Gas alarm beeping

[BobR]

The alarms on my R31 sedan are beeping. The boat is still on its cradle. Any idea as to why? Warm weather affecting a closed up boat perhaps? How do I shut them off? There are the Carbon Monoxide alarms in the mid and fore cabins.

Thanks

 

[Automaticman865]

Hi, the Co2 detectors are good for only five years. They are hard coded and know when it's time for them to retire. There is a date of manufacture on a small sticker on the cover.

Stuart

 

[Andrew Custis]

Could also be a low battery alarm. The CO2 detectors have battery alarms built in. Do you have power going to the boat to keep the batteries topped off?

 

[scross]

It' s not actually a CO2 detector - it's a CO detector.
When we purchased our R25 the hard wired carbon monoxide detector in the cave was disabled. When I connected it back up it went off every 30 minutes or so for no apparent reason. I then understood why it had been disabled. Ripped it out and put in a new Kidde CO detector with a 10 year battery. Put it up above my head in the v-berth. Took 5 minutes. Easy to test every so often. Cost about $40 at Homeless Depot.

 

[ALICE J]

Remember that CO displaces O2 and therefore your head may be below the detection module. I believe it's in the cave because it's close to the area that produces CO, the generator and main engine. I think it makes a good low voltage indicator and has saved my batteries from complete collapse 😳 Although I have had the CO alarm sound when running my Wabasto heater which is mounted under my galley on my R27, when I was at high altitude, camping in the mountains. Only happened at higher altitudes, so I figured lower O2 levels triggered the alarm. I opened to door and the alarm went silent.

 

[scross]

My CO alarm is mounted only about 4" above the top my head when sleeping so I think I'm ok. I like having the really loud alarm so close to me that it can't be ignored.
CO is actually 3% lighter than normal air so it has a very slight tendency to rise rather than sink. Many CO alarm makers recommend that CO monitors be installed on the ceiling rather than close to the floor.

 

[Automaticman865]

Hi, Thanks, I got carried away with the extra oxygen molecule CO not CO2.

Stuart

 

[BobR]

Thanks for the suggestions. The cause was antifreeze. Someone bumped he switch for the fresh water washdown in the cockpit and antifreeze (biodegradable used for winter storage) leaked and set off the alarms.

Best,

 

[SassyRed]

Wow, that is an interesting tidbit to remember. Antifreeze vapor sets off the CO detector. Thanks for sharing. For what it is worth, ispopropyl alcohol vapor will also set off a home detector (and I'd guess a marine detector) in case anyone uses it to disinfect surfaces or anything. Kevin