Propane alarm replacement

[tractors1]

Every 5 years these things go end-of-life; mine did last week on my 2014-21. Pulled it out of the bench and found ZERO wire slack, and the ETI crimps captured between two wire clamps. No way to get to there without removing the batteries and the battery box.See first pic.


I am not going to do this every 5 years, so I added wire to the 12V run from the wall and spade disconnects for the alarm that I could access with the unit off the wall.


Wrote ETI about their poor design; should have planned access to a maintenance item that required R&R periodically. 20 mins later the reply was they're going to review that need on all models....

[gbaglo]

I replaced mine, adding some wire. It's not tidy now and is much more apt to be caught by something stored in that bench. I suspect that is why the wiring was so tight.

ETI could add spade connections, increasing cost and complication, or you can do it when you replace the detector.

[cpaharley2008]

I did something similar, I asked that the batteries be moved 2" to allow watering access instead of a bench support in the way, they complied.

[Jim Bennett]

It is not a problem in the original position of mine in the 5.0TA as there is really nothing else near it. In any trailer though just enough slack to be able to replace it would be good.

When I tore the cabinetry apart in this location in my trailer to allow a bigger drawer for the garbage and recycling buckets, I did have to move it.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by tractors1

Wrote ETI about their poor design; should have planned access to a maintenance item that required R&R periodically. 20 mins later the reply was they're going to review that need on all models....

Escape really can't be blamed - it's an industry wide habit to not consider maintenance. Think about the Dodge truck that you had to loosen the motor mounts and lift the motor to be able to change that back spark plug.

When doing projects in the plant, I made it a requirement that maintenance sign off on all designs - it's amazing the stuff the project engineers would try to do.

[Donna D.]

When I was having an electrical problem in Ten Forward and thought I'd need to replace the GFCI in the kitchen, I found exactly how little slack there was in the wiring. A ten minute job would have turned into an hour job (plus ANOTHER trip to the hardware store), compared to the spaghetti wiring in my Scamp. Scamp manufacturing took care of the 'extra' wiring by blobbing on a strip of silicone caulk inside the cabinetry and affixing the wire to the cabinet wall. Oh my...

[barry]

Originally Posted by tractors1

Every 5 years these things go end-of-life; mine did last week ..................

Does it do something when it goes, "end of life". The reason I ask is I have a switch on mine to cut power when I'm not using it otherwise it constantly goes off when the solar panel does the bulk charge each month. I just have it switched on when camping and the one on my 2012 5.0 is original and still works.
Barry

[gbaglo]

End of Life Signal –The Sensor has a 5 Year Service Life All 35Seriesmodels include an End of Life (EOL) Signal indicating the sensor has reached the end of its service life and you must replace the alarm. The signal is the LEDflashing RED RED GREEN GREEN with a beep every 25-30 seconds. The EOL Signal may be reset by pushing TEST / RESET button on the alarm. This will reset the EOL Signal for a period of 72 hours (3 days) for a total of up to 30 days. After 30 days the signalcannot be reset and the alarm must be replaced. DO NOT DISCONNECT THE ALARM UNTIL YOU HAVE A REPLACEMENT ALARM AVAILABLE TO INSTALL


Google Safe-T-Alert for the instruction manual. It says to not put it on a switch of its own. If switched, all DC appliances in the RV should turn off.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by barry

Does it do something when it goes, "end of life". The reason I ask is I have a switch on mine to cut power when I'm not using it otherwise it constantly goes off when the solar panel does the bulk charge each month. I just have it switched on when camping and the one on my 2012 5.0 is original and still works.
Barry

Depends on what model you have. My 2017 21' has the Atwood 31014.

Atwood 31014 RV Propane Gas Detector Indicator lights

Green light blinks periodically during normal operation
Red light flashes while active alarm is sounding
Red light blinks periodically if power is low
Yellow light blinks if maintenance is needed (needs replacement)

[barry]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

End of Life Signal –The Sensor has a 5 Year Service Life All 35Seriesmodels include an End of Life (EOL) Signal indicating the sensor has reached the end of its service life and you must replace the alarm. The signal is the LEDflashing RED RED GREEN GREEN with a beep every 25-30 seconds. The EOL Signal may be reset by pushing TEST / RESET button on the alarm. This will reset the EOL Signal for a period of 72 hours (3 days) for a total of up to 30 days. After 30 days the signalcannot be reset and the alarm must be replaced. DO NOT DISCONNECT THE ALARM UNTIL YOU HAVE A REPLACEMENT ALARM AVAILABLE TO INSTALL


Google Safe-T-Alert for the instruction manual. It says to not put it on a switch of its own. If switched, all DC appliances in the RV should turn off.

