Our Safe-T-Alert for propane keeps beeping red and we cannot smell propane anywhere. Not sure what's causing it to do that. We are brand new camper owners and not sure what to do.
ANSWER: Hi Brenda, unfortunately you do not tell me if you own a brand new or used RV, so I do not know the exact model of <propane detector you might have. But, anytime your RV's propane detector goes off, you need to take it seriously as it could be indicating a true propane leak.
In most cases, the detector is sensitive enough to detect the propane before you actually smell it, so do not depend on your nose as a second detector. To be on the safe side, when the detector goes off, the first thing you should do is leave the RV and turn off the RV's propane supply at the main propane tank and see if the alarm ceases after a few minutes. If it does, it is a sure sign that your RV has a propane leak and should be leak checked and repaired by a Certified RV Technician.
Take a look at the short video below for more information on RV Propane Detectors and a simple method to quickly test the detector.
One of the key points mentioned in the video is that Propane Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors should be replaced every 5 to 7 years. As also mentioned in the video Propane and Carbon monoxide detectors have manufacturer dates stamped on the backs of them so you can determine if it is time to replace them.
I should also mention that Propane is not the only chemical that can set off a Propane Detector.
Listed below are some common items that can set off propane detectors
* Check to ensure that the indicator light on the front of the detector is solid green in color.
* Using the soft brush attachment on your Vacuum Cleaner; vacuum off the detector cover.
* Using a clean moist, lint-free cloth or paper towel, wipe off the front of the detector. Dry with a lint-free soft cloth.
WARNING: As mentioned earlier, Propane Detectors are sensitive to other chemicals, so you should not use any chemicals or solvents directly on or near the detector. If you do, it may damage the sensors and/or cause false alarms.
At this point, I would have liked to have given you a list of alarm and light codes for your detector and what they all mean, but again these alarm codes vary by detector model and manufacturer.
I should note here that on certain model detectors, an intermittent alarm and red light can indicate that the detector is not getting sufficient voltage to operate properly, so you may want to check the voltage on your RV's house batteries, especially if this beeping is only occurring when the RV is not plugged into shore power.
Lastly, if this beeping continues, it may be time to replace the detector. If this is the case, you may want to consider buying a Dual Detector that Detects both Propane and Carbon Monoxide.
A GasStop Propane 100% Emergency Shut-Off Safety Device may be the right choice for you. The device attaches line leaving your RV's propane tank so that when a leak occurs, your main propane tank shuts itself off. These types of devices are a bit more expensive, but at least you will have the peace of mind that if a propane leak occurs and you are not in the RV, the propane will shut down automatically, preventing a possible explosion and fire.
Comments for The Propane Alarm In Our RV Keeps Going Off
Hello, my guy and I trave all the time with our camper, the carbon monoxide detector always goes off at night almost like clock work. We have many of times shut off the propane for it to still go off! I have read a few different solutions yet none have seemed to resolve the issue. Does anyone have any idea what in the world could be causing this dang thing to go off? We recently got a plug in detector to see if it could be faulty as unfortunately being its a newer camper 2020 we have had nothing but issue after issue with the camper itself.
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Dual sensor Problem by: Furman
I have a Safe T Alert dual sensor. It is 6 years old. The problem I’ve encountered is the propane sensor alarming even with the gas supply off at the tank when I run water from the hot water supply line for a few minutes. There are no propane leaks because I had it tested. Could there be some connection between the hot water tank and the propane line to cause this? It happened today again and I had not turned on the propane- just running water from the hot water heater to get an air pocket out. Thanks.
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Up at 4am ... AGAIN by: Teresa
In our Nexus 2019 class C ,We have the same problem but ours seems to go off when the wind is blowing really hard, as I write this we are Wideawake and it keeps going off. I do smell it in the coach but we think that it could be a seal that has weathered. So next time we are goes off a check and see if it’s real windy out that’s when ours always goes off. Hope this helps. Teresa
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New RVer by: Jerry
I wish I could've posted a picture of my propane alarm. So I did notice that the alarm has a red light on and making an alarm sound. It shows a date of replacement 2014 which means it should be replaced? I had my muffler taken. I guess the people that stole it. I thought it was my catalytic. But I started thinking. Is it possible that they did a bad welding job, and it's making the alarm go off? My last question is it safe to drive.
