Bigfoot 1986, Newtec PGD 7 ?

[Gilles]

I have a thingy which is called Newtec, with 2 wire who are going to connect in the transformer.
An on/off switch in the front accompanied with a mini-led red.
In the back a not is written, to put the switch in off so more than a week than the battery is not any more on the automatic load.
Can anybody explain me the utility of this thingy?

See the picture.
Thank You,

[Gilles]

I find nothing on Web about this device.

[Glenn Baglo]

I suspect PGD stands for Propane Gas Detector.
If that is the case, it would be hard-wired like that.
And, it would be well beyond its useful life of about 5-7 years.
I would remove and replace ( as I just did - not cheap for MTI brand detector at $120 )
MTI Industries, Inc.

[Gilles]

I see no indication to indicate that it is a gas sensor, except for the abbreviation as you see.
Even the last owner was not able to answer me, out of curiosity he asked me to give him the answer if I find the utility of this thingy.
I did not want to disconnect without knowing little, to not removing any control.
That seemed to me the most likely and I am going to replace by a new.

Thank you Glenn to rest my intuition.

[Glenn Baglo]

Found an old PDF of the owner manual for a Winnebago that mentions Newtec Propane Gas detector. There is that grillwork to allow air ( and propane to enter ). I'm quite sure that's what it is.
Where is it located in the trailer. If it's near the floor, that's where a propane detector is supposed to be, because propane is heavier than air.

[Gilles]

Merci Glenn,
The floor, and under the table in the front of the caravan is placed well.
It is certainly a gas sensor propane.

[Evergreengirl]

Gilles, glad you got an answer. Amazing the things people know on this forum. You could replace it with a combination CO/Propane detector.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Evergreengirl

Gilles, glad you got an answer. Amazing the things people know on this forum. You could replace it with a combination CO/Propane detector.

Thank you Kathy for the good idea, to combine CO / detector Propane.

Have a good day.

[Gilles]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Thank you Kathy for the good idea, to combine CO / detector Propane.

Have a good day.

Kathy,
I spoke with my supplier of equipment for caravan and he told me that if I do not use a generator, as to camp savage, only that of the propane is necessary...

[Perry J]

Originally Posted by Gilles

Kathy,
I spoke with my supplier of equipment for caravan and he told me that if I do not use a generator, as to camp savage, only that of the propane is necessary...

What happened if your gas heater fire box springs a leak or you somehow get some fumes in the cabin from your gas refer?

[Glenn Baglo]

Originally Posted by Perry J

What happened if your gas heater fire box springs a leak or you somehow get some fumes in the cabin from your gas refer?

You just ignore it. Easy enough to do when you are unconscious.

[Jack L]

Originally Posted by Perry J

What happened if your gas heater fire box springs a leak or you somehow get some fumes in the cabin from your gas refer?

Or your stove!!!

[Gilles]

Thank you for your interest on the security of the campers.
I consider good that I am going to follow your advice.
A few more is better that just not enough...

Have a good day and sleep peacefully.

[Gilles]

After this discussion, I replaced the old gas sensor propane by a new which detects " Carbon Monoxyde and Propane Gas, near the floor and a smoke sensor on the top.

[Glenn Baglo]

[Evergreengirl]

You did the smart thing, Gilles!

[Franswa]

in fact I have the exact same prop/CO detector.....only complaint I have is in winter storage, in my back yard, the CO alarm kept going off now and then (in the middle of the night no less! good thing my neighbour is deaf or understanding)....anyway I plan on installing a switch on the positive wire before next winter (they say not to do that, might forget to turn it back on...but I'm not getting out of bed at 4am again this coming winter)

[Glenn Baglo]

You can just disconnect one of the battery terminals while in storage. You likely will notice when nothing in the trailer works, until you re-connect.

[Borrego Dave]

Originally Posted by Franswa

in fact I have the exact same prop/CO detector.....only complaint I have is in winter storage, in my back yard, the CO alarm kept going off now and then (in the middle of the night no less! good thing my neighbour is deaf or understanding)....anyway I plan on installing a switch on the positive wire before next winter (they say not to do that, might forget to turn it back on...but I'm not getting out of bed at 4am again this coming winter)

I'm going to do the same thing, a switch. Not for neighbors as they are a long away from me but to eliminate a battery drain. Not a big thing to switch it back on when your going to use the trailer. If you bring the battery inside for the winter though it wouldn't be a problem.

[Gilles]

- If You follow instructions, You have to do a regular visual inspections, like see the led condition, ...

- The instruction manual write this:

LOW POWER OPERATION
This alarm will operate normally down to7 VDC. Do not operate this alarm
below 7 VDC.

- If You install a switch for the winter because you leave your battery in position and You charge it regularly, when You start the next season, You have to do the visual inspection before to go and regularly if the detector is situated well, you see easily that it is 12 volts identified by led.
Switch or not, You have to check before to go, it's the responsability of each one.

http://www.mtiindustries.com/PDFs/rv/35_Series.pdf

Have a good season,