Okay thanks for that, mine hasn't beeped or flashed like that.

I would love to be able to not have the alarm on a switch but it's placement right next to the batteries sets it off all the time. I've got a check list I go through before camping to make sure I turn it on. At some point I'm going to have to relocate the alarm.

I had the trailer in for service at Escape one year and the alarm was going off all the time so, not having a key for the trailer, they tried to break in though the door ruining the lock so they ended up having to give me a new handle and lock. After that I put a switch in!
Barry

[tractors1]

Whatever model you have, I think there should be a means of disconnecting the alarm without killing all other DC items should the thing go off in the middle of the night while camping. I would rather pull a disconnect apart than trip over the dogs at 3AM.



I looked at the circuit board when I took my old one apart; no battery and one chip looked like it was programmable, so I think there's a bit of software in there to count down the 5 years.



If you do put a switch on the power, that would probably stop the countdown clock until repowered - hence the manufacturer statement that it should not be on it's own switch. You might not buy another one for 10 years or more!


What the depowered effect is on the reliability of the sensor I don't know. Bought my replacement on Amazon for less than $50. Factory price for same unit is $85.


So I played it safe. Just wanted an easy disconnect if needed.

[tdf-texas]

Originally Posted by tractors1

Whatever model you have, I think there should be a means of disconnecting the alarm without killing all other DC items should the thing go off in the middle of the night while camping. I would rather pull a disconnect apart than trip over the dogs at 3AM.



I looked at the circuit board when I took my old one apart; no battery and one chip looked like it was programmable, so I think there's a bit of software in there to count down the 5 years.



If you do put a switch on the power, that would probably stop the countdown clock until repowered - hence the manufacturer statement that it should not be on it's own switch. You might not buy another one for 10 years or more!


What the depowered effect is on the reliability of the sensor I don't know. Bought my replacement on Amazon for less than $50. Factory price for same unit is $85.


So I played it safe. Just wanted an easy disconnect if needed.

With all the spare fuse holder slots available in the converter 12v panel, it seems that having a dedicated 12v circuit for the propane detector would be an easy thing to do.

It goes off too often, pull the fuse!

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by tractors1

I looked at the circuit board when I took my old one apart; no battery and one chip looked like it was programmable, so I think there's a bit of software in there to count down the 5 years.

That's not how it works. There is an element used in the sensor which degrades when connected to DC. Your five years starts when connected to power ( the date sticker on the back is the date of manufacture, not the date used to determine if it needs replacement ).

Like your water heater anode, it needs to be replaced when used up.

[tractors1]

Originally Posted by gbaglo

That's not how it works. There is an element used in the sensor which degrades when connected to DC. Your five years starts when connected to power ( the date sticker on the back is the date of manufacture, not the date used to determine if it needs replacement ).

Like your water heater anode, it needs to be replaced when used up.

I agree, but I doubt the sensor has anything to do with a time keeping function.

[gbaglo]

Originally Posted by tractors1

I agree, but I doubt the sensor has anything to do with a time keeping function.

The sensor has no time-keeping function. Five years is what they determine is when the material in the sensor is used up and the unit should be replaced.
As I recall, I replaced mine around six or seven years.

[MacMan]

Can anyone tell me how to change out the battery in the Safe-T-Alert? I assume all I have to do is change out a battery? Thanks.

[Donna D.]

Originally Posted by MacMan

Can anyone tell me how to change out the battery in the Safe-T-Alert? I assume all I have to do is change out a battery? Thanks.

There isn't a battery in the propane detector, it's hard wired. That's why the alarm will go off if the house battery(ies) get low.


But, maybe you're asking about the smoke detector??

[MacMan]

Thanks. I just pulled up my cushion at the dinette and see it is hardwired. I just ordered a Safe-T-Alert on Amazon. Looks pretty easy (even for me who isn't mechanical/electrical inclined) to change out. Thanks for your help. Much appreciated.

[Bobbie54]

Mine had a reset when the "getting too old" beeping started. And yes, wired in tight. I can't remember what we did to make it work.

[gbaglo]

Vacuum or wipe the face plate with a damp cloth often works for a while. The date of manufacture is on the back, but that isn't the start of its five year life span. That starts when you connect it to electricity.