The propane tank is shut off.
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Help by: Anonymous
We have a 2020 sportsmen SE and our alarm goes off ALL the time! We don’t spray aerosols, etc. no gas smell. We have never used the stove or oven. It goes off during day and at night when we are asleep. We have the RV in a park and never move it. Annoying!!!
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FYI - LP/CO detectors by: JR
Great info. FYI. RV had Safe-T-Alert combo CO/LP alarm. LOTS of false alarms - even parked, LP turned off. Bad manufacturing and quality control. Found alarm had dry solder joints on circuit board and power wires frayed over onto components. They did not even acknowledge my complaint and photos - big safety issue - someone could die! Replaced with new one - didn't want to mess with hole in wall at the time. New one worked great for couple of years, then going off again. Had a standard professional propane leak test done - result said OK. WARNING! those tests will still miss tiny leaks that set off the alarms. Finally found and fixed it myself after dismantling a cupboard! Took well over a minute to form a tiny soap bubble. Bad seal surface on a brass union - doesn't take much of a scratch. Hope that is useful info.
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Re-setting by: KeithAnonymous
To reset your propane sensor hold button in for a few seconds
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Middle of the night CO2 beep by: Anonymous
Yep, just got through getting woke up by the detector... started at 12AM tonight, and have spent an hour troubleshooting everything.
Checked all the usual possibilities, thought seriously about unscrewing it and cutting the red wire as others have, but think i've found a helpful hint.
Maybe.
I ended up placing a small fan set on High in front of it (about 2 ft away)... after a few minutes, the red light went off and the green light came back on.
Going back to sleep... for 4hours at least, before my alarm for work goes off.
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LP Gas Alarm Terrorizing Me at Night by: Anonymous
Two night ago, at 2am my gas alarm went off, nearly giving me a heart attack with how loud it was. I turned off the gas & aired out the trailer & tonight I put on hand sanitizer before going to bed. Five minutes later the alarm was blaring. I appreciate this forum for informing me that over sensitive or faulty alarms are a common problem & that my trailer is not in fact haunted or cursed.
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Propane alert by: Anonymous
I had the same problem at first but our third trip I decided I had to find a way to prevent it. When we go to bed I open the vent in our restroom and turn the fan on and no alarm all night. It only needs to be open a little and we like the little noise it makes because I normally have a humidifier on at home. Nothing like a peaceful sleep. I hope it works for you as well as it does for us.
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LP alarm by: BadDay
I wont even get into WHY we were cleaning out TT at 11/30pm but LP alarm started screeching every few mins and blinking red. This Vlite has been in the shop and we just replaced the battery ( along with a new front jack, power converter, and tires!) I found this page and let me tell you, yall are a god-send! I made sure the gas was OFF as we are on shore power, opened some windows, turned on a fan and it was still sounding every few mins. Finally i opened the roof vents and turned on the ac fan and not another peep! The light quit blinking too! I was going to unplug everything and open all windows and sleep in the truck (38 outside) if it didnt stop! Thank you thank you thank you!!!
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lp alarm conundrum by: Ed the retired electrician
in my case i think it was a couple open open boxes of garbage bags gassing out in the same cabinet as the detector. a battery powered leaf blower cleared the air out quickly by the way
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Please help need sleep by: Anonymous
It's 330 am and 9 of need sleep. Six who r children. CP CO alarm gone off more times than can count.. We have done everything we know possible and nothing has worked. How do we cut the fuse til midmorning when we are rested.
