CO/Smoke detector placement

Van Living Forum

Help Support Van Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Anhedonic

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 10, 2018
Messages
143
Reaction score
0
Location
Massachusetts
This Wednesday, I shall be off on my first trip in my van. It's half built, but should be serviceable. 

It's mid-October in New England so in the event that I need heat, I've picked up one of those lovely Coleman propane burners. It's unlikely that I'll need it, but I'd like to be prepared just in case. 

I know I need adequate ventilation and a CO/Smoke detector. I have one and I'm wondering if anyone has any thoughts on where the best place in the van to place it might be. Up high? Down low? Front of the van? Back of the van?
 
My smoke detector is near the ceiling as smoke and heat rise. My CO detector is mounted half way between ceiling and the floor back where my bed is.

I would think mounting this two in one should be placed between the cooking area and the sleeping area high up. Co will mix in the air and smoke rises.

My $0.02
 
Yes midway

And where false alarms would be reduced
 
For a house they say not to put it in a corner where the wall meets the ceiling. I guess the air circulation in the corners is less. In my trailer the CO2 and smoke is about 3/4 the way up a wall and the propane detector is near the floor.
 
Trebor English said:
Detectors come with a fine manual.  RTFM, read the fine manual.

Already done, but with the oddities of using one in a van, with its strange ventilation I wanted to seek additional advice from those who are experienced with them. In a room of a house or a much larger RV, the manual would be clear. Anyway, that's why I asked. 

I know it seems like kind of a stupid question, but with matters of safety, I like to get as many data points as I can. Perhaps I'm being overly cautious.
 
Top