Carbon Monoxide Detector
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Category: R-pod Discussion Forums
Forum Name: Podmods, Maintenance, Tips and Tricks
Forum Discription: Ask maintenance questions, share your podmods (modifications) and helpful tips
URL: http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=8730
Printed Date: 26 Jun 2025 at 7:01am
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Topic: Carbon Monoxide Detector
Posted By: jasmillo
Subject: Carbon Monoxide Detector
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 9:56am
| I have owned the 180 about 5 months and have been having issues the last three trips w/ the carbon monoxide detector. Essentially, it starts going off when we start towing the trailer causing us to cancel the trips. After the second time and even though the unit is still pretty new including the detector, I clipped out the hard wired one and replaced it with a battery operated one. I also made sure the propane was off and even flushed out the blackwater tank thoroughly in case gasses from that was causing the issue. We then headed out on a trip this weekend and the battery operated detector started going off within 10 miles of my house? Has anybody had this issue? The propane is off at the tank and we have not used it since late June (furnace while in the mountains) so I am completely stumped as to what could be causing this. I do have an appointment to get a new hard wired detector installed in a couple of weeks (I was convinced the detector was faulty and that was causing the issue) so I will ask that they inspect to Frey and figure out the issue. Just curious to know if anyone has had this problem. thanks! |
Replies:
Posted By: Tars Tarkas
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 10:18am
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No ideas unless the exhaust from your TV is somehow getting pumped into the pod. Does this only happen when you're on the road? It sounds like you're talking about the propane detector? It's the one right above the floor that's hardwired. The CO detector is high, maybe on the wall. Mine, at least, has always been powered with a 9v battery. TT ------------- 2010 176 FJ Cruiser |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 10:26am
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I'm guessing the CO detector is detecting exhaust from the tow vehicle. I have a similar issue, particularly after towing hard climbing a hill. It indicates an air leak, usually under the camper, where exhaust can get in. If the alarm clears when you stop and air out the camper that's a good clue. The Pods are usually very tight, but several owners have found big omissions in the sealing. Check the sealing around all pipe, wire and other holes in the floor including under the shower and behind the furnace and power panel.
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 11:22am
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How the heck did you hear it while towing?
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Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 11:38am
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For general information, the hardwired device near the floor detects propane and carbon monoxide (CO). It is also sensitive to other volatiles such as perfumes and some cleaning products. Since auto exhaust contains CO it triggers the detector, as it should. The ceiling mounted device detects smoke and fire. As an aside, although CO is lighter than air at room temperatures, it quickly infuses and mixes with air, so placement of the CO detector almost anywhere is appropriate. Propane is heavier than air so its detector is placed down low. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21536403 - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21536403 ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 3:29pm
It depends on model, and what mood Bob was in the day your pod was built. Ours has 3 separate monitors. One smoke, one propane, one carbon monoxide. ------------- |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 3:35pm
Didn't know that. As they say in Goshen: "Let no two Pods be built the same." 
------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: jasmillo
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 4:42pm
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Thanks for the responses! The hard wired detector I took out was a propane/ CM detector located near the floor by the pop out on the model I have. The battery operated CM detector I put in does no detect propane so it seems to definitely be CM setting of the detector (the alarm the hard wired device was sounding was CM as well- not propane). Outside of the blackwater tank, the only thing I could think of was the tow vehicle exhaust as well. Odd that it just started over the last few trips as we had been using it nearly every weekend prior to that. I'll see if I can find any obvious areas where exhaust could get in and have the dealer take a look as well when I have the new hard wired device installed.
To answer the question of how I heard it while towing; the first two times - when I stopped for gas. The third time, I stopped about 10 miles into my trip just to make sure it was not going off and sure enough..... |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 8:31pm
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Are you sure your battery was fully charged? If the charge voltage gets low, the cO alarm will sound..
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Posted By: jasmillo
Date Posted: 05 Sep 2016 at 9:37pm
| Hi furpod. Yep, it was charged. The last time it went off it was a battery operated CM detector I installed after disconnecting the hard wired on. |
Posted By: Jewel59
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2016 at 1:32pm
| I also found out that if the GFI is tripped for some reason it will go off. This happened to me and finally traced it to having to reset the GFI outlet (near the bed on the 180 model). |
Posted By: CharlieM
Date Posted: 06 Sep 2016 at 2:12pm
That may have been just coincidence. Unless the GFCI is powering the converter and unless the battery is bad, the tripped GFCI should have no effect. The GFCI should not be powering the converter, but anything is possible in the assembly plant on a Friday. ------------- Charlie Northern Colorado OLD: 2013 RP-172, 2010 Honda Pilot 3.5L 4WD PRESENT: 2014 Camplite 21RBS, 2013 Supercharged Tacoma 4L V6 4WD |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 07 Sep 2016 at 7:01pm
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Good to read that you are getting a new LP detector. LP detectors use a lot of energy so can only be hardwired. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual 
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Posted By: Jewel59
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2016 at 9:13pm
| I am still having this issue big time. I just towed my 180 home to prep for a weekend trip. Within a half hour of plugging it in the alam was going off. The battery is fully charged and I ventilated and then ran the air conditioning. This is driving me made. I'm about ready to cut it out as well. I have a nice sharp scissors packed for my trip!!!!! My first two months with my 180 were fine. I had issues my last trip and prepping for this one. Will anyone advise against cutting the dam_ thing. Its in my driving going nuts!!!!! |
Posted By: Jewel59
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2016 at 9:15pm
| Excuse all my typos, I am quite upset! |
Posted By: furpod
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2016 at 10:15pm
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I wouldn't cut the wires, just pull the fuse. Then, after the end of the camping season, let your dealer replace it under warranty.
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Posted By: Jewel59
Date Posted: 15 Sep 2016 at 10:51pm
| Good idea. For the time being, to keep it from beeping in my driveway all night, I disconnected the battery. The battery currently reads full so I'm hoping that is an OK thing to do. |
Posted By: techntrek
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 2:42pm
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Are you using a voltmeter or the white monitor with the red LEDs? The later is mostly useless. It sounds to me like your battery is low and you are getting the low voltage alarm from the LP detector. It would only go off all night if you have a leak or it is really broken. ------------- Doug ~ '10 171 (2009-2015) ~ 2008 Salem ~ http://www.rpod-owners.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=1723 - Pod instruction manual
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Posted By: Leo B
Date Posted: 16 Sep 2016 at 6:24pm
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The detector in our 179 went after our first trip in it. Apparently FR had a bad batch. Got it replaced from our dealer and it took me just a few minutes to install it. No problems since. ------------- Leo & Melissa Bachand 2017 Ford F150 2021 Vista Cruiser 19 csk Previously owned 2015 Rpod 179 2010 Rpod 171 |