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Noctournal alarms by: GreyBeret
2012 Guanella pop up camper. Started having alarms pretty early on, usually between 0100-0300. The flatulent Elkhound we had at the time was implicated, but ultimately through trial and error, decided the bloody detector was not working. Changed it out to a SafTAlert, which went about a year before it, too, started in with the 0100 alarms.
Had a guy do a manometry test (negative) and a sniffer test along the entire gas supply system. Negative.
On a whim, took my propane torch and blasted it directly into the alarm. After about 15 seconds, the alarm started to blare. So much for it being too sensitive. This most recent alarm manufactured 1/17, installed 3/18. Pulling that alarm, replacing with another.
Now I know that there is no gas leak. Tank is good, connections all gas tight, and batteries all charged up (did check the charge in the middle of the night when the damned alarm was going off). RESULT: The alarm is bad. I think these are cheaply made, and probably have a high failure rate.
It is mandatory that you do due diligence and rule out a propane leak/dog farts/perfume/clorox wipes...whatever, but keep in mind that it might just be alarm failure. Neither of the two I've had so far has lasted for 5 years. If anyone finds a GOOD brand, please post it up!
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Brand New Camper. by: Mj
Hi, I just bought a brand new camper, never taken it out. Had it plugged in a few days while I was doing a few things in the camper. And it was like day 2 of being unplugged the alarm would go off every 5 mins or so. I ended up plugging it back in to put the slide out, out and take a look at the alarm, and of course it stopped after I plugged it in...Is there something I need to do so this would stop?
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Alarm by: Anonymous
My alarm keeps going off there’s no leaks no anything!! This is ridiculous already! Ready to rip off the wall! Help!!!!!
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Fridge alarm will not turn off by: Anonymous
I cut the red wire because nothing worked at resetting it. Make sure if you cut the red wire to have the electric off, I cut the main switch when cutting it. Also, replace with maybe a unit that you can plug in. I bought a carbon monoxide detector to plug in, it works much better than this one that is faulty .
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Lysol by: Anonymous
Lysol makes mine go off!
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LP detector going off . by: Anonymous
My wife and I went camping this past weekend. 2004 Airstream with no previous issues with LP detector. In the evening around 6: PM fired up two predator 2000's running in tandem. The generators were placed in front on the trailer tongue where a motorcycle security cable could secure them to the tongue.
The wife wanted to microwave two baked potatoes while she was cooking pork chops in frying pan. The Generators were started and about 5 minutes later the LP detector goes off. I shut off stove and gas and the alarm kept sounding? I shut down the two generators and it stopped. Cautiously turned gas back on, no alarm no gas smell?.
Apparently, the generators caused it. In fifteen years of dry camping and using generators, this has never happened before? Will have trailer checked for gas leaks just to be sure. Also will secure generators further from the trailer.
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Shrieking Detector by: Shoe
Two adults, a teenager and two small kids in a 32' fifth wheel. All windows, doors and vents closed with the A/C on. Gas bottles were on but we were not using gas, we were plugged in. We had a campfire earlier and yes, the odor of smoke was on my clothes. But I was inside for an hour before the CO/LP detector sounded. I reset it and it sounded again. This time I opened the roof vents and shut the LP bottles off. The detector was okay the remainder of the night. After reading the other comments I am going to have the LP system checked and I will fart in the bathroom with the door closed and the exhaust fan on high.
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Solutions by: Paul
Had this problem with my F River Flagstaff Micro Lite for last 2 years. It is 2013 that we bought new. Very episodic but will stop eventually after I mess with it. Am on a 4-month trip. No clue as to cause Tooo many possibilities to cover. But I know it isn't a propane leak
SOLUTION FOR NOW. Remove sensor-2 Phillips screws Cut red wire to stop it. takes 2 min STrip wires and twist /tape together in AM. Repeat as necessary Replace when I find the part They are inexpensive
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Faulty LP detector by: Anonymous
We are on our 3rd saf-t-alert LP/CO detector. Always a lp alarm. NEVER FOUND A SOURCE FOR THE ALARM. Replaced alarm and worked for a year or so. I will try seperate alarms for LP and CO next. Cheaper than replacing faulty combination alarms. I believe the alarms failed each time and were giving a falce indication of a false LP leak.
