I visited the trailer at the storage lot. There was plenty of 12 volt power, so that wasn't the problem. This has happened twice. Both times I've turned off power to the 12 volt system, given the detector a couple minutes to discharge, and then powered back up with no alarms from the detector. I don't think there is a backup battery in the detector since it's not easy to remove and I don't recall installing a battery.
I have a handheld gas detector that I'm going to keep in the trailer so I can check it against the detector in the RV so I can see if there really is a problem. But I think the RV unit is headed toward a premature death. The original detector lasted 10 years. The new one didn't make it three years.
I'll pay more attention to the error lights on the unit. I need to check the date of manufacture also. There are a lot of complaints about getting units that were already two years old.
I have a handheld gas detector that I'm going to keep in the trailer so I can check it against the detector in the RV so I can see if there really is a problem. But I think the RV unit is headed toward a premature death. The original detector lasted 10 years. The new one didn't make it three years.
I'll pay more attention to the error lights on the unit. I need to check the date of manufacture also. There are a lot of complaints about getting units that were already two years old.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jan 2020
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Just an off topic fyi, those little stinkers are the main parasitic battery draw when your trailer is sitting not used. (I have a battery disconnect now on mine). If you leave the battery in yours, connected, it's always a good idea to pull the fuse on this devise.
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Joined: Oct 2015
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From: Wyoming
82 mA isn't much though it does add up over time. The 640 watts of PV on the roof of the RV keep my system well charged. I have been tracking down which devices are in each fuse. I don't think that the gas detector is one that I've figured out.
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2019
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Those detectors are just generally low quality junk.
I got about three years out of five on the one that came in my trailer. Nothing beats getting a blast at 3:00am every so offensive that won’t reset and the dog doesn’t like it either. I cut the wires to that one and replaced it with a much better looking plug-in CO/explosive gas detector piece ordered from Home Depot, if memory serves correct.
I got about three years out of five on the one that came in my trailer. Nothing beats getting a blast at 3:00am every so offensive that won’t reset and the dog doesn’t like it either. I cut the wires to that one and replaced it with a much better looking plug-in CO/explosive gas detector piece ordered from Home Depot, if memory serves correct.