Propane Detector won’t stop beeping

[Norsman]

Help. Currently camping and the alarm is going off every 15 minutes. I haven’t used the propane in over a month and the tanks are shut off. I have a back up detector that’s not going off. How do I disable it?

 

[longhorn1]

More information is required to help. What year camper do you have? What model? Front Dinette, side dinette, sofa? How old is the propane detector? They should be changed every 5-6 years. What is the beeping pattern? It signifies a code, which can be found in the manual.

Help. Currently camping and the alarm is going off every 15 minutes. I haven’t used the propane in over a month and the tanks are shut off. I have a back up detector that’s not going off. How do I disable it?

 

[Norsman]

Thanks in advance. It is a 2019 Hawk, front dinette. The detector should be new. It is beeping 6 times in sequence then a long pause then 6 again. Then a red light flashes.

 

[Advmoto18]

Mine failed when the camper was just a few months old. Got a new unit from the factory and no issues for 4 years!

Call the factory and have them drop ship a new unit.

 

[Norsman]

We pulled the 12 volt fuse to stop our bad propane detector beeping. We did not worry and just replaced the propane detector when we got home. Propane detectors have a history of poor reliability.

The fuse happens to be to the 120 circuit breaker and LED lights as well. I’m going to just disconnect the wires from the back of it.

 

[BrianG]

Mine failed after 6 months, FWC sent me a new one. New one has lasted 3 years.

 

[MountainSufi]

I've been informed by 2 FWC dealers even DOG FARTS can set off the LP-CO detector! It takes very little stove top cookin' to set off the smoke alarm. There's a reason even dealers disable/take out batteries on their own private campers...

The emergency side window exit seems legally necessary, but has anyone in the history of the world used this emergency feature?

I've jettisoned my smoke alarm battery, and will probably disconnect the LP-CO detector when it starts acting up (much more reliable to have fresh air from window cracks).

And admire the view outside my closed emergency exit window...

 

[deezlgeezr]

I've been dealing with this problem for a while now; the problem seems to appear when temps inside the camper get high (80-90) or when the batteries seem to be in 'heavy charge', when solar is in direct sunlight.

Someone suggested that the increased interior temps may cause the linoleum floor to begin 'off-gassing' (some sort of decay process) which sets off the alarm. Since the alarm is near the floor this may be somewhat true.

But I will agree on one thing: IT'S A GD PITA!!!

I will personally thank the member who posts a solution that actually works.

Just wait until you 'mash' the beeper off button too hard, pushing it into the alarm, requiring housing diasassembly to 'pop' the button back out for the next alarm activation...You'll get good at getting those screws out!

 

[PaulT]

Chewing gum.

Stuff some in the intake hole and the beeping should stop. You won’t be safe but may be less annoyed.

Paul

 

[Jack]

I occasionally have this problem (front dinette Fleet), about twice a month. Fortunately, not continuously. I reset the detector and open the camper and battery compartment door for about 15 minutes.

Word has it that it's the batteries. AGM batteries will outgas just a little bit, typically when charging and that can trigger the detector..

FWC apparently is working on a solution for the front dinette campers, since the back of the detector faces the batteries. You can try placing some kind of a cover over the back of the detector to seal it from the batteries.

 

[deezlgeezr]

Jack, your explanation seems very logical. Opening the battery doors on my front dinette Hawk also has worked to silence the alarm.

I'm guessing that enlarging or modifying the 'vent' hole in the outer side of the battery compartment might be part of the eventual solution. Gotta create someplace else for those 'gasses' to go besides into the occupied area of the camper.

 

[radarcontact]

I can contribute to this a little...had the same problem when I bought my 2015 Hawk. Thought it was a bad detector, and FW sent me a new one. Same thing happened.

I park my camper in the garage when I'm not using it. Detector would seem to go off in garage, but nowhere else.

Did some research, and found that, as Jack noted, off-gassing of batteries will cause the detector to go off, particularly in tight spaces where air circulation is a minimum. Car exhaust (garage) and a multitude of other things have the ability to set it off.

My solution was to install a simple computer on/off switch, for when camper was garaged, like this one:

https://www.amazon.com/Magic-shell-5-Pack-Rocker-Position/dp/B07D285PLL/ref=sr_1_19?crid=25T2NM4DKY6SJ&keywords=on%2Foff+switch&qid=1566959963&s=gateway&sprefix=on%2Foff%2Caps%2C248&sr=8-19

Spliced into the detector lines and drilled a small hole in the cabinet to mount the switch. Works great.

After having the switch for 3+ years, I can honestly report that I haven't turned it on even once.

Was a nice install job, anyway.

 

[Alan7H]

Been having similar problem - Propane Detector won't stop beeping.

My propane detector in fairly new FWC Fleet goes off seemingly at random. (Atwood model LPCO)
Never with any propane odorant smell - or any symptoms.

Used a separate handheld portable propane detector (UEi Test Instruments CD100A) - to confirm no propane leak inside the camper (or inside the propane tank compartment).