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Battery charging can set off propane alarm by: Bruce
We have a 2012 Lance 1050S, which has the batteries in a compartment inside the cabin. The propane alarm is mounted on the wall of the battery compartment, near the floor. The batteries are each mounted in plastic boxes which are vented outside with flex hoses. If the wind comes from the front of the camper while the batteries are charging, it can force the venting hydrogen into the compartment through various leaks in the battery boxes. This hydrogen actually exits the battery compartment via the propane detector, setting it off! I verified all this with an Amprobe flammable gas sniffer. Check to see if hydrogen can get from your charging batteries to your propane detector!
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Propane alarm keeps going off by: Roy
I have a 2017 Avenger 28DBS. The alarm started going off a few days ago. The propane tanks have been off sense winter. The battery is fully charged. Trailer was unplugged for a couple of weeks went plugged back in alarm started beeping.
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Propane/ co detector model safe-t-alert 35-742 by: Anonymous
I have a 2015 kz model s280bhss and last year camping the alarm started going off at 4:00 am-6:00 am every night. Flashing red light and solid green. Near as I can tell online it appears to be a propane leak the sensor thinks. It is so random though. Some nights it goes off others it doesn’t but always early morning except today it went off in the afternoon. Very frustrating. I did have it go off this spring upon loading and setting up the camper with main propane tanks off. I suspect maybe a faulty sensor. I have removed from the wall and reconnected the wires in the marrettes and made sure there is a good connection. Any thoughts ?? No dog farts , hairspray
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Add us to the list by: Anonymous
Please add us to the list of those that have had sleepless nights due to the safe-t-alert going off in the early hours of the morning without cause. Our RV is a rental. A 2015 Minnie Winnie 31k. We took it up north for spring break to the frigid temperatures of Washington. The alarm went off at 3am on our first night. We read the posts, shut off the propane, opened the windows and endured the night with it going off three more times. Based on the posts, we theorized it was the tube of Clorox wipes we put in the bathroom and got rid of those.
We contacted the RV rental in the morning and they had no answers. Propane was turned back on and no alarm went off. Next night, we turned off the propane before we went to bed and again, promptly at 3am, the alarm went off. Same exact drill. Same thing on night 3. We have 7 more sleepless nights ahead of us. We will be trying different things to see if anything works (fan in front of alarm, keeping the coach warm, etc.). If anyone has the answer, we would greatly appreciate it. Otherwise, we suggest staying away from RV's that have the Safe-t-alert RV propane alarm
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Brand New Travel Trailer by: Pissed
Been up since 4am and this thing will not stop beeping, no dog, propane off no chemicals and two hours strong now this thing every 5mins or so won’t stop beeping!!!!
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Carbon alarm by: John
We have a 95 jayce class C motor home and it’s new adventure for us. The other day I went to storage to check on it and the alarm was sounding. The propane was off and nothing was in use. I did turn the propane on and check for odor, but none. I shut everything off and locked up. About 5 mins later the alarm was sounding again. Any thoughts
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Gas alarm by: Lisa
We left a little cupboard door open next to the main door where the gas alarm is in our motorhome. We had recently bought and opened a packet of mozzie wipes the alarm kept going off so we worked through our options
Farts - no hairspray - no flyspray - no Pets - none Mozzie wipes - yes
After vacuuming,cleaning and swearing at the alarm it was just the fumes off the wipes
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Propane alerts by: RV Mom
Our alarm keeps going off usually early morning hours. No rhyme or reason. Can this alarm be alerting us That the propane tanks are near empty?
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2016 Airstream 25 ft by: Tammy
Our LP Propane Detector not working no green light.... what could be the problem?
