CO Detector Testing

[jeanie19]

Does anyone test their CO Detector with something other than a butane lighter? I don't have a lighter and wondered if there is a substitute. The instructions say to test before each trip and weekly during use, so an investment in a lighter would be a good idea if there isn't an easy alternative.

Thanks,

[Blue~Go]

While we're on the topic, I don't know if it's common knowledge or not, but CO detectors should be replaced on a regular basis. In other words, the built in one in any of our Chinooks is going to be way past the "expiration date."

Many people have gone to using battery powered ones (by which I mean small dry cells) instead of hard-wired units. And this is not just as a cost saving measure or a shortcut, but because they are more easy/likely to be replaced when needed.

They should be mounted somewhere around head level when you're sleeping (so for this reason combination detectors are not great, because, for example, a propane detector should be mounted at floor level, while a smoke alarm should be on the ceiling, and a CO detector somewhere in between.

You may already have this in hand (I don't know what detector you are testing), but I just thought I would mention it.

[jeanie19]

I was going to test it to see if it worked, then go from there, so thanks for the info that it does need replacing. It is located just inside the rear door almost at ceiling level and is a CCI3500. CCI is out of business and I found a conversion chart to Safe-T-Alert but it does not have a match for that model. The replacement #65-542 seems to need a hole just a bit larger than the 2 5/8 x 5 7/8 that I have, and it is hard-wired in.

Battery operated sounds good, do you have a model to recommend? Did you select one sold as for an RV, and does it fit that size hole? Or did you abandon that location as too high?

Thanks, as always!

[Blue~Go]

I bought the Kidde below. It was around $30. It came recommended and seems to be a good model. It has a digital readout and takes AA batteries. There are fancier ones, such as the CO Experts 2014, but they are in a whole other league, price-wise (around $180 last I checked). But you might want to consider those as well.

I bought this one on Amazon:
Kidde KN-COPP-B-LP 900-0230 Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Alarm

From what I understand they should be replaced at least every 5 years.

They should be mounted at head level. I have heard "head level when you are asleep" but then it can happen when you are awake too, so I went for halfway between those two points, which is about 4' off the floor.