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03-21-2023, 11:13 AM
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#1
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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Chirping propane detector
Here's one I haven't seen in the forum before.
About once or twice a week for the last month or two we have been awaken between midnight and 1AM with the propane detector chirping like a smoke detector with a low battery, however the propane detector is wired directly to the battery. It's not an alarm, just a chirp. I get up and push the reset and all is well for the rest of the night.
Today I hit it with a duster and hopefully that will end this, but...
My question is: Why is it always in the middle of the night? Why doesn't it chirp during the day? I have found that also to be true of smoke detectors with a low battery. It's always the middle of the night. Is this some kind of law of nature?
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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03-21-2023, 11:19 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
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You should be able to check the flash frequency and match them to the reference information. The most likely reason is End-Of-Life (EOL) for the unit. They are only good for 5 years. Seeing you have a 2017 unit; it is time to replace.
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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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03-21-2023, 11:36 AM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Austin
Posts: 2,390
M.O.C. #21044
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I replaced mine a couple of months ago. When the "end of life" chirping starts - generally the thing will let you silence it "xx" number of times and finally it will go off and the silence button does not work. My RV was built November 2017 - so my five years was up. Mine is also hardwired. I could not find the exact "surface mounted" model that I had as OEM, but I found the same model "number" unit and I had to cut a small hole in the back of my kitchen island to get it to fit flush.
I thought I bought it on Amazon but I could not find it in my past orders...maybe I got it from Camping World or Rec Pro?? I think it was ~$75.
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MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
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03-21-2023, 02:26 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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That was actually one of my thoughts, but I was thinking the life expectancy was 10 years. I guess I'll just go ahead and replace it.
My question still remains though, Why does it only chirp in the middle of night?
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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03-21-2023, 02:34 PM
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#5
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
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Sophisticated engineering? Normally thye start chirping and don't quit until you cut the wires.
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Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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03-21-2023, 02:41 PM
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#6
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Possum trot
Posts: 121
M.O.C. #29795
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We have a ‘21 model and it started chirping a couple of weeks ago. I called camping world and they are making me bring it in because it’s still under warranty. Ours is chirping around the clock, not just at night.
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03-21-2023, 03:15 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,677
M.O.C. #12947
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It might not be worth your time getting the detector replaced under warranty. The warranty, at least for the Safe-T-Alert one we have in our rig is only one year. This is the one we have, wouldn't be worth it to me for a dealer to replace it, would cost more for fuel to bring it both ways than the cost of a new one and two crimp connectors. https://www.amazon.com/Safe-T-Alert-...0-4513d670b6bc
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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03-21-2023, 03:16 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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Found the same model no. on Amazon and looks identical. Hopefully an exact replacement and easy install.
Arrives Friday.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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03-21-2023, 07:02 PM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Shingle Springs
Posts: 2,149
M.O.C. #30417
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Got dogs? My dog set mine off a couple times. They also don't have a long life span. I had to cut the wires to mine at 0 dark thirty.
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Tony & Donna
2022 Montana HC, 295RL, Solar Flex 400, Onan 3600 LPG, 2K inverter, 200AH Lithium. 2020 GMC Denali 2500 6.6 Duramax, Demco 21K Auto Slide
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03-21-2023, 08:26 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,677
M.O.C. #12947
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I suspect that when these rigs are new, there is a lot of out gassing from the materials used in them, and the sensors in these detectors, propane, smoke, and CO all get contaminated from these chemicals and this shortens their life. None of our detectors went the full expected life from when we purchased our rig, but the replacements did last close to the life they were supposed to have.
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Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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03-22-2023, 05:47 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Foldbak
Got dogs? My dog set mine off a couple times. They also don't have a long life span. I had to cut the wires to mine at 0 dark thirty.
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We had one in another rig (SOB) go off (in the middle of night of course) and I thought it was the dog laying by it. Turns out it was our battery. Apparently a cell shorted and it was boiling over and gassing off badly. Had two batteries in that one so I disconnected the bad one and went back to sleep.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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03-22-2023, 06:29 PM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: woodstock
Posts: 541
M.O.C. #8174
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Read them flash and check the guide
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Ed
Montana Master
Woodstock Ga
2020 3931 FB Legacy
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03-25-2023, 10:59 AM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Possum trot
Posts: 121
M.O.C. #29795
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Ok mine is flashing red and green. It’s not a continuous flash and chirp, it is steady but has a minute or two in between. The code says “ low battery “. I just replaced the batteries last week, and I’m plugged into shore power. So do I order one from Amazon and replace it, or do I have a different problem.
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03-25-2023, 11:16 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,544
M.O.C. #22835
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DebNJim B
....
My question is: Why is it always in the middle of the night? Why doesn't it chirp during the day? ...
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More than likely, it is chirping in the middle of the day, you are just not paying attention if you are engaged in something (like watching television), or you may be outside the camper, you are simply not hearing it.
At night, everything is quiet and your mind rests and you start hearing all the sounds around you. Now, you hear the chirp because there is nothing else going on calling your attention, especially after you've settled down for the night.
__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
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03-25-2023, 02:29 PM
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#15
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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Final Chapter
So the one I bought from Amazon came yesterday and I installed it today.
Perfect match so all I had to do was change the wires and mount it on the existing bracket. Took maybe 10 minutes.
$90 later and no more chirps.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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03-25-2023, 06:03 PM
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#16
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,323
M.O.C. #4831
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor
Ok mine is flashing red and green. It’s not a continuous flash and chirp, it is steady but has a minute or two in between. The code says “ low battery “. I just replaced the batteries last week, and I’m plugged into shore power. So do I order one from Amazon and replace it, or do I have a different problem.
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I would check the voltage at the Propane Sensor. If it says "low battery" it is referring to the RV batteries where it gets it's 12V power. As you recently "replaced" your batteries, I am thinking something is incorrect in that system. Check the voltage at the batteries without shore power being on for 30 minutes and also with shore power. It could be the batteries are not being charged (blown reverse polarity fuses in the converter or Disconnect switch?).
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
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03-25-2023, 07:51 PM
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#17
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Box Elder
Posts: 4,677
M.O.C. #12947
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Trevor
Ok mine is flashing red and green. It’s not a continuous flash and chirp, it is steady but has a minute or two in between. The code says “ low battery “. I just replaced the batteries last week, and I’m plugged into shore power. So do I order one from Amazon and replace it, or do I have a different problem.
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This is the lights and beeps for a Safe-T-Alert LP/CO detector. Your detector may need to be replaced. How old is the rig or the detector?
__________________
Bob & Becky
2012 3402RL
2012 Chevy 2500HD D/A CC 4WD
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03-26-2023, 05:40 AM
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#18
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Possum trot
Posts: 121
M.O.C. #29795
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It’s a ‘21 model and I assume the sensor is the same. The beep and flash code says low battery.
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03-26-2023, 06:42 AM
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#19
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2018
Location: Northville, NY
Posts: 807
M.O.C. #21158
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If your main disconnect is off it will prevent the converter from charging the battery but the co detector is wired directly and will run the battery down.
You didn't say if you are camping or in storage.
__________________
Jim B
2017 Lariat F-350 FX4, CC, SB, 6.7 PSD 4WD
2018 MONTY 3731FL, at our private winter site in GA
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03-26-2023, 08:02 AM
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#20
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Oct 2021
Location: Possum trot
Posts: 121
M.O.C. #29795
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It’s in our driveway, plugged in to 50amp shore power. Battery disconnect is the connected position. The batteries are fully charged.
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