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Safe-T-Alert false alarm by: Anonymous
We have the Flagstaff RV as well. It comes with the safety alert carbon monoxide propane detector. These are super sensitive and hours only alarms at night. But I guess is perhaps the campfire smoke that gets embedded in our clothing sets it off. Because I see other posts about night time alarms which would mean you finished with a night around the campfires. We have replaced the original what they like branded model and got the same results. I believe it may be so sensitive that it picks up the Co from our off-gassing clothes. I am a firefighter in our bunker gear can do the same thing. Just a thought
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Randon alarm by: Anonymous
We were fine with the detector in our Rv for 2 years. Then it started going off at random times. Even turned the propane off and still shrieked. Replaced and was fine for months and then started acting like the old one. We are positive there is no leak of any sort - it has been checked. We had been considering getting rid of our camper but now we see it is a common problem. There has to be a solution to this dilemma. We love camping but this has got to stop.
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LP alarm!! Won't quit!! by: Anonymous
2015 Ice Castle RV edition.. safe T- alarms are going off for the LP! Only goes off at night, usually the middle of the night. We are hooked up to electric, so. It using the battery.. We have had to shut off gas to camper totally for it to go off. What could be causing this?? No stove or range is on?? No furnace going either... any ideas??
Note from RVing Al The fact that the Propane Detector stops going off when you shut off the propane in your RV means that you have a leak in the propane system in your RV. You need to get someone to check your whole propane system to locate and repair the link.
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3am alarm without gas by: Anonymous
I'm joining others in the early alarm complaints. We just bought a used trailer (2004 Pioneer) and dealt with the battery issue while at home. Now camping without gas even on the alarm sounds at 3am (right after turning the fan off). Alarm is cci brand but same issue. There is farting but could that be there cause?
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Farts and hairspray-you got that right! by: Anonymous
Farts and hairspray-you got that right! Turns out the wife had sprayed her hair with dry shampoo just before the detector started screaming at us indicating gas. Opened up the screens and vented. Situation normal. Stress levels normal again. Thanks to the forum for pointing that one out!
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Beeping Sound Warning of Very Low Battery by: Anonymous
Have 2017 Flagstaff RV trailer. An alarm started beeping about every 20 seconds. Checked fire smoke alarm detector and it wasn't that. Checked the carbon monoxide detector which was flashing green and red, and pressed the reset button. The beeping continued. It's 1am and earlier AC and lights shut down, even with generator running, but tv continued.
Got flashlight and went outside to the compartment that holds the butane tanks. There is a switch there to DISCONNECT BATTERY.I pushed the switch in. This ended the beeping. Apparently, a warning that the battery was reaching a critical drain point, something I could do nothing about until places opened the next day where I could buy a charger and connect it into the generator to recharge the battery.
I thought the battery would automatically recharge when I turned generator on and it appeared to do that for about 2 weeks until it started shutting things off. First, with allowing use of one zone not both zones for heating and cooling. Then it eventually shut down cooling AC totally, and started flashing the lights in RV. Eventually, all of the lights dimmed and then went dark totally.
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The Alarm is Still Going Off by: Anonymous
The alarm started going off and will not stop. It is winter, the propane has been shut off and there is no battery, no electricity running to the RV. What is causing this and what can I do?
I have a 30 ft. Artic fox fifth wheel. For the last few years when I drain the water, and fill it up with the antifreeze, (glucose, I think) the alarm goes off. I do not hear (I'm a Nam Vet) but my wife can hear it clearly off of our deck. This year for the first time, I checked to insure that the propane tanks were turned off., and they were. I also turned on one of the ceiling fans in the area of the kitchen, and the alarm ceased. Then today, the alarm was going off again. At first, a few years ago, I though that the that the winterizing fluid was the cause of the alarm going off, However now I'm not sure. Although this is a 2006 model Artic Cat, we bought it in 2007. I would estimate that we do not have more than about 80 days at most using this unit. Is there anything else we should be checking. Thanking you for any help you can provide. Lou Lavender, Intervale , New Hampshire, loulavender@hotmail.com.
