CO smoke detector questions

[63air]

Can anyone out there who is an actual engineering type tell me what the difference is between a battery operated smoke/CO detector used in a residential/ commercial setting (thus sold at at a reasonable price in any home store) and one that is sold with the RV certification at twice the price? Is there any reason a home detectors can not be used in an RV other than a lawyer being involved somewhere in the process. I'm not taking about the 120v 12v hardwire types.

[jcanavera]

Would you think it might have something to do with sensitivity? Maybe the RV models take a bit more combustion in hand before they go off. Smaller volume to monitor, more a chance of cooking setting them off.......Although we carry a shower cap to put on ours when we start the toaster up.

Jack

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

Would you think it might have something to do with sensitivity? Maybe the RV models take a bit more combustion in hand before they go off. Smaller volume to monitor, more a chance of cooking setting them off.......Although we carry a shower cap to put on ours when we start the toaster up.

Jack

Great idea! Now I have a reason to take the free shower cap from the hotel room. I know it's not to keep my hair dry. That went down the drain years ago .

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Great idea! Now I have a reason to take the free shower cap from the hotel room. I know it's not to keep my hair dry. That went down the drain years ago .

When ours goes off it causes one of our dogs to go into the shake and cower mode. Even pulling the thing down off the ceiling prior to cooking sends shivers of terror into him. Patty came up with the idea and it really works great. It also gives us a good visual to remember to pull it off when we are done cooking.

Jack

[overlander63]

The ones certified for RV use, are supposed to stand up to shock, vibration, and temperature variances better than a home unit.

[cammur]

The one that came with our 2005 Safari is very sensitive, perhaps again the small space. A slice of unburned toast will set it off. But what it has that I haven't seen elsewhere is a button that cuts the sensitivity for about 2-3 minutes, allowing you to do toast without setting it off. During the interval it emits soft occasional beeps as a reminder that it isn't operating at full sensitivity.

It also has a retaining pin that makes it less likely to be shaken from its mount.

[jcanavera]

Originally Posted by cammur

The one that came with our 2005 Safari is very sensitive, perhaps again the small space. A slice of unburned toast will set it off. But what it has that I haven't seen elsewhere is a button that cuts the sensitivity for about 2-3 minutes, allowing you to do toast without setting it off. During the interval it emits soft occasional beeps as a reminder that it isn't operating at full sensitivity.

It also has a retaining pin that makes it less likely to be shaken from its mount.

Yep we have that on ours also. Unfortunately it still sends my old pooch to the nut farm with its warning reminder beeps.

Jack

[cammur]

Originally Posted by jcanavera

Yep we have that on ours also. Unfortunately it still sends my old pooch to the nut farm with its warning reminder beeps.

Jack

I agree with your pooch. It is less terrible than the full decibel alarm, but still unpleasant.

[Chaplain Kent]

Originally Posted by 63air

Can anyone out there who is an actual engineering type tell me what the difference is between a battery operated smoke/CO detector .

I did not know you could get a combo detector. My belief was that the smoke detector was to be mounted in a high spot (smoke rises) and the CO detector in a low spot (gas forms in pockets on the floor.)
When it comes to something as important as a smoke or CO protector I do not question the cost but do as told.

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by Chaplain Kent

I did not know you could get a combo detector. My belief was that the smoke detector was to be mounted in a high spot (smoke rises) and the CO detector in a low spot (gas forms in pockets on the floor.)
When it comes to something as important as a smoke or CO protector I do not question the cost but do as told.

Carbon Monoxide is slightly lighter then air. It basicly will mix with the air in a room. Suggested locations are at eye level in a room, but away from (not above) things such as heater ducts and ovens. I have a battery powered combo CO / Smoke unit in my TT. It is not a RV unit, but a first alert household type. We store it with the towels with no power when in travel mode. When we setup it goes on the wall with batteries and is tested. If you press the test button it will go through both systems and give you an audio readout of the highest CO level (PPM) it has read since last tested.

I think you might have CO confused with Propane. Propane is much heavier then air and will pool on the floor. Propane detectors need to be mounted low near the floor.