Need smoke AND CO2 detectors?

[CA_Tallguy]

I feel like I'm losing my mind. In my head I thought I needed three detectors in my rig... Smoke, co2 and propane. Is that right?

I'm having a heck of a time finding a ceiling mount hardwired smoke detector and I ant understand why.... Unless co2 detectors are all you really need. I understand the co2 is what kills you in a fire anyway, right?

When I look at lowes they distinctly sell both smoke and co2 detectors but on rv sites the emphasis is on just co2 and propane... Or I'm losing my mind!

[Foiled Again]

Originally Posted by CA_Tallguy

I feel like I'm losing my mind. In my head I thought I needed three detectors in my rig... Smoke, co2 and propane. Is that right?

I'm having a heck of a time finding a ceiling mount hardwired smoke detector and I ant understand why.... Unless co2 detectors are all you really need. I understand the co2 is what kills you in a fire anyway, right?

When I look at lowes they distinctly sell both smoke and co2 detectors but on rv sites the emphasis is on just co2 and propane... Or I'm losing my mind!

Hmmm. I just got a new to me Eddie Bauer. I'm at the office, but I don't think I remember a smoke detector near the stove on the ceiling. My slightly older 2006 Safari had one there, and a CO detector near the floor in the kitchen cabinet, and another detector in the bedroom. I'm going to have to check again. Will post tomorrow. Night night,

Paula

[daveswenson]

Originally Posted by Foiled Again

Hmmm. I just got a new to me Eddie Bauer. I'm at the office, but I don't think I remember a smoke detector near the stove on the ceiling. My slightly older 2006 Safari had one there, and a CO detector near the floor in the kitchen cabinet, and another detector in the bedroom. I'm going to have to check again. Will post tomorrow. Night night,

Paula

My 2012 28 Intl has a smoke detector in the great room. Goes off every time I cook and forget to run the vent.

[m.hony]

The smoke detector is in the front of our trailer above the couch. It is probably a carbon monoxide detector as well. The propane detector is at the bottom of the kitchen cabinets. The setup was similar on our previous trailer.

[overlander63]

On an Airstream, the smoke detector is in the living room area on the ceiling, the CO (not CO2) detector is in the bedroom on the wall, and the LP detector is in the kitchen area, usually under the fridge, near the floor.

[Wayne&Sam]

When I cook, I either take down the smoke detector and put it in a drawer or cover it with a shower cap like thing. It's mounted as far from the stove as it can be, but I've got a 20'.

[blickcd]

It seems you want something hard wired but you can find a battery powered Kidde CO and smoke detector combo at any big box store. I put one on the wall in the hallway back to the bedroom. These only seem to last a few years but are easy enough to replace.

Not sure of the LP detector I installed. That one is 12 volts DC and is hard wired. I installed it in the hollow wall where the holding tank vent goes up between the bath and galley. Power was spliced in under the galley sink to the line that powers the oven light. Looks like a factory install.

[CA_Tallguy]

Originally Posted by blickcd

It seems you want something hard wired but you can find a battery powered Kidde CO and smoke detector combo at any big box store. I put one on the wall in the hallway back to the bedroom. These only seem to last a few years but are easy enough to replace.

Not sure of the LP detector I installed. That one is 12 volts DC and is hard wired. I installed it in the hollow wall where the holding tank vent goes up between the bath and galley. Power was spliced in under the galley sink to the line that powers the oven light. Looks like a factory install.

Yes I am doing a project right now and I have a perfect place with a hole and power to hard wire in a ceiling mount smoke detector (where the crank for the antenna used to be), but all I can find are CO and propane detectors that are ceiling mount and hard wired (with battery backup). Plenty of battery powered models available and maybe the proliferation of inexpensive options like that is why nobody has made a hard wire 12v?

Well it's good to know that I'm not crazy and that a smoke detector is different than a CO detector.

Thanks to everyone for the responses.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by CA_Tallguy

but all I can find are CO and propane detectors that are ceiling mount and hard wired (with battery backup).

I sure hope you haven't found a ceiling mount propane detector! Propane is heavier than air, and the detector should be near floor level.

On the other hand, compressed natural gas like you use at home is slightly lighter than air, so a home detector for CNG should be near the ceiling.

Don't get the two mixed up!

[CA_Tallguy]

Good point and I stand corrected... The propane detectors are NOT ceiling mount but I ave found hardwired versions.

Hadn't had my coffee yet this morning when I first posted LOL

[Safari-Rick]

My 2005 has the co2 mid-ship bottom with Smoke on ceiling (kitchen) and carbon d in front ceiling area.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by CA_Tallguy

Good point and I stand corrected... The propane detectors are NOT ceiling mount but I ave found hardwired versions.

Hadn't had my coffee yet this morning when I first posted LOL

Well, caffeine IS the most important food group!

[xrvr]

CO or CO2? Personally never seen a CO2 detector, but I have been wrong before. Carbon monoxide or carbon dioxide? Jim

[CA_Tallguy]

People here sure do seem to know their periodic tables! LOL

[crabbey1]

My 76 22' Argosy had no detectors of any kind. Should I add some? Anyone have any links to what is popular for use and dependable? I like living....

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by crabbey1

My 76 22' Argosy had no detectors of any kind. Should I add some? Anyone have any links to what is popular for use and dependable? I like living....

Yes, you should add a combination smoke/CO detector near or on the ceiling in sleeping areas, and an LPG detector near the floor, probably a few feet away from the furnace (since the furnace is normally the lowest ignition source).

If you go to Home Depot, you can find good battery-operated models that don't need to be wired into your trailer's 12v systems. Kidde makes a good detectors.

[crabbey1]

Thanks! I will check them out.

[srpuywa]

I took the battery out of the smoke detector near the stove on my FC 19. My cooking sets it off and it's annoying

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by srpuywa

I took the battery out of the smoke detector near the stove on my FC 19. My cooking sets it off and it's annoying

My cooking is annoying, too! Ask anybody!

Do you have other smoke detectors, or just the one? As long as you have one just outside your sleeping area, you're probably okay without one in your galley area. But if the one in your galley is your only one, better to relocate it away from the stove and then put the battery back in. And open more vents when you cook. Which is what I have to do.

[CDONA]

I've had issues with smoke / heat detectors as sold for stick houses installed in my 5'er as replacements. The heat side would always go off, (no smoke, tea kettle) when cooking or steamy shower. Too low of a ceiling to bump the heat trigger?