co detecter in cabin

[jim_m5]

My salon carbon monoxide detector goes off for no reason. Has anyone had same problem? Is it bad and require replacement?

 

[Uplate]

I repaced my OEM's last year. I believe they last no longer than 3 year warranty.

How do you know they are going off for no reason? Have you checked CO levels with another device for comparison? they might be telling you something very important.

 

[Lazy Daze]

One reason for them going off is when they sense low voltage. Don't know if that your problem. Is there anyone near you that you can swap CO's with and try theirs?

 

[fwebster]

Are your batteries old?

Frequently the hydrogen gas given off by charging weak batteries will cause CO detectors to go off.

 

[Tonka Boater]

they might be telling you something very important.

This was my first thought.

One reason for them going off is when they sense low voltage.

This was my second.

It would be wise to verify that it really is a false alarm in case you haven't already done so.

.

 

[Go Aweigh2452]

More info would help as to the make and model. Most of them as previously stated, last a few years. Some beep to let you know they are in need of replacement. There are some really good high tech ones out there today that let you know the CO levels and beep a certain way to let you know they are dieing... Most likely, yours is at its lifes end...

 

[sbw1]

Good feedback above. Also, it's possible to set them off by turning the a/c on in a muggy cabin. The cold air condenses on the sensors and triggers an alarm. A steamy coffee pot will set them off as well.

 

[Bodkin Creek George]

Don't know about marine units but the one in our hunting cabin started beeping three years after the manufacture date. At first I thought it was the battery but it was the unit. I guess everything has an expiration date except wine and gold.
George

 

[carterchapman]

George,

My portable digital unit that I bought for the cockpit area said it will only operate for 7 years after the batteries are first installed...I think you've got something there.

 

[Mark & Lindsay Paterson]

Ours started to beep forno reason so I disconnected it - problem gone away :smt038

 

[jg300da]

Good thinking....after all, you couldn't smell anything, right?

 

[Captain Allen]

I've had similar problems. The PO of my 370EC had replaced the OEM unit with a Kidde CO/Smoke detector like you buy at Lowe's or Home Depot. It went off for no apparent reason several times after I first bought the boat. I replaced batteries, etc. Then I noticed that I had a small fan blowing towards it, pushing the chilled air from the A/C vent right towards the detector. I moved the fan to another location and the problem has not come back. It never went off unless the A/C was on. I think I had moisture condensing inside the detector.

 

[mawyatt]

One reason for them going off is when they sense low voltage. Don't know if that your problem. Is there anyone near you that you can swap CO's with and try theirs?

This happened when MM changed my batteries (another story). The CO detectors went into alarm so they unplugged them, but instead of unplugging the power they unplugged the network cable. This stopped the CO alarms until I found the note they left and plugged them back in. Then my genset would stop just after it started. I looked at the error code and it was AUX, I finally traced this to auxillary input which was connected to the CO detectors. After unplugging the power to the CO sensors to reset them and plugging the network cable back in everything returned to normal.

I think this is a good overall feature as it will shut down the gen set if the CO sensors alarm, but not so good about the low voltage alarms. A better solution would be a less annoying infrequent chirp for low voltage alarms.

 

[chelepop]

Good thinking....after all, you couldn't smell anything, right?

Sorry, couldn't help but LMAO on this...
I guess the 'sulfer' smell is an expensive 'option' for gas exchanges for you or your neighbors CO. :huh::smt021:thumbsup::smt013

Kinda like 'blinkers' on a car that doesn't use em....