Gas Alarm

Erazmus

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Subject:

Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #1

The majority of Campers carry gas i.e propane or butane.

Just wondering though how many have a gas alarm installed. I know most would have a fire alarm or CO2 Alarm or both fitted, but neither of these will detect natural gas.

I know if you have a leak you will get a smell from it, but if the leak started when a person was asleep this would not be of any use.

Propane is heavier than air so will generally accumulate at ground level but if not detected a spark could cause it to ignite. Also if the van was not well ventilated, the gas would eventually fill the interior.

Would a natural gas alarm be an essential piece of kit to have???

Has anyone got one fitted or can recommend one??

sprinter

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Subject:

Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #2

Quote by Erazmus

Ok. two different things, natural gas is what you get at home piped in from your gas company,
Propane or Butane is what you get in bottles.
So Yes,fitting a gas alarm is a good idea,down low towards the floor level. I would also think,because as you correctly say propane is heaver your gas locker should have a vent at floor level.
Just be sure you get the correct gas alarm.

Daffysparks

Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #3

Just for peoples information. A carbon monoxide alarm is a CO alarm, not a CO2, which is carbon dioxide, a completely different gas.

Erazmus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #4

Quote by Daffysparks

Just for peoples information. A carbon monoxide alarm is a CO alarm, not a CO2, which is carbon dioxide, a completely different gas.

Jaysus you know your Gas!!

kabundi

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #5

Don’t have a detector for butane/propane fitted.

Do have fire alarm and CO alarm

Daffysparks

Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #6

Quote by Erazmus

Quote by Daffysparks

Just for peoples information. A carbon monoxide alarm is a CO alarm, not a CO2, which is carbon dioxide, a completely different gas.

Jaysus you know your Gas!!

You’re a gas man

Erazmus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #7

Quote by kabundi

Don’t have a detector for butane/propane fitted.

Do have fire alarm and CO alarm

Same here!

The reason I ask is because I had a gas leak. It smelt like something had gone off in the van. Cleaned out the lockers and fridge in case something was left behind. Not being as familiar with gas as other members, It took a while to realise what was actually causing the smell.

Sorted now but surely a propane detector should be fitted as standard

Daffysparks

Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #8

We probably should all have them. They are expensive though. The gas is heavy though and will naturally seep out through any floor vents in the van

kabundi

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #9

Quote by Erazmus

Quote by kabundi

Don’t have a detector for butane/propane fitted.

Do have fire alarm and CO alarm

There was no alarm fitted to my van when I bought it. Apparently the continental manufacturers don’t fit them as standard so I fitted my own, can’t remember the costs but less than £50 for both. Cheaper than an incident!!!!

Daffysparks

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #10

Was that for smoke and CO. Or for a gas alarm

kabundi

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #11

Quote by Daffysparks

We probably should all have them. They are expensive though.

See 12volt versions on eBay for less than £20 so not too bad. Don’t know anything about how good they are

kabundi

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #12

Daffy

The £50 was for fire and CO, don’t have a gas detector

eirebus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #13

It smelt like something had gone off

You did have an alarm you just didn't read it properly

Daffysparks

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #14

Any decent ones I have seen have been in the €70 -€90 euro bracket. I must admit I haven’t looked in about 9 months.
A good (EI) 10 year CO alarm should cost under €25. A good (EI) 10 year ionization smoke alarm, about €15
Smoke and CO alarms have a maximum life span of 10 years and need to changed after this period.... even if it still “makes noise”
EI are about the best on the market and are made in Limerick. They do not sell direct to the public

eirebus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #15

Smoke and CO alarms have a maximum life span of 10 years and need to changed after this period....

Never knew that I assumed once it made a noise it was OK

Erazmus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #16

Quote by eirebus

It smelt like something had gone off

You did have an alarm you just didn't read it properly

Nice one eirebus!

Took me a while to get that......... Same as the smell.

Your gas probably smells a bit stronger than mine!!

sprinter

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Subject:

Gas Alarm

· Posted: 07.04.2019 · #17

Quote by eirebus

Smoke and CO alarms have a maximum life span of 10 years and need to changed after this period....

Never knew that I assumed once it made a noise it was OK

There Will be a date stamped on the inside ,which will either be a start date with a life span. or a replacement date.

TommyS

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 08.04.2019 · #18

I have 2, one defects the gas that is produced by a naked flame and the other detects anesthetic type gas. To be sure to be sure

AliPhatCamper

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 08.04.2019 · #19

I remember reading, (could be wrong), that a MH that wasn't for hire didn't require a drop-out box but if for hire a drop-out box was required.