Wrote to FWC service folks and this is the response I got:

I am sorry to hear about your troubles.

Currently, we have a temporary fix for this issue until we can come up with a more permanent solution.

What is happening, is that the detector is reading possible off-gassing inside of the cabinet.

It could be the linoleum flooring or just the plastic from the propane cabinet.

What we have doing to rectify the current situation is, removing the propane detector(remove the trim ring by using a small screwdriver at the top of the unit, then remove the 4 screws), and sealing the backside of the detector with clear silicon.

There will be many small holes including around where the wires exit the back of the unit. Using gloves, press the silicon into the area with the wires.

There will be two larger(thin) holes on two sides. These need to be sealed as well. Once that is done and it has dried, reinstall the sensor and all should be fine.

By doing this, we are not modifying the way the unit works, we are only having the unit sense the common air inside of the main cabin where you sleep.

We are sure if you give this a try, it will fix your issue. In the upcoming months we should have a more permanent solution to this.

Let me know if you need anything beyond this.

Aaron Geiger
Service Advisor
530-666-1442
Svc2@Fourwh.com


So, as suggested, today I used some clear silicone to close up all the holes between the front side of the propane detector (where the sensors are) and the the back which faces into the cabinet.

Will be out for a few nights - and will see if we still get awakened at 3 AM (why is it always 3 AM?)

~ Alan

 

[deezlgeezr]

Thanks for the information Alan; even though the process is somewhat involved it's great that SOMEONE (from FWC) took the time to research it & submit a reply which seems like a workable solution.

You can bet I'll be doing it at some point! Thanks again!

 

[Wandering Sagebrush]

Alan, thanks for taking the time to post the the response from FWC, a number of members have experienced the problem, and this is very helpful.

Been having similar problem - Propane Detector won't stop beeping.

My propane detector in fairly new FWC Fleet goes off seemingly at random. (Atwood model LPCO)
Never with any propane odorant smell - or any symptoms.

Used a separate handheld portable propane detector (UEi Test Instruments CD100A) - to confirm no propane leak inside the camper (or inside the propane tank compartment).

Wrote to FWC service folks and this is the response I got:

I am sorry to hear about your troubles. [/size]

Currently, we have a temporary fix for this issue until we can come up with a more permanent solution. [/size]

What is happening, is that the detector is reading possible off-gassing inside of the cabinet. [/size]

It could be the linoleum flooring or just the plastic from the propane cabinet. [/size]

What we have doing to rectify the current situation is, removing the propane detector(remove the trim ring by using a small screwdriver at the top of the unit, then remove the 4 screws), and sealing the backside of the detector with clear silicon. [/size]

There will be many small holes including around where the wires exit the back of the unit. Using gloves, press the silicon into the area with the wires. [/size]

There will be two larger(thin) holes on two sides. These need to be sealed as well. Once that is done and it has dried, reinstall the sensor and all should be fine. [/size]

By doing this, we are not modifying the way the unit works, we are only having the unit sense the common air inside of the main cabin where you sleep. [/size]

We are sure if you give this a try, it will fix your issue. In the upcoming months we should have a more permanent solution to this. [/size]

Let me know if you need anything beyond this.[/size]

Aaron Geiger
Service Advisor
530-666-1442
Svc2@Fourwh.com


So, as suggested, today I used some clear silicone to close up all the holes between the front side of the propane detector (where the sensors are) and the the back which faces into the cabinet.

Will be out for a few nights - and will see if we still get awakened at 3 AM (why is it always 3 AM?)

~ Alan

 

[MountainSufi]

Hey Wandering Sagebrush, Howdy from Jackson Hole!

Thankx for the FWC Service tip of removing the propane detector trim ring by "using a small screwdriver at the top of the trim ring". My note: Jimmy the ring loose the inserting the screwdriver into the bottom of the ring top. The plastic is pliant enuff it didn't break or crack.

I realize for legal reasons FWC has to include a smoke alarm & propane detector. But cooking inside has led most all of us to take the battery out of the smoke alarm.

I've disabled my propane detector by taking off the ring around it, unscrewing the 4 screw attachments and simply unplugging the ground wire. Why? No false alarms or dog farts can set it off. I'll use common sense plenty of ventilation (top & bottom). Criticize me all you want, but I know a FWC dealer who's done the same.

Happy Trails!

 

[MountainSufi]

Whoops!

Alan originally posted the FWC Service tip.

Thankx Alan!

 

[Wallowa]

'16 Hawk...simply pulled the fuse to the propane alarm...no more 0300hr wake up alarms..

 

[kmacafee]

I had a similar issue in my Bundutec Odyssey. We had installed a new mattress and apparently, there is a bit of gassing off which was causing the alarm to go off. Only happens when the camper was closed up and eventually it stopped happening.

 

[SLEDAWG]

Same problem with random alarms especially while driving or charging. I put a switch on the circuit and turn it on only at night. Problem solved and protection intact. Risk is forgetting to turn it on. I put a small piece of tape on the faucet to remind me to turn it on.