Reconnecting Propane/CO2 detector

Marceline

The previous owner cut the wires from the converter panel to the Atwood propane/CO2 detector. I don't know why and it's not worth speculating about. 
I'd like to reconnect it. There are 2 reds and 1 black. Does it matter which red is connected to which red? 
The uncapped wires on the left are from the detector and the capped wires on the right are from the converter. 

Photomom

I THINK this is the correct manual. There are instructions for hooking it up. You might verify this is the same one you have. http://www.atwoodmobile.com/manuals/gasalarms/LPCO MPD 31298 11.07.pdf

As for why, two words: dog flatulence. 

Sharon_is_SAM

That is too funny - I will tell you that any dog that stinks up that small space enough to trigger the LP detector would be on a short list to be spending the night outside!  How about feeding them Beano - do they have a dog version?

ChanW

Marceline, From your photo, it looks as though the two reds on the right come from a single red from the converter. If that's the case, no, it doesn't matter which red connects to which red.

Photomom

Yeah if you google some combination of the words "dog flatulence RV alarm" you will get tons of hits. For one approach, go to http://www.everything-about-rving.com/the-propane-alarm-in-our-rv-keeps-going-off.html and scroll down to the solution posted by RVer JustPractical. 

Photomom

I think the issue is dogs tend to sleep on the floor next to the detector. 

ChanW

Yeah, our poor pup hates smoke alarms, absolutely freaks him out, and he set it off one night... 
The only way to stop the darn thing was to lift the bed and disconnect the wires, all with grog in my brain.
I don't remember the part about whether it was in a truck-stop/rest-area, so I couldn't run out in my skivvies (PXL style) and put the poor dog in the truck while I dealt with it.
There ought to be a switch, darn it!

ericnliz

'Ya ever think of tryin' Beano? 

Ratkity

ChanW said:

Yeah, our poor pup hates smoke alarms, absolutely freaks him out, and he set it off one night... 
The only way to stop the darn thing was to lift the bed and disconnect the wires, all with grog in my brain.
I don't remember the part about whether it was in a truck-stop/rest-area, so I couldn't run out in my skivvies (PXL style) and put the poor dog in the truck while I dealt with it.
There ought to be a switch, darn it!

When I had my LG reverse tear, my female golden retriever was her own gas factory. No matter what the temp, that vent was open and a window cracked. Good thing there wasn't any commercial propane around, so I didn't have a detector. That would have left the camper on the first night. She only did it while camping! I think she would save up for camping weekends.

She was a great heater though. Milkbone and kibble powered, auto sensing and would move if it got too hot, easy on the eyes, never failed to produce heat, but no "off" button and some exhaust fumes. Never could solve the last thing.

ericnliz

@Ratkity, Ever try a big CORK? Need a sign with that one..."Do NOT REMOVE..COMBUSTIBLE!" 

Ratkity

@ericnliz, that could put out someone's eye! Worse than a Red Ryder!! Geesh.

Marceline

Photomom said:

I THINK this is the correct manual. There are instructions for hooking it up. You might verify this is the same one you have. http://www.atwoodmobile.com/manuals/gasalarms/LPCO MPD 31298 11.07.pdf

As for why, two words: dog flatulence. 

Thanks for posting the manual. It looks like it doesn't matter which red is connected to which red.

AFAIK the previous owner didn't have a dog. 

Photomom

ChanW said:

Yeah, our poor pup hates smoke alarms, absolutely freaks him out, and he set it off one night... 
The only way to stop the darn thing was to lift the bed and disconnect the wires, all with grog in my brain.
I don't remember the part about whether it was in a truck-stop/rest-area, so I couldn't run out in my skivvies (PXL style) and put the poor dog in the truck while I dealt with it.
There ought to be a switch, darn it!

It would be a simple matter to cut the black ground wire and connect it to a rocker switch mounted on the bench.  Of course, you would have to make very, VERY sure the detector is on if the propane is on. 

ChanW

And then train the dog to hit the rocker switch when he sets off the alarm!

Photomom said:

ChanW said:

........
There ought to be a switch, darn it!

It would be a simple matter to cut the black ground wire and connect it to a rocker switch mounted on the bench.  Of course, you would have to make very, VERY sure the detector is on if the propane is on.