CO detector keeps going off

[Nisswaguy]

So I have an Ice Castle RV unit and the CO detector keeps going off after it has been plugged in for a while. I'm assuming it's going off after the batteries get topped off. Does anyone else have this problem?

BTW - I have 2 batteries running the house and both are in battery boxes vented to the outside. The battery boxes aren't sealed 100% due to the crappy screws I have holding them together. So there is some leakage due to inefficient battery boxes.

I also have a battery near the front of the house to run the hydraulics.

Any ideas on how I can get this to stop?

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

This might be a stupid question. Are you sure it is the CO detector, and not the propane detector?

I have two digital readout CO detectors in my house at all times, and my batteries aren't vented, and I've never had the CO levels read above 0.

[larryz]

I agree!! Best to have at least one digital read detector to know the level of co. Otherwise you don't know if detector is malfunctioning or

what is happening.

[BartmanMN]

I had the problem in my home. My wife would go crazy when it would happen and call the HVAC guy to test everything.

He said they are only guaranteed for a few years, then they should be replaced. I bought a new one and it hasn't gone off since.

[a_jurek]

I have the exact issue ... Lodge fish house, 3 batteries under the cabinet in the V, on board charger.

Mine is an LP gas detector and it goes off every time I charge the batteries. Not sure exactly at what point it goes off, I usually plug it in over night, and when I come out in the morning its blarring.

Ive heard that batteries can give off some sort of gas when charging??? Enough to set off the alarm though???

All I know is when I open the door/windows it stops.

[Nisswaguy]

I finally had a chance to check. It's a Safe T Alert RV Carbon Monoxide/Propane Gas Alert. It goes off only when I charge my batteries. After I unplug an open up the windows, it stops. If I don't plug in, it doesn't go off. If I am plugged in, it goes off after awhile and I have to open her up again. It's only 1 year old.

[Nisswaguy]

Anyone?

[Hawg]

In years past before no maintenance batteries you always popped the caps before charging so they didn't blow off. The system is different but the technolegy is the same, why wouldn't they give off gas when charging?

[Nisswaguy]

Hey Ripper or larryz - any more thoughts on this? If it's the propane alarm, then why does it only happen when I'm plugged in for an extended period of time?

Seeing the story of the CO deaths on LOW in an open boat has raised my concerns. Yes, I know I can just open the doors and windows and air it out when it goes off but I'm trying to avoid that. Would going to something like a pair of Optima's be the ticket?

[Hawg]

Why not call the manufacturer and ask them if the gas escaping from the charging of the batteries would react the same as co2 does on the sensor? It sure seems that when you charge it goes off and when not it doesn't.

[Hawg]

I just talked to Brian over at Batteries Plus and he said, without hesitation, it's the battery gas.

[larryz]

When I had the problem I put in a digital read CO detector and/or shut off the propane at the tanks to determine which it was. Then we switched the Co/propane detector with one out of another house. They both worked fine and still are working fine. In addition I am able to read the CO level at all times on the digital readout detector. No more problem for me, has worked for two or three years now.

[bowtie]

As a long time HVAC guy I have seen where curing paint and stain etc can and do put off carbon monoxide. Maybe this is the source of your problem.

[Nisswaguy]

For those still wondering, I replaced the two batteries with a couple of sealed batteries and I no longer have the problem of the detector going off. I'm guessing that once the batteries reached full charge, they were bubbling and giving off gasses, despite being vented to the outside.