Smoke, propane, Carbon monoxide, detector?

Oregonconversion · February 11, 2010, 07:19:35 PM

Is there a such machine that can detect all three?

I do not want three detectors in every room.... such an eyesore!

I need to detect leaking propane, smoke from a fire, and low O2 from propane, and fumes from my diesel genset.

belfert · February 11, 2010, 07:24:33 PM

I only have one CO detector and one smoke alarm in my sleeping area. No propane detector as I currently have no propane.

Sam 4106 · February 11, 2010, 07:43:18 PM

I don't think a combination unit would be a good idea. Smoke and CO detectors need to be mounted high on the wall or on the ceiling. A propane detector should be near the floor close to where your propane appliances are located. We have a combination smoke/CO detector on the bathroom ceiling near the bedroom and no propane on our bus. It may be best not to put a smoke detector in the kitchen anyway to reduce or eliminate nuisance alarms from making toast or frying foods. However, I think the best place for the propane detector is in the kitchen.
Good luck with your project. Sam MC 8

Oregonconversion · February 11, 2010, 08:02:12 PM

Ohyeah.... that makes sense!

I will get the CO2/smoke combo and a separate propane then.

Oregonconversion · February 11, 2010, 08:10:51 PM

Do most people have 2 smoke/CO detectors? one in the bedroom and one in the living room? Or just one in the bedroom?

Also, where is a good place to put the propane detector?

pvcces · February 11, 2010, 09:36:47 PM

We found that the Kidde combination CO and explosive gas alarm with a display in PPM has been a good unit for us. It comes with a wall wart which has a 9 volt AC output. This means that the rectified output is nearly 1.414 times 9 volts, which is in the neighborhood of 12 1/2 volts DC.

I thought that this meant that the wall wart lead could be hooked to the coach batteries and should work fine. It has done so ever since I installed it a couple of years ago. It also has helped us deal with nuisance alarms because it tells us if it smells gas or CO and how many PPM CO.

The wall wart went in the trash. One other thing: this alarm responds to battery gassing. It displays this gas like CO instead of explosive gas. This undocumented behavior is useful because it only occurs at the end of charge. The unit is not polarity sensitive; use with a small inline fuse.

These have been available at Home Depot recently.

Good luck.

Tom Caffrey

JackConrad · February 12, 2010, 04:58:43 AM

Quote from: Oregonconversion on February 11, 2010, 08:10:51 PM
Do most people have 2 smoke/CO detectors? one in the bedroom and one in the living room? Or just one in the bedroom?
Also, where is a good place to put the propane detector?

"Our way" was to install the smoke detector on the ceiling on the bathroom. This is close to the kitchen area, but far enough away to prevent false alarms and close enough to the bed room to be easily hear. Our LP detector in the kitchen cabinet below the LP cooktop (the only LP device in our coach). Our CO detector is above the windshield in the front of the bus. No specoific reason other than we wanted it close to the ceiling and that was a convenient spot with neccessary wiring close by. It is loud enough that a close neighbor would hear it.

bevans6 · February 12, 2010, 05:33:55 AM

Propane detectors seem to be electricity hogs, they usually are not battery powered. I bought two from Electro Systems, they also have a multi detector with central panel system for RV use that runs from 12 VDC. My feeling is that I want a detector in the bay beside my tanks, one in the bay with my furnace, one near the fridge, and one near the stove and the hot water heater. Not cheap!

Brian