Propane detector chirping

[Freeman]

Just went to our Greyhawk 26y to take for oil change, etc. before heading from Norfolk VA to AZ for winter. The power is off, but noticed the propane detector at door beside the other control panels is chirping. The propane tank is closed, no smell, and no indication of a leak. Is there a battery somewhere that powers the detectors like those in a house that needs to be changed.

It’s always something!!

[TWP723]

They are battery operated. 3 AAA's I believe.

[Stavman]

Some still parasite run off the house batteries

Are they dead?

I'll start disconnecting my house battery now. I boondock a lot and killed my in less than 2 years because of excess draining

[Stavman]

Originally Posted by TWP723

They are battery operated. 3 AAA's I believe.

Really???

The main panel at the steps is???

[TWP723]

Originally Posted by Stavman

Really???

The main panel at the steps is???

My 328 has a battery operated CO2 detector. I think Grand Design RV's have both AC/DC detectors. Switches to shore power when plugged in. Battery operated anytime other.

[Scoutmaster253]

Originally Posted by Freeman

... Is there a battery somewhere that powers the detectors like those in a house that needs to be changed.

It’s always something!!

These RV CO/Propane detectors work a little differently from the one in your house. An RV unit is usually wired so they always have power, instead of having a replaceable battery inside. Your detector might have reached its end-of-life age.

If you count the number of chirps, the unit will tell you what its problem is. One series of beeps and pauses means end-of-life, another would indicate a low voltage issue, etc. Go to the manufacturer's user manual or website to see how to interpret the beeps.

If your unit has reached it's life expectancy it will need to be replaced.

How old is your detector? They are usually dated on the back, so if you remove it from its mount you can see the age of the unit.

Stay safe!

[GuanoJuano]

My propane detector chirps when the camper battery is low. It is wired into the 12v system. First time I heard it I was in the backyard letting the dog out and couldn't figure out where it was coming from. Tracked it to the camper and the propane detector. Plugged power into the camper and it stopped.

[JFlightRisk]

Our first detector lasted about 5 years before it started chirping the end of life alert. That was confirmed by the date stamp on the backside. Like mentioned above, it's hard wired to the battery, and doesn't get disconnected with the battery cutoff. That's a safety feature. If it's not from a low battery condition, I'd bet it's life is expired.

[RogerR]

As a safety ( as in, so Jayco can't get sued if you turn it off and get gassed) most (all?) are wired direct to the battery with no way to shut them off. They draw a part of an amp an hour and over time will kill any battery bank that is not charged by AC or solar.

Install a battery cutoff switch. I like this one for simplicity of install, price and reliability.