LP gas detector in 5th wheel going off

[bgula]

I had this problem on basically the last day of our Christmas vacation to FW. The detector would go off again and again. Finally after resetting it several times and moving some air about it stopped. Now, I just got some repairs done to my unit, including an apparent small leak around the water heater. I've got the unit at home, no propane even going at the moment, and what does the detector do tonight but go off again and again! Anyone have any ideas on what might be causing this? I can't just turn the thing off except to disconnect all power. My unit is an '04. Could it need replacing or cleaning? We leave for the Fort in 11 days and I don't need this headache right now.

 

[disney4dan]

All that I can think of to offer are the following:

1. Maybe there is another source for the gas such as the small propane bottles used for coleman stoves/lanterns

2. Maybe some gas left coming from the still pressurized lines

3. Believe it or not, bugs.

Regarding my last thought, we had an issue with our smoke detectors going off in the middle of the night when we first moved in to the house. I tried for days to troubleshoot the problem before calling the manufacturer. The first question they asked was whether we had any in the attic or garage because the power indicator light attracts small bugs that could find their way into the detector chamber. That would set off the sensors, scaring away the bugs before you could locate the detector that was causing the alarm.

Maybe try placing a small amount of electrical tape over the indicator light?

 

[des1954]

Our carbon monoxide monitor kept going off. Always in the middle of the night - never during the day. It happened with the air off & windows opened, sitting in the drive, closed up with air on. It just happened - and always at night. Solution? We disconnected it. We've survived just fine in many units that didn't have CO2 monitor - and I guess we will still survive.

 

[medic9016]

Is you battery charged? A low battery will cause the LP monitor to alarm because it runs on the 12 volt system. You could have a bad monitor. They are inexpensive to change. Do not disconnect it. It may be doing it's job and you do have a leak.

 

[bgula]

All that I can think of to offer are the following:

1. Maybe there is another source for the gas such as the small propane bottles used for coleman stoves/lanterns

2. Maybe some gas left coming from the still pressurized lines

3. Believe it or not, bugs.

Regarding my last thought, we had an issue with our smoke detectors going off in the middle of the night when we first moved in to the house. I tried for days to troubleshoot the problem before calling the manufacturer. The first question they asked was whether we had any in the attic or garage because the power indicator light attracts small bugs that could find their way into the detector chamber. That would set off the sensors, scaring away the bugs before you could locate the detector that was causing the alarm.

Maybe try placing a small amount of electrical tape over the indicator light?

I'll try taking it out and cleaning it and see if that does the trick. I don't think I've got a leak as they leak tested the system just the other day, found a leak near the water heater and fixed everything up. I do have some propane bottles inside the unit, maybe I'll take those out for now and put them in storage outside.

I don't quite get the tape over the indicator light, other than maybe you're talking about putting tape over the vent I assume would allow air to go inside the detector?

 

[rapriebe]

We have had this happen to us twice and both times the detector was faulty. We had a TT and the detector started to go off during the night and we shut down all the gas but it still kept making noise. We went to a local RV dealer ($35) and the Service Department said that they often malfunction and need to be replaced. Just last month the detector in our 5er started making noise in the driveway. DH just disconnected it and we purchased another one from Camper World for about $50. Easy fix and no noise now.

 

[North7]

We had the same problem in a Terry Quantum 5'er. Shut the tanks off and made sure not to use any aerosols in the trailer and it was still going off intermittently. Finally bought and installed a new one and problem was solved. Good luck.

 

[auntie]

Same here...faulty detector. Had it repaired or replaced..frankly I don't remember which. It was going off all the time.

Oh..and a certain teenage son thought it was funny and would impress his friend...when he'd "pass gas" so to speak and they'd set it off. Boys...This stuff never gets old for them. Let's just say I didn't protest to much when he decided he was done with camping and wanted to stay home.

 

[bgula]

We had the same problem in a Terry Quantum 5'er. Shut the tanks off and made sure not to use any aerosols in the trailer and it was still going off intermittently. Finally bought and installed a new one and problem was solved. Good luck.

Yeah, mine's a Terry Quantum as well, so maybe just faulty. I'll still try cleaning and see if it does anything.

Thanks for all the input everyone.

 

[scot@dvcstore]

I have also had a brief issue with the LP detector. Once when it got very hot inside and another when the main RV battery was getting low. Not sure if this was the actual the cause but hasn't happened again.