Q on carbon monoxide detector & tank heater

[68camaro]

For a 2001 Concourse:
Does Carbon Monoxide detector have backup battery if power shut down?
Where is switch to turn on fresh water tank heater? Does it turn on when you turn on water heater?

Thanks,

[Blue~Go]

For a 2001 Concourse:
Does Carbon Monoxide detector have backup battery if power shut down?

I think the stock CO detector may be one of the things that is left on even if you turn off the house batteries (by using Chinook's "store" position).

That said, I don't think it's wise to rely on that detector. Reasons are that it is old and they do expire, plus above the closet is not a very good location for a CO detector. Also it gives you no info but alarm or no alarm.

I suggest a battery powered CO detector with a digital readout. You can mount it in a good location. CO is fairly neutral (doesn't particularly rise or fall) so a common suggestion is head-height when sleeping. I also don't see a reason to put it near the door - seems a more central location might be better.

The digital readout is nice because, while it will alarm at the max recommended number on the readout, you can also see if the readout is rising (CO is present) even if it is below the alarm threshhold (normal number is Zero).

It is also easy peasy to replace when needed.

Even though hard-wired things are usually "better" and maybe battery powered things can be seen as shortcuts, I don't think this holds true for CO detectors. I bought mine on Amazon, and it was not expensive (something like $30 a few years ago).

Where is switch to turn on fresh water tank heater? Does it turn on when you turn on water heater?

I presume you mean a heater for the big potable water tank? I don't think that usually has a heater. Even when there are "tank heaters," I think they only heat the grey and black tanks (right?). Maybe there is something additional on a side door (forget if you have a side door) because on that model they had to put the potable water tank outdoors (it is usually indoors under the couch).

The usual tank heaters don't turn on with the water heater. The water heater is propane fired (so it has its own switch), and the tank heaters I think require 110 (lotsa amps) so either shore power or generator (someone correct me if I have this wrong because I don't have tank heaters).

(Water heaters can have an optional 110 circuit, but they are usually still propane at least optionally. My stock Chinook one was only propane fired.)

[68camaro]

Thanks Blue, on the Carbon Monoxide alarm was thinking same things as you so I went and picked up battery operated one, but I like your idea on digital so I'll return one I have and pick up digital one. Along same lines I replaced fire extinguisher and smoke alarm batteries, which I bet were as old as Chinook.

I have three switches that I do not know what they go to, it looks like there is a couple wires going to black/gray discharge so I'll see if they heat or do something else.

[dougm]

My Concourse still has the original waste tank heaters on it. The ones on mine are 12 volt DC, thats not to say others dont have 110 AC. They sell both today, you can even get them in a combination 110 ac with 12 volt dc on the same blanket heater. They dont install 110 volt AC smoke alrms or carbon monoxide detector in RV's. They are 12 volt DC, wouldnt make much sense to install a 110 detector alarm in a vehicle that doesnt have 110 ac unless its plugged into shore power or operating a generator.

[Blue~Go]

Thanks for setting me straight on that: I wasn't sure on the tank heaters, although I imagine that even though they are 12 volt, you pretty much have to be on shore power or generator to get any meaningful usage time out of them. Typically generating heat takes a lot of amps.

When I said "hard wired" detectors, I just meant ones that are wired in to the DC fuse/wiring system. Even most boatyards I know (and they don't tend to scrimp) recommend the battery powered ones these days over hard wiring (battery powered meaning small batteries like you'd use in flashlights, not the house system). But either way, do check to see if they have expired.

On that note, I believe that the propane detectors Chinook used [typical RV ones] may have a five-year life. I replace with Xantrex ones and I don't think they expire. Something to check on anyway.

[dougm]

I replaced my LP gas detector couple months back, my rig was originally titled as a 2005. The date stamp on the old detector was 2002

[Blue~Go]

Well then, no problem relying on that for safety... Good you replaced it. I find that it's not very well publicized that that style does expire and need to be replaced (IIRC every five years?).

[dougm]

What bothered me was that it was already 3 years old when the truck was sold.

[Kirah]

Do you guys have a recommendation for an affordable+reliable LP detector? Most of what I'm seeing on Amazon is ... mixed reviews. Entirely possible I don't have the best keywords.

[68camaro]

Do you guys have a recommendation for an affordable+reliable LP detector? Most of what I'm seeing on Amazon is ... mixed reviews. Entirely possible I don't have the best keywords.

I can't seem to find a battery operate LP detector, anyone know of battery operated?