CO Detectors

[RVTravel]

"Installing Smoke/CO Alarms in Mobile Homes
For minimum security install one Smoke/CO Alarm as close to each sleeping area as possible. For more security, put one unit in each room. Many older mobile
homes (especially those built before 1978) have little or no insulation. If your mobile home is not well insulated, or if you are unsure of the amount of insulation, it is
important to install units on inside walls only."

 

[ZacLee]

I have this model of carbon monoxide detector which includes a 10 year life lithium battery and it seems pretty good. The battery life is about the same as the typical CO sensor life.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00FHW7P40

You can test by putting it in a sealed container with a lit candle or in an airtight plastic bag with exhaust from your car when it is started cold.

 

[Bohemian scout]

I purchased this one recently off Amazon, 10 year rated life span.
https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-CO710-Monoxide-Temperature/dp/B011O2WW1C

It does have an on/off switch if your going to be out of the van for long periods of time.

I had been placing mine about 30 inches off the floor line and from reading here I see that's not so good. I'll place it a few inches off the floor line now.
I'm happy with it but I have yet to set it off. I'm still trying . That may sound crazy but occasionally I'll run a MR. Buddy and as a test I have run the heater for better than 30 minutes and not set it off. Ahhh No I wasn't in the van

Mike R

 Sounded good so I ordered one too!

 

[Kathleen]

FYI There is a high quality battery operated CO2 detector on Amazon for $34 that has a lithium battery and lasts for 10 years. I know my last cheapie CO2 detector ate 3 x AA batteries every couple of months.

Thx, Itripper. Just had one of those installed both levels of my house, 10 yr model.

 

[RVTravel]

Mike, my understanding of the manual on these 10 year battery detectors is the lithium battery is activated with that "on" switch, and it never turns off just by pushing that down (I don't see that function in my short review of the manual). To turn it off means to deactivate the battery, which ends the use of the detector. Let me know if I missed something.

I purchased this one recently off Amazon, 10 year rated life span.
https://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-CO710-Monoxide-Temperature/dp/B011O2WW1C

It does have an on/off switch if your going to be out of the van for long periods of time.

I had been placing mine about 30 inches off the floor line and from reading here I see that's not so good. I'll place it a few inches off the floor line now.
I'm happy with it but I have yet to set it off. I'm still trying . That may sound crazy but occasionally I'll run a MR. Buddy and as a test I have run the heater for better than 30 minutes and not set it off. Ahhh No I wasn't in the van

Mike R

 

[RVTravel]

But you may have meant the silence feature.

 

[Benjamin Dejo]

Mike, my understanding of the manual on these 10 year battery detectors is the lithium battery is activated with that "on" switch, and it never turns off just by pushing that down (I don't see that function in my short review of the manual). To turn it off means to deactivate the battery, which ends the use of the detector. Let me know if I missed something.

I have slept in my van for 2 years with an Olympian Wave 3 going all night long in the winter and never had mine go off.  Proper ventilation is the key.

 

[johnboy15]

The ten-year battery detectors are permanently installed, as 10 years is the maximum expected lifespan of a smoke alarm/CO Alarm allowable by code anyway. For the price of them, I would install two, just to be sure.