Carbon Monoxide False Alarm Problems!?

[dave1986]

Whilst sleeping in the van with my wife and 9month old baby daughter last night at about 4 or 5am the carbon monoxide alarm set off.

We're in France so we weren't using the diesel heater and we hadn't used the gas hob that evening either. The only appliance running was the electric compressor fridge so I assume it's highly unlikely to be carbon monoxide?

We deactivated the alarm and opened the door to ventilate the van. Then after checking things were all OK we went back to sleep. The alarm didn't re-activate again.

I've read that the CO alarms can be activated by the Hydrogen released from over-charging of leisure batteries (we have a gel battery and Victron charger). I'm quite concerned about the safety of the family but want to prevent any false alarms.

Has anyone else experienced this problem and how did they solve it? The van and camper conversion is brand new. Should I be doing anything to prevent hydrogen release from the battery?

Dave

 

[sofakingwrong]

Daft question but have you checked the battery in it ? Mine used to alarm when battery needed a change

 

[dave1986]

Thanks for the reply.
The alarm and batteries arequired only a couple of months old. Also it has a separate light when the alarm battery is low so I think that's unlikely, but I'll change the batteries just to be sure!

 

[andys]

Never had that problem in all the years I’ve been using these, sounds like a faulty unit to me.

 

[$immo]

Thanks for the reply.
The alarm and batteries arequired only a couple of months old. Also it has a separate light when the alarm battery is low so I think that's unlikely, but I'll change the batteries just to be sure!

Hi Dave,

The only time ours went off was funnily in France also, did same as you, ventilated etc. Ours is on top of the wardrobe and we have a dark blue van. The unit was near the roof and we were in direct sun when it went off. We put it down to overheating??? But not sure they monitor the heat?

So not really sure, changed batteries when back in UK and it's not gone off since (3months) !

 

[DaveyB]

I have a CBE CO monitor unit, that runs stright of my vehicles 12v system. It has gone into alarm twice. Turned it off and back on again on each occasion and then it was fine. Open windows and doors, give it a waft. If there is a problem it'll go straight back in to alarm.

 

[Smarty]

Garlic farts.......Maybe

 

[dave1986]

Thanks for all the replies. I'm going to change the batteries tomorrow as a precaution.

Fingers crossed it was just a random false alarm!

 

[Davenjo]

You have to assume either CO was detected (maybe blown in from an external source, e.g. neighbour running engine/heater/generator?) or the unit is faulty. Either way, for what they cost, I’d buy a second one and run it alongside for a while.

 

[Ed Webb]

Strange but have you tried exhaling your breath over the monitor sensor.
I'm aware we dont exhale carbon monoxide but could it be picking up the air change caused by a few people breathing in a confined space over a period of time? Drops in oxygen levels, increase carbon dioxide etc.

 

[Pauly]

I’m with Dave, with kids in the van and for what they cost I would just buy another one

 

[xswind]

I have the same issue with mineif i Leave it in the van it goes off after a day but take it back into the house and it does not alarm for months