How to Change the Battery in an RV Carbon Monoxide Detector
You may not think so, but batteries play an important part in your RV life. These little devices keep your different detectors, like carbon monoxide detectors, working to their fullest potential. Keeping them up to date and full of power is an important duty.
How to Change the Battery in an RV Carbon Monoxide Detector: Changing the battery in your carbon monoxide detector is not that difficult. When the light flashes or the device chirps, just open the back up and remove the old battery. Once you have removed it, just put the new one in and put the detector back in its place.
To learn more about carbon monoxide batteries and detectors, just continue to read our article. It is filled with the information you need to make sure you remain safe all the time you use your RV.
Battery in an RV Carbon Monoxide Detector 101
Detecting RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Low Battery
The good part about doing this is that the device will do it for you. It will either give you a flashing red light or it may send out a chirp or a beep every 15 to 30 seconds. These little indicators make sure you are aware that the battery inside the carbon monoxide detector has used up its power and needs a change.
To make sure your carbon monoxide detector performs at peak levels, not only do you need to use fresh batteries every 6 months approx., you need to find the right location for them.
While LPG detectors should be located near the floor, Carbon monoxide detectors need to be placed up high. That is because the gas is lighter than air and will rise up once it gets inside your vehicle.
Also, make sure to dust your detector when you dust your RV. Dirt and dust can affect its operation and make it harder to detect poisonous gas.
When to Change the Battery in RV Carbon Monoxide Detector
The standard time to replace your carbon monoxide batteries is usually once or twice a year. The experts have said that replacing them every 6 or 12 months is the best way for the device to stay focused and in top shape.
You can also follow the time zone change that happens twice a year. You make a change when you set your clock to daylight savings time, then make another change when you return it back again six months later.
Following this rule helps you remember when you last changed your batteries. You shouldn’t get confused because you have a regular and stable calendar helping you keep track of your battery changes.
Once you change the batteries, make sure to hit the reset button on the device. That will get the detector operating normally again
How Long does the Battery Last
This is a depends question as the answer depends on many factors. Normally, you should be able to get a good year out of top quality batteries. But, their charge and how long that charge lasts will depend on your RV situation, environmental conditions and more.
There is also the issue of how long the battery remained on the shelf before you purchased it. As well as how much power was in the batteries when they were packaged.
The amount of time you get also depends on how they were designed. Some batteries are designed for long periods of time but if you are following the daylight savings rule, then these would be a waste of money.
If you are using standard AA batteries, then you should expect a good year out of them. Just keep in mind that device problems may shorten that life span down some and drain the power from your batteries quickly.
RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Draining Battery
If you have a built-in carbon monoxide detector, you may find that your RV’s device will start to beep even if you have not had your RV for very long or you just replaced the detector.
The reason for this is that the built-in model still uses power from your RV’s battery to keep the battery inside it charged. If the power runs down in your RV battery, then soon, the battery in the detector will run down.
Top avoid this situation, you need to keep your RV plugged into a wall socket to keep electrical power coming to your RV’s battery and other electrical devices like the detector.
This situation usually crops up when you store your RV for long periods of time. If you do that, you should run your RV’s engine once a week to make sure the house and chassis batteries stay powered up to run your detectors. Running your RV’s motor for 30 minutes each week should solve your problem
Do Carbon Monoxide Detectors Have a Shelf Life
Not all the beeps you hear are warning you that the batteries have gone dead or need changing. Sometimes, those beeps and chirps remind you that the carbon monoxide detector itself needs replacing.
Each CO detector has a shelf life. Some manufacturers only give you about 4 years then you need to buy a new model and replace the old. We have read that some are capable of lasting you up to 10 years.
What you need to do is check with the salesman, read the box or other useful information to see how long your potential carbon monoxide detector will last. Then buy the one you are most comfortable using.
Some Final Words
To be blunt, your life may depend on those little things called batteries. Making sure they are in top condition and fully powered, is a way to keep yourself protected. Even little spaces like RVs need CO detectors because of all the gases involved with RV life.
It is a good idea to follow the clock rule. That way you do not forget to change the batteries in your detector. Battery maintenance is as important as RV tire maintenance.
They may be small, but they do an important job. So keep your batteries fresh and up to date.
