Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundancer?

R

rgl1100

Member
Jun 21, 2010
146
Massachusetts
Boat Info
340 Sundancer 2003
Engines
Twin Merc 8.1S
I have an original Fireboy CO detector in my 2003 Sundancer 340. When I turned on the engines the other day I got a scare when the alarm went off. Interestingly, I was more frightened that the alarm was because one of my engines was faulty rather than worried about gas that could actually kill me..................that should tell you how scared I've become in dealing with these engines. They're wonderful but I learned the hardway when it comes to their alarms, codes and fixes. Can be quite expensive and time consuming.......Anyway, I'm getting off the subject. I want to change the CO detector and bought a Fireboy replacement. The new one looks smaller than my original (which is more "boxy" looking opossed to the new one which is more curved) I'm wondering if the smallness in size of the new one is because it doesn't contain a relay to turn off the generator if the detector goes off. I was always under the impression the CO detector in the boat was just an alarm and did not have a relay. Can anyone clarify this for me. If I have to I'll send back the one I bought and purchase the one with the relay. It's about $15 more. In adition, someone wrote once about there being a fuse and reset for the CO detector. I can't seem to locate it in my 340. Can someone tell me where to look or, better yet, where its located. Thanks.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

Also, I don't really think I have a CO problem. I think the problem may be a low voltage from one of the batteries in the starboard battery bank. However, since the CO detector is original, and the boat is from 2003, I think its time to change the detector. The new one has a preordained lifespan. It says right on the packaging that it will function for 5 years from the day it is activated. After that it will cease to function. My old one has a flashing green going right now............
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

You may have had a problem with one of the batteries. If they are low on water they put off a gas (sulfer dioxide) that will set off the CO detector. If it is that old replace it.

MM
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

The problem is all of my batteries are AGM batteries ...........no water to add.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

It this what you need? These are the replacements for the old style, hard-wired CO detectors. Also, order the backing plates for each one you order because the footprint is different from the old detectors.


http://www.fireboy-xintex.com/co-detectors.html
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

OK. So I'm hoping that my experience is going to help someone else in the long run here. I don't know why but my law of averages doesn't seem to be very average these days. When I seem to post a question concerning my problem it seems that they're always not quite what anyone else has experienced. I just wish that one of my problems could just be a common problem seen before and answered easily. This NEVER seems to be the case. Case in point..........I asked in my original question if anyone could tell me where the fuse/reset switch is on the boat. I had hoped a ton of people would chime in but unfortunately not one response...................not one. I went out and bought a new CO detector which was the right thing to do anyway simply because it was original. Everything I've read states that they're good for about 5 years anyway. In addition, I bought a new deep cycle battery thinking if it was the battery power I'd be set. Anyway, I replaced the battery and then the CO detector. The original was still flashing green when I replaced it. Hooked up the new one and turned the boat on................nothing. No power, no signal indicator. I went on a search...............talk about not seing the trees through the forest. Dead center of the main console down below (on the main switch console where you turn on everything for the boat) is a CO monitor. I have always thought this was a light indicator. NOPE. For everyone out there who this ever happens to in the future I hope you find this little long lost thread I'm writing. It turns out its a pop out indicator much like the ones that pop out when your turkey is cooked at thanksgiving. If you push it back in it resets the CO monitor. I sure wish someone had been able to tell me this one before spending $200 on a battery and a CO monitor. However, I did learn something which is important and it, in fact, should have been replaced. I guess I'm just tired of these expensive lessons. Regardless, I really hope someday this helps someone else...................
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

A photo would be extremely helpful.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

Can you post a photo of your detector?

MM
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

I thought it was just an echo...
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

Those things have a lifepsan of about 5 years, they start to alarm when its time to replace. We had all 3 go at about the same time on our boat.
 
Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sund

I couldn't quite understand your problem rgl1100. I wasn't sure if the main engines weren't running, the generator wasn't running or the CO detector wasn't operating.

The circuit breaker in the panel powers the detector, so what was your problem? Was the detector not working or something else not running because of it?

Did you need the relay fitted unit or not?
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

I'm sorry if I wasn't clear. My engines were completely fine. The generator was operating normally. It turns out the standard fireboy CO detector in the sundancer 340 is a non-relay type detector. It does not stop the generator when its alarm is tripped. My problem began when I restarted the main engines after being moored for a few hours at a beach. When I fired up the engines an alarm wet off. I, at first, thought the alarm was a main engine alarm. However, they seemed to be running fine and the alarm was a single beep every 30 secs. When I investigated more after getting back to the harbor I found it was the CO detector. The green light was flashing so I knew it wasn't CO detection but rather a faulty detector or low voltage. That's when, a few days later, I replaced the detector and one battery (an older one) on my starboard bank. However, if I had seen the push button detector reset on the main panel it MAY have solved the problem to begin with instead of spending the cash. However, I will and did say that it was likely time to change the detector regardless since it was original to the boat. Let's just hope it continues to work well and I don't get any other alarms.......
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

I do think there are two models of the FireBoy. One has a generator relay and the other does not. The one I just bought does not because I do not have a generator and don't need to spend the extra money for the one that does, but the other one with relay is available if you want to get it instead.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

That's what I was communicating..................or trying to at least..................Fireboy makes 2 models of the CO detector. One has a relay in it that can be connected to a generator. As far as I know, the 340 does not have this hook up to the generator. I have a 2003 340DA. Mine does not have this relay. The newer models may but mine certainly doesn't. The relay model is about $20 more. BTW, the cost of these CO detectors by Fireboy varies ridiculously. The highest I found the non-relay version for was $166. The lowest was $84 through Boatersland. Shipping was $12 (ridiculous since the item weighs nothing and is quite small) Total was $97 and change but it arrived in 1 day. The outfit is in Ohio but their warehouse (at least one of them) is in NJ.
 
Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sund

Thanks for clarifying rgl1000. My 330DA uses the non-relay unit, last replaced in 2011. It often alarms and has made us much more aware of how to keep the cabin properly ventilated.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

How would I find out if I need a relay model? Mine broke 3 years ago, and I replaced it with a unit from Home Depot. Well, that one didn't last long, and I want to go back to the original. I have a 2006 300 Sundancer, and has a generator.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

My 2007 detector just expired per the date stamp on it and would constantly alarm. I ordered a new one before I pulled it from the boat thinking it had the generator shut off but I was seem to be wrong. Pulled the original unit off the mounting plate and it only has the red/black power wires. The one with the generator shut off has several more wires to interconnect multiple units and a white wire that goes to the generator. Now the question is, is my boat pre-wired for it? Because I didn't remove the mounting plate I don't know if the other wires are behind it yet. If not I will probably just leave that function disconnected.
 
Re: Does original Fireboy CO detector have a relay to the generator in the 340 Sundan

You either had a unit like Model: CMD-4MR-RLY or CMD-4MR. Check the wiring. If you just have a red and black wire you do not have the relay. If you have an additional yellow and brown wire you have the relay.

MM

By the time I got back to this thread Cincy had answered it.
 
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