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Location detector by: Anonymous
Ours does the low battery warning but doesn't turn off when plugged into shore power does this mean it's gone bad or could it be something else
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Ugh we finally had enough!!! by: Sleep deprived
We keep our main propane tanks off until we need them to help prevent this horrible thing from beeping.. well that doesn't help. Yet again I sit lying awake from fighting the awful noise this thing keeps emitting every few minutes.
It may not be the safest choice we have ever made but after cutting the cords on it, we will be sleeping better. We have a brand new csmper, this shouldn't be happening. Nothing blocking air or even close to it, we have not sprayed anything to set it off and there's no dog
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Disinfecting wipes by: Anonymous
Had same issue. Discovered using disinfecting wipes near by set off alarm.
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Adding to the 4:00 AM Bandwagon by: Anonymous
Ours, too, goes off at 4:00 am every few weeks for no reason. It's the Safe-T brand model that's only a year old. It's insanely annoying and we're going to replace it with the cheap-assed First Alert detector that doesn't work in half the reviews I read. I had hoped someone had a solution for this, but apparently others are in the same very tiring boat.
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Propane Detector = Dog Farts ***SOLUTION by: JustPractical
Our propane detector goes off at 3-4am on EVERY camping trip, every night. We finally figured out that it was the dog, (it did not happen when the dog did not go). It would take 2 hours venting the trailer, using fans, swing the door open and closed, to get it finally stop. Sleep ruined... *****SOLUTION*****: local hardware store has the vent that goes on the roof of a house around pipes (the one that looks like an upside down funnel with a sheet of galv-steel on the bottom. Trimmed that sheet of steel to match the vent-a-hood filter size exactly. Remove the filter from vent-a-hood, insert the trimmed roof vent. Now duct tape a 10' close dryer hose over the funnel of the roof vent. Turn on the vent-a-hood. Now I have an external exhausting hose that is long enough to lay on the floor next to the dog. Now the trailer clears of the dog gas in about 10 mins. In the morning I just put my Dog Fart Remover back in a box and under the sofa for another day.
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Check your coach battery voltage by: Dan from Oregon
Some detectors sound a beep and a red light if they encounter low voltage from your coach batteries. This should be described in the owner's manual (you can probably find it on-line somewhere). For me, it is the first warning I get when our coach batteries are discharging excessively (say from leaving the fridge on DC power when not on shore power) or if the coach batteries are not being properly recharged (circuit breaker, engine alternator connection, etc.).
Does this only happen when you are on house batteries? Does the beep and red light go away when you plug into shore power?
Good luck. -Dan
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Alarm sounds after camper unplugged by: Anonymous
Our alarm goes off a few hours after we get home from a trip and it's sitting unplugged in the yard. If we plug it back in the alarm goes off.
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propain safe t alarm box is annoying by: april
Ok I'm having the same problem they are and I know it's not the propain because it does this once a month and it just so happen that it did it this time at 4:30 AM!! And won't stop!!And I'm in a 2015 catalina only have had it for a year now. So I don't see why it would be time to change it out. But this thing is really starting to get on my husband's my kids and myselfs last nerves to the point we are ready to rip it out and through it out! Please help
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Bug Spray by: Alan Stanley
i applied bug spray on myself one summer while standing right above the sensor. I had to pull the fuse to shut it up (I put the fuse back in a short time later). Never will apply bug spray inside the trailer again!
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Blockage on propane detctor by: Anonymous
We have found if anything is left so that it blocks airflow to the detector it start bleeping. We don't know if that's because it is set to go off for that reason or because blocking the air makes it go off. It just does and if we move the obstruction (including our dog who likes to sit near it) the problem stops. I did think it was dog farts but it can be anything including stuff that does not fart like boxes.
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propane alarm by: Anonymous
Our converter failed and was cooking our battery in our class C. The gasses caused the alarm to go off.
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