With the improvement of people's living standards, many people have the ability to buy high-end cars, and now the more popular is the RV. Like a smaller version of a house, an RV is generally equipped with a bedroom, a bathroom with a toilet, vanity, and bathtub, a living room, and an open-plan kitchen. The RV is also equipped with air conditioners, LCD TVs, VCDs, refrigerators, microwave ovens, gas stoves, water heaters and other electrical appliances. The start-up of the electrical appliance is completely dependent on the alternator to provide power. In the case of an external power supply, it is replaced by an external power supply. At the same time, the car is also equipped with many safety facilities, including LPG detectors, CO alarms, smoke alarms, emergency exits, fire extinguishers, seat belts, etc., to give maximum protection while people enjoy life.
Why install a detector in your RV
While RVs bring comfort to people, they can also pose a threat. This is because potentially dangerous gas sources in or around your RV could include a malfunctioning propane stove or unvented heater, exhaust from a generator or gasoline engine, or a wood or charcoal-burning grill or stove. These devices will generate carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, smoke and other gases during use. If there is no good ventilation or installation of related gas alarms, the consequences will be unimaginable.
In addition, the gas concentration produced by the unified combustion equipment in different spaces is different. For example, at home, a gas heater may produce 30ppm of carbon monoxide in a 1000 square foot home due to the large space; in an RV, the gas heater may produce 200ppm in a 200 square foot RV due to the small space. Therefore, combining the above two points, it is very necessary to install related detectors in the RV.
Sources of Dangerous Gases in RVs
As a symbol of high-end life, the RV is powered by generators for many of its internal equipment. Those gases that are harmful to the human body are mainly generated from gas heaters in the bathroom, kitchens, exhaust vents, etc., and sometimes carbon monoxide gas discharged from outdoor barbecues will also float into the RV.
Where to install the detector
Carbon monoxide detectors and smoke detectors are installed in roughly the same location, both centering 5 feet from the floor. Because carbon monoxide is lighter than air, it will float upward when the indoor temperature is warm, and the smoke will also float upward. In addition, the RV space is relatively small, so the installation position of the detector should be a little distance from the ground as possible.
LPG detectors need to be installed below potential leaks. This is because liquefied petroleum gas is heavier than air and will accumulate on the ground. Installing the detector on the ground near the gas tank makes it easier to detect gas leaks.
Given the above sources of toxic gases, every RV should be equipped with carbon monoxide detectors, smoke detectors, and LPG detectors.
How to Install a Gas Detector
The method of installing the detector depends on the type of detector. Common types of RV detectors are mainly wall mounted detectors (also known as 12 volt RV detectors) and battery powered detectors.
Wall-mounted detectors are usually mounted on the wall, have hidden wiring, and need to be powered on in the RV when in use, which can be achieved by paralleling multiple generators. The installation steps are as follows:
- Unpack the new detector and cut the wires
Pay attention to the fire wires and ground wires during installation. The fire wire is red and the ground wire is black, if your RV wiring has a white ground wire then you will need to connect the black wire from the new unit to the white wire in the RV detector compartment.
Use wire cutters to cut the wires in the new unit to the desired length, so that the wires do not overlap with the rest of the RV and take up space.
- Turn on the power
After connecting the ground and fire wires as described above, turn on the power to start the device. If activated normally, the detector will flash red continuously for three minutes, then the indicator will turn green, which means the detector is ready to detect the relevant gas in the RV.
- Screw in place after the test is complete
If the device has been tested without problems, it can be screwed into the wall
Battery powered detectors:
The installation of this kind of detector is very easy. The device can be installed in any position of the RV without wiring. It only needs to be nailed to the wall with screws. The service life is generally 7~10 years. During this period, the device can not be replaced.
How to Prevent Toxic Gas Poisoning in Your RV
- Check your RV chassis and generator exhaust system regularly, at least before every outing or after exposure to any other event that could cause damage.
- Check the RV for openings in the floor or side walls. If you find a hole, seal or repair it with silicone adhesive before startingyour generator, never use ordinary glue, tape.
- Check windows, door seals and weather strips to make sure they are properly sealed.
- A yellow flame in propane-burning appliances such as heaters, stoves, ovens, and water heaters usually indicates a lack of oxygen. Determine the cause of this condition and correct it immediately.
- If there is any damage to the exhaust system or abnormal noise occurs, do not turn on the generator until the repair is complete.
- Park your RV in an open field. Do not park near weeds, snowdrifts, buildings, or other obstacles that may prevent exhaust gases from dissipating as they should.
- Sometimes the wind will blow the exhaust gas into the RV. The owner should wait for the wind to stop, open the window for ventilation for a few minutes, and then start the RV.
- When parking for a long time, please pay attention to your surroundings, such as tractor trailers at rest stops, their engines may be running, and please close the windows tightly to prevent the entry of exhaust gas.
- Do not sleep while the generator is running unless you have installed a relevant hazardous gas alarm.
- Open roof vents while the generator is running, even in winter.
- If you feel uncomfortable in the car for too long, park the car in an open environment, turn off the generator, and get out of the car to relax and get some fresh air. This is because the long-term operation of the generator will produce low-concentration toxic gases. Although it will not cause death, people will experience dizziness and sleepiness after prolonged exposure.