Atwood CO/LP Gas Alarm End of Life

Tabaz

I just noticed my Atwood Propane/Gas detector had all lights blinking and is emitting two beeps every 40 seconds or so.  This seemed unusual because the propane bottle is closed and there is plenty of air movement in the cabin.  Found the manual online:

https://www.manualslib.com/manual/1224342/Atwood-Lpco.html#manual

Page 11 states the following:

End of Life Mode

The Detector will operate in end-of-life mode after the Detector has been powered

for 7 years +/- 128 days. This represents the operating life of the sensors used to

detect CO and LP gas.

After 7 years, the sensors are no longer reliable and the Detector must be replaced.

Once end-of-life mode has been entered, it is permanent, even after a power out

cycle.

My T@B build date is August 2015 (don't know the manufactured date of the Atwood).  Time for a new detector.  Brand new on eBay for $79.

bergger

Let us know how easy or difficult the replacement install is.  Hopefully the former!

AnOldUR

I moved mine when putting the Lagun mount onto the lower seat panel. It was very easy to snip the wires and reattach in the new location. Replacing it should not be difficult.

WayneW

I had to replace our stock sensor even though it wasn't near its expected life (2021 320S).  We sleep in the twin bed setup and my head is right by the sensor.  Last summer the thing started going off at random times (like 2:00 am, 3:00 am, 4:00 am) and man, that thing makes a racket!! Talk about a rude awakening!!  We were on a 2 week trip and I just clipped one wire to shut the thing up so we could get some sleep.  It was summer and we weren't using the propane for heat so I was fairly comfortable doing that to get by in the short term.

I replaced it with an "RV Safe" brand detector and the footprint was the same.  Very easy replacement - clip the 2 wires and join them back up to the new one.  Now I can get a good night's sleep. 

BrianZ

Thanks for the heads-up @Tabaz .  We've been through this with a CO/propane detector in our family room where we have a gas fireplace.  Right on schedule, it went into the unstopable periodic chime at the lifespan limit.  For anyone relocating their detector, make sure you place it close to the floor (NOT close to the ceiling like a smoke alarm, which rises due to heat), as these molecules are heavier than air.
Looks like we may be due for replacement in about a year or so.
PS:  This safety feature is especially important to me since I lost my sense of smell about 7 years ago.  Our outdoor grill had been leaking propane (switch got turned on by accident), and 4 other people smelled the gas odorant, but I could not.  So, for me it's now like CO - odorless.

Tabaz

BrianZ - This is such an important safety device.  I'm thankful the Atwood unit provided an unequivocal warning that the sensors were no longer operative.  Kudos to them for incorporating this fail-safe feature in their product.  For those with units seven years old, be proactive and replace your CO/LP detectors now. 

Tabaz

WayneW - please provide the link for your replacement detector assuming the cost is less than $79 available on eBay.

WayneW

Here is the link to the CO/LP detector that I bought to replace the Atwood. Currently $59 w free shipping. Be careful when looking because you often run into a detector that looks the same but only detects CO. Amazon currently has the CO-only model for about the same price as this one which is the carbon monoxide and propane model. 

https://www.boatandrvaccessories.com/products/rv-safe-rvcolp-2b-combination-rv-carbon-monoxide-propane-leak-detector-alarm?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIubXckpjR-wIVg4-GCh1n7gDWEAQYAyABEgJfTfD_BwE

Tabaz

Bergger - VERY simple replacement.  In my case, the two red wires are connected as one because there is no additional battery back-up from the factory.  Took all of 10 minutes from start to finish.

bergger

Good to know!

sequimite

Here is another option that I installed last June. $83.00 at Home Depot. The mounting screws are in a slightly different location. Otherwise, it's a direct replacement and fit in the original cutout. I did not get another Atwood as another thread here found that either the CO or LP detection did not work. I could not find the thread to reference.

MTI Industries 45-742 Series Safe-T-Alert Dual Carbon Monoxide/Propane Alarm in White