Has anyone had trouble with the Carbon Dioxide detectors in their boats. I had one in the main cabin of my 2002 356, that kept going off while at dock, no engine running. Replaced it, things were better for a while. The other two, in both the master and forward state rooms were never a problem. But remember we are talking about a boat here.... Last week, while tied to dock, no engine running, air conditioning on, no other activity in boat, all three detectors started chirping away. There was no apparent gas in cabin, the batteries were charged and all three were going off. I finally disconnected them and am preparing to reconnect this weekend. Any ideas? John
- Status
What type?
Are they marine or residential detectors? Residential are not recommended because of the humid and salty environments and can't be depended on.
Are they marine or residential detectors? Residential are not recommended because of the humid and salty environments and can't be depended on.
Similar Problem
The detector in my forward and main cabin, 2002 356, started going off under the same conditions as you described about a year after I had the boat. I notified the dealer as I was at a loss over the reason. They sent me three new detectors. I replaced only the one in the forward cabin and have not had a problem since. The one in the main cabin has stopped going off, why I'lll never know. What I did learn is that these detecors have a shelf life. Once you pass the expiration date they don't always perform correctly. Initially I also installed a CO dector that you would place in your home just for peace of mind. Since I have not had a problem since changing the one detector I have removed the home type one.
The detector in my forward and main cabin, 2002 356, started going off under the same conditions as you described about a year after I had the boat. I notified the dealer as I was at a loss over the reason. They sent me three new detectors. I replaced only the one in the forward cabin and have not had a problem since. The one in the main cabin has stopped going off, why I'lll never know. What I did learn is that these detecors have a shelf life. Once you pass the expiration date they don't always perform correctly. Initially I also installed a CO dector that you would place in your home just for peace of mind. Since I have not had a problem since changing the one detector I have removed the home type one.
According to Peggie
No one in the history of diesel engines has ever been affected by CO. They don't make enough to hurt us. Do you have a diesel engine?
Any other hazards? Do you like to use the oven to keep the cabin warm? What's that? You're from Florida? What are you worried about? Did anyone else receive that huge mailing from Hunter about 3 years ago? It was all about the hazards of CO and how it could get from the engine exhaust to the cabin and kill us. It was all the standard stuff that we were taught in drivers-ed to keep from getting killed in our cars, only with a boat-slant to the material. Only problem was it was all wrong. No such hazard. I've had an exhaust leak at sea. Blew fumes for a week. (we were motor sailing) Except for the black smoke stains through out the boat there was no effect on the crew. And this is NOT IMHO.
No one in the history of diesel engines has ever been affected by CO. They don't make enough to hurt us. Do you have a diesel engine?
Any other hazards? Do you like to use the oven to keep the cabin warm? What's that? You're from Florida? What are you worried about? Did anyone else receive that huge mailing from Hunter about 3 years ago? It was all about the hazards of CO and how it could get from the engine exhaust to the cabin and kill us. It was all the standard stuff that we were taught in drivers-ed to keep from getting killed in our cars, only with a boat-slant to the material. Only problem was it was all wrong. No such hazard. I've had an exhaust leak at sea. Blew fumes for a week. (we were motor sailing) Except for the black smoke stains through out the boat there was no effect on the crew. And this is NOT IMHO.
Misquoted again....sigh...
What I DID say: there has never been a reported boating CO related death from running a diesel genset overnight. I NEVER said that no one in the history of diesel engines has ever been affected by CO....because that's not true. It's not at all uncommon for someone working on a diesel engine in an enclosed space to be affected by CO...there have been some "near misses" I've heard about, and prob'ly some deaths I haven't heard about. In fact, Fred...had you not been in the cockpit, but had your head in the engine room--or maybe even just below with all the hatches closed--long enough while your exhaust was leaking into the cabin, there could have been enough CO to kill you. If you're gonna give people dangerous misinformation, please don't credit it to me!
What I DID say: there has never been a reported boating CO related death from running a diesel genset overnight. I NEVER said that no one in the history of diesel engines has ever been affected by CO....because that's not true. It's not at all uncommon for someone working on a diesel engine in an enclosed space to be affected by CO...there have been some "near misses" I've heard about, and prob'ly some deaths I haven't heard about. In fact, Fred...had you not been in the cockpit, but had your head in the engine room--or maybe even just below with all the hatches closed--long enough while your exhaust was leaking into the cabin, there could have been enough CO to kill you. If you're gonna give people dangerous misinformation, please don't credit it to me!