CO = Carbon Monoxide.

CO2 = Carbon Dioxide.

Haemoglobin in the blood is responsible for oxygen uptake but CO has a great affinity for haemoglobin, so it can deprive the blood of oxygen therefore a victim can "drift off".

CO2 is relatively harmless and stable.

Propane and butane are odourless but at the point of manufacture they receive a pungent smell as a safety precaution.

Daffysparks

Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 08.04.2019 · #20

Quote by TommyS

I have 2, one defects the gas that is produced by a naked flame and the other detects anesthetic type gas. To be sure to be sure

Where did you source them Tommy, and were they expensive. I know you are prudent with your money

TommyS

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 08.04.2019 · #21

The one for fumes from open flame was just from B&Q. The other one is Procar ko Gasalarm, I got it at the Dusseldorff Show a few years ago. I see you can get it on the internet for about £70.00 ish. The Procar one plugs into the 12 volt.

Daffysparks

Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 08.04.2019 · #22

Thanks Tommy

sprinter

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Subject:

Gas Alarm

· Posted: 08.04.2019 · #23

Here is one on Ebay.
Alarma Gas 12V Camper Gas Alarm Gasmelder 12 V Autocaravana Butano LPG Propano

Erazmus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 16.04.2019 · #24

I purchased one of these :-

https://www.amazon.com/Propane…34-2-&tag=

It's not 12V but can be powered from USB socket. Have not fitted it yet but it seems to have got good reviews overall.

sprinter

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Subject:

Gas Alarm

· Posted: 16.04.2019 · #25

Quote by Erazmus

I purchased one of these :-

https://www.amazon.com/Propane…34-2-&tag=

It's not 12V but can be powered from USB socket. Have not fitted it yet but it seems to have got good reviews overall.

I hope you are not going to follow the fitting position in the add.
I would also suggests that a gas alarm in a van to be propane / butane only and 12volt,dedicated for marine or motorhome and wired on permanently in the correct position for your gas supply.
( most gas explosions happen when someone enters the area and operates a power supply )

JJF

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 16.04.2019 · #26

One listed for less than a tenner on eBay, is powered by the vehicle 12v dc supply so no internal batteries to worry about.
Item listing is on eBay HERE

sprinter

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Subject:

Gas Alarm

· Posted: 16.04.2019 · #27

Quote by JJF

One listed for less than a tenner on eBay, is powered by the vehicle 12v dc supply so no internal batteries to worry about.
Item listing is on eBay HERE

That's exactly what I have on the side wall at floor level between the bottles and the heaters.
The smoke and co is on the bulkhead above pillow level

Erazmus

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 16.04.2019 · #28

Quote by sprinter

Quote by JJF

One listed for less than a tenner on eBay, is powered by the vehicle 12v dc supply so no internal batteries to worry about.
Item listing is on eBay HERE

That's exactly what I have on the side wall at floor level between the bottles and the heaters.
The smoke and co is on the bulkhead above pillow level

I did look at those but the reviews weren't great so decided against. I might be paranoid but I think I would be as worried about cheap electronics causing a fire as a gas leak.

I already have a CO detector and a smoke detector so will be mounting this at a low level for propane leak detection.
It can be USB powered so will be fed from a 12V supplied USB Socket. The built in battery is for backup only.

Will test it when I get a chance to fit it and will report back.

Stephen Ryan

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Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 03.08.2020 · #29

I have a MTI Industries 20-441-P-WT that easy to install in my RV using existing 12-volt wiring under the bed. This unit seems to drain down my batteries. I've got 450 amp hour batteries that are well maintained and only a few years old fed by 200 watts of solar and a PWM charge controller. Every morning my batteries are down to around 70% and the only thing connected to them is this LP gas detector which is hard-wired and runs all the time. I suppose you could wire in a switch and only turn it on when you are camping but I wanted something that simply ran all the time and was foolproof. Not sure if any unit would put this sort of drain on a battery bank or if I have a drain somewhere else.

kabundi

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Subject:

Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 03.08.2020 · #30

Spec says 75mA so load is less than 2Ah per day. You should not even notice this with your 450Ah battery pack. Suggest your problem is elsewhere.

Try disconnecting your sensor for a couple of days and try looking for another load.

Liked by: Paul mcg, sprinter, The Rambler

Philipclopez

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Re: Gas Alarm

· Posted: 12.01.2021 · #31

It's time to replace the gas detector in my RV and I spend all day researching. I found the Atwood 36719. The Atwood 36719 is a useful gas detector with fewer false alarms and a wide range. According to the manufacturer, this unit needs to be replaced seven years after purchase.

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