Confused carbon monoxide alarm

RayD

RayD

Joined
Jun 4, 2020
Posts
129
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Location
Essex
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71,433
MH
Bailey AA79-4T
Exp
Since 2019
Hi, I am confused!! I understood that being on ehu with no gas that there can be no carbon monoxide discharge from fridge, etc.

We are on a farm CL in Suffolk with ehu, 22plate 79-4t.

Last night, however in middle of the night carbon monoxide alarm woke us up. Opened ceiling vent and alarm off we went back to sleep, only to be woken up again an hour later by the alarm again. Twice this happened.

What is going on? What is the likely problem? and how can we solve this?

Thanks
 
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Does your CO detector have a display, they trigger at very low levels , but the reading could help identify source and level of reaction required

But agree with you that nothing should be creating CO other than batteries as mentioned
 
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Sounds like a knackered battery or it's being overcharged. It will be giving off hydrogen sulphide, poisonous & high risk of explosion.

Battery will probably be warm, disconnect the battery & remove from van ASAP.

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Also check you have no gas turned on with heating options, our Alde will run off gas and electric at same time

Also any dip in power fridge may swap to gas
 
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Lenny HB said:
Sounds like a knackered battery or it's being overcharged. It will be giving off hydrogen sulphide, poisonous & high risk of explosion.

Battery will probably be warm, disconnect the battery & remove from van ASAP.
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Exactly what we had, didn't even know there was anything wrong with the battery but on inspection one was red hot.
 
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Try replacing the batteries in the alarm.

I assume no-one nearby was running their engine. Exhaust fumes will set it off.
 
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meanders said:
Try replacing the batteries in the alarm.

I assume no-one nearby was running their engine. Exhaust fumes will set it off.
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Cannot replace the battery in a carbon monoxide alarm!
 
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icantremember said:
Check your batteries, habitation & engine.
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I understood that the Banner leisure battery is a sealed unit! I would expect in the current temperatures in UK, that there’s every likelihood that the leisure battery would be warm.
 
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RayD said:
I understood that the Banner leisure battery is a sealed unit! I would expect in the current temperatures in UK, that there’s every likelihood that the leisure battery would be warm.
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I think you would be able to tell the difference between a battery at ambient temperature and one which is being over charged, it will be hot, not warm.
 
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If the alarm has non-replaceable batteries and it's almost 2.5years old, it may simply be time to buy another alarm. To be honest, they are that cheap, it's worth doing that anyway. If the new one then alarms, you can be much more confident there is generally an issue and I regret it's then time to get a gas expert involved.

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If you suspect a faulty alarm, put the alarm outside and see if it goes off
 
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Smoke detection & carbon monoxide £20 Amazon, with stick on pad...

Cheers🍻
 
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RayD said:
I understood that the Banner leisure battery is a sealed unit! I would expect in the current temperatures in UK, that there’s every likelihood that the leisure battery would be warm.
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Even sealed batteries have a vent to let off gasses !

Do SLA Batteries Need Venting?
 
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Update….
As we have 2 leisure batteries I have checked original supplied with moho. Extremely hot! Disconnected that battery.

Will purchase a new CO alarm.

So confusing, having been advised when purchasing the van from new, that it was a sealed battery that would not require maintenance!!
 
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RayD said:
I understood that the Banner leisure battery is a sealed unit! I would expect in the current temperatures in UK, that there’s every likelihood that the leisure battery would be warm.
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The term sealed for life is a bit misleading as they do have a 'pressure relief valve'

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RayD said:
So confusing, having been advised when purchasing the van from new, that it was a sealed battery that would not require maintenance!!
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Whilst those batteries are maintenance free in normal use they have no protection against overcharging or being discharged beyond saving. You need to test the charging system to ensure the charging system is working correctly and not overcharging or the new battery you fit to replace the damaged one may also fail.
 
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RayD said:
Update….
As we have 2 leisure batteries I have checked original supplied with moho. Extremely hot! Disconnected that battery.

Will purchase a new CO alarm.

So confusing, having been advised when purchasing the van from new, that it was a sealed battery that would not require maintenance!!
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It doesn't need any "maintenance " but can vent gasses in certain circumstances such as if its being overcharged.
I would completely remove the battery from the van for safety.
 
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The banner batteries fitted to my van 2018 where not mantance free and needed topping up, not that the dealer told us this.
 
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RayD said:
Unfortunately, not in the one supplied by Bailey.
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"Supplied by Bailey" sums it up nicely. Get a proper one (combined smoke and CO - Kidde are well thought of)), instal as per instructions and see if it is still indicating CO build up before ripping out the hab battery. You never know . . . .
 
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TDub49 said:
"Supplied by Bailey" sums it up nicely. Get a proper one (combined smoke and CO - Kidde are well thought of)), instal as per instructions and see if it is still indicating CO build up before ripping out the hab battery. You never know . . . .
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From the OP, "Update….As we have 2 leisure batteries I have checked original supplied with moho. Extremely hot! Disconnected that battery."

I doubt that I would be giving a second chance to a hab battery that's getting extremely hot without checking why first. :rolleyes:
 
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My sisters 2012 Elddis Autoquest came with an onboard charger that just gives a constant 13.8v.
To low to ever charge the battery fully so unable to de-sulfate and slightly to high for float so no good for long term battery life.
 
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Two on Tour said:
From the OP, "Update….As we have 2 leisure batteries I have checked original supplied with moho. Extremely hot! Disconnected that battery."

I doubt that I would be giving a second chance to a hab battery that's getting extremely hot without checking why first. :rolleyes:
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Missed that one. Quite right. Whilst the battery clearly needs sorting, not sure that it is CO that it is giving off - interesting arcticle here: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gea...-may-indicate-a-battery-charging-issue-79661; and thread here: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com...o-or-can-a-co-sensor-detect-gasses-other-than

Quite a cocktail of unfriendly gases possible from an overheating battery and some of them odourless, so just as well the average CO detector picks 'em up even if it isn't CO it's reacting to.
 
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TDub49 said:
Missed that one. Quite right. Whilst the battery clearly needs sorting, not sure that it is CO that it is giving off - interesting arcticle here: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/gea...-may-indicate-a-battery-charging-issue-79661; and thread here: https://chemistry.stackexchange.com...o-or-can-a-co-sensor-detect-gasses-other-than

Quite a cocktail of unfriendly gases possible from an overheating battery and some of them odourless, so just as well the average CO detector picks 'em up even if it isn't CO it's reacting to.
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There are several different methods of testing for CO inside a monitor, one type relies on a gel changing colour in the presence of CO, a light sensor picks up the color change and that triggers the alarm, it's quite possible that other gases would also cause the gel to change colour and also trigger the alarm.
 
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