Carbon Monoxide Detectors

[Jason1271]

I've got a 2004 Hunter 33, which has 3 Costar Carbon Monoxide detectors. Recently, the detectors randomly started beeping at various intervals. I bought 1 new battery operator detector, and brought 1 from home. Neither of these went off, and after airing the boat out, I'm confident there is no Carbon Monoxide in the boat. I had the similar problem with the aft detector about 15 months ago, went ahead, bought a new one, and replaced it. It was fine until recently, and it now it is randomly going off. If I push the test button on each unit, they tend to be good for a few hours after they run through their test. I also get the same effect if I push the Reset button on the DC panel. After a few hours, the beeping comes back.Has anyone had any similar issues with their Carbon Monoxide detectors? Jason

 

[Benny]

Yes, very common.

False alarms may be triggered by concentration of gases other than CO. Batterry charging gases is one example. Gases emited by petroleum products and alcohol is another. I find that still air tends to facilitate these false alarms. Placing a running fan near the sensor seems to reduce the frequency. I have gotten to the point of switching them off deuring the day and when I'm not aboard.

 

[nick]

Me Too

I also have a 2004 H33 and I believe the problem lies in having the detector on the side of the instrument panel right above the batteries.Seeing as I have never previously had a CO2 alarm on any previous boat and am still alive I just dissconeected them. There is probably too much gear on boats today.

 

[tcbro]

Mine would go off...

...when I was gone for a while. I think it was gases from the holding tank. The detector was outside of the head and I probably need to replace the joker valve in the head.Toms/v Orion's Child

 

[Jason1271]

The interesting thing is, the battery operated detector that I purchased from Lowes hasn't gone off at all, and it's been on the boat, right above the detector mounted above the electrical panel/batteries. If it were other gases making the detectors go off, they must have a different sensitivity rating than the one I purchased. The are from different manufacturers. I'm think the Costar units may be defective. I've sent Hunter a email asking if they've had similar reports.