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Old 06-16-2010, 07:53 PM   #1
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I need to replace my propane alarm.

Some models now are 2-in-1. Propone/CO (carbon monoxide).

I think CO is formed when fossil fuels, like propane or natural gas, are not burned completely. I think.

Is there a need for a CO alarm in my unit if I use propane for heat, stove, and sometime fridge?

Or just propane alarm is sufficient?

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Old 06-17-2010, 01:14 AM   #2
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Quote:
I need to replace my propane alarm.

Some models now are 2-in-1. Propone/CO (carbon monoxide).

I think CO is formed when fossil fuels, like propane or natural gas, are not burned completely. I think.

Is there a need for a CO alarm in my unit if I use propane for heat, stove, and sometime fridge?

Or just propane alarm is sufficient?
The biggest CO hazard in your trailer is your furnace. When functioning correctly it encloses and contains the combustion product in the heat exchanger and vents them outside, but hot combustion gasses are corrosive, bouncing down the freeway causes mechanical stress, and either of these two things can damage the exchanger so it leaks combustion gasses into your trailer's interior.

Is it likely . . . no . . . would I spend the extra $20 or whatever on a fire/CO detector? Yes, already have.
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Old 06-17-2010, 03:10 AM   #3
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Paul:

Here are articles you might find interesting -- they say that you must have a carbon monoxide detector:

http://www.rvlifemag.com/file363/rvtip363.html

http://www.carbon-monoxide-poisoning.com/r...l-vehicles.html

You can find more by searching for "carbon monoxide detector rv"

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Old 06-17-2010, 08:00 AM   #4
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I have 2 co detectors, 1 fire detector and 1 propane detector.

CO puts you to sleep very gently and you never wake up again.
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Old 06-17-2010, 09:10 AM   #5
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But those two articles both point out that, in most RVs, the most common source of CO emission is the generator, something our trailers generally do not have. The second article states it very clearly, ". . . any vehicle equipped with a generator or prepped for a generator should have a working detector."

Being a solar panels kinda guy I did not think of generator risk, but this makes lots of sense. Internal combustion engines can throw off huge quantities of carbon monoxide.
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Old 06-17-2010, 09:15 AM   #6
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Most of our trailers are not "new", things (appliances) can have issues, those issues can cause a very quiet death. I'm all for having warning systems that can prevent that!
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Old 06-17-2010, 09:54 AM   #7
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Plus you need to think of other sources such as the camper next door. I seem to remember an article about some people who died in a tent from the CO given off from the RV next to them.........

Lets just say, it's wouldn't hurt to have the combination CO/Propane detector.
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