A friend died from Carbon Dioxide in his boat
A friend of mine who was a dean at my university had a small cruising boat which they enjoyed sailing in the San Juan Islands. One eveing instead of sailing they had dinner on the boat with him cooking on a charcoal BBQ on the dock next to the boat. After dinner and since the summer evening was warm, they stayed on the boat to sleep--mom, dad and two children. The next morning only two of the woke up. The emergency unit and doctors credit carbon dioside as the culprit even though the BBQ was on the dock next to the boat. Apparently the heavier then air gas flowed down into the small boat displacing the oxygen. We lost a good professor that evening. But it is a lesson I'll never forget. If my CO monitors go off, I check the boat. False alarms are acceptable. Les
A friend of mine who was a dean at my university had a small cruising boat which they enjoyed sailing in the San Juan Islands. One eveing instead of sailing they had dinner on the boat with him cooking on a charcoal BBQ on the dock next to the boat. After dinner and since the summer evening was warm, they stayed on the boat to sleep--mom, dad and two children. The next morning only two of the woke up. The emergency unit and doctors credit carbon dioside as the culprit even though the BBQ was on the dock next to the boat. Apparently the heavier then air gas flowed down into the small boat displacing the oxygen. We lost a good professor that evening. But it is a lesson I'll never forget. If my CO monitors go off, I check the boat. False alarms are acceptable. Les
Oops, sorry.
But my head was over that leak for the better part of two days trying to figure out how to stop it. Finally with Marine Tex and hose clamps. But what a mess. And we had to sleep next to that leaker too. So Peggie, you also published the CO percentage given off by a diesel engine. How does that compare again to a gas engine or even a propane burner? And out in the cockpit at sea? Not on my boat!
But my head was over that leak for the better part of two days trying to figure out how to stop it. Finally with Marine Tex and hose clamps. But what a mess. And we had to sleep next to that leaker too. So Peggie, you also published the CO percentage given off by a diesel engine. How does that compare again to a gas engine or even a propane burner? And out in the cockpit at sea? Not on my boat!
A pedantic correction, and an excellent link
CO is Carbon Monoxide, not the far less dangerous Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Not a big deal, as you probably can't buy a CO2 detector at a chandlers by mistake! I've attached a great link from a surveyor's site, which includes comments on the relative safety of Deisel over gas. When I bought my Legend, the surveyor freaked out over the fact that the exhaust hose wasn't double clamped (as required by Federal law). I fixed it the day I took delivery.
CO is Carbon Monoxide, not the far less dangerous Carbon Dioxide (CO2). Not a big deal, as you probably can't buy a CO2 detector at a chandlers by mistake! I've attached a great link from a surveyor's site, which includes comments on the relative safety of Deisel over gas. When I bought my Legend, the surveyor freaked out over the fact that the exhaust hose wasn't double clamped (as required by Federal law). I fixed it the day I took delivery.
Me too
Approximately three weeks apart my cmds went off unexpectedly at the dock as well as the LP sniffer. Nothing was on related to this. Late last year I installed a Zantrek trucharge 40 battery charger. I had hard wired my detectors in for safety sake so they could not be disabled. bad idea! Called tech support for both.as uasual the charger people said my batteries might be gassing and the cmd people said it sounded like a voltage spike. Possibly from the bateery charger sice it goes through a total charge cycle every 21 days. Help, a very loud and obnoxious gremlin has found it's way unto my boat The cmd people suggest a zenner diode in line with the detecteors.
Approximately three weeks apart my cmds went off unexpectedly at the dock as well as the LP sniffer. Nothing was on related to this. Late last year I installed a Zantrek trucharge 40 battery charger. I had hard wired my detectors in for safety sake so they could not be disabled. bad idea! Called tech support for both.as uasual the charger people said my batteries might be gassing and the cmd people said it sounded like a voltage spike. Possibly from the bateery charger sice it goes through a total charge cycle every 21 days. Help, a very loud and obnoxious gremlin has found it's way unto my boat The cmd people suggest a zenner diode in line with the detecteors.
Battery Gassing
Battery gassing caused my CO alarm to go off. I normally left it unplugged. I switched to AGM Batteries and the CO alarm hasn't gone off since. Bill
Battery gassing caused my CO alarm to go off. I normally left it unplugged. I switched to AGM Batteries and the CO alarm hasn't gone off since. Bill
Let talk about gassing
Any ideas why gassing is now a problem with the truecharge 40 but was never a problem with the oem charger cir. 1996. Perhaps the compartment where the batteries is too warm and I should adjust the temp. switch to hot setting. 80 degrees and above which would result in a lower voltage setting. If gassing is the problem i'd like to eliniate it as gassing is not the best for batteries. Thanks.
Any ideas why gassing is now a problem with the truecharge 40 but was never a problem with the oem charger cir. 1996. Perhaps the compartment where the batteries is too warm and I should adjust the temp. switch to hot setting. 80 degrees and above which would result in a lower voltage setting. If gassing is the problem i'd like to eliniate it as gassing is not the best for batteries. Thanks.
- Status