Smoke Detector and Battery Cut-Off

jkjenn

I only started noticing this, this year, but when I have my battery switch in the off position, my smoke detector beeps. After I turn the battery on, no beeping. I get that the smoke detector needs 12v power to work, but it must be getting some battery to be able to beep. Any thoughts? I tried to see if there was a backup battery but the cover of the detector does not seem removable. Anyone have experience with this? (2015 320 S Max)

cafyrman

Not sure if they used the same one in my 2018 400, but I just ran into a smoke detector beeping thing.  It really fought me trying to remove it from the wall.  Finally, the cover popped open and I was able to change the 9 volt battery inside.  No other wiring, so it's just the 9 volt.

Sharon_is_SAM

Our CO detector is dependent on 12 v and effected by our cut off switch, but our smoke detector is run by 9 volt only.  Any pictures Jenn?

ChanW

Jenn, you mean the thing on the floor, or up by the AC unit?

I'm with @Sharon_is_SAM - the smoke detector, near the AC unit, is independent, with a 9v battery.

With the CO/propane detector, I think we've had it beep on low battery (scream is more like it, freaking out the dog), but nothing once the battery was unhooked.

ScottG

Ditto that.

My smoke detector (the thing up the wall above the window) runs solely on it's own 9V battery.

My CO/propane detector (the thing under the bench) is hard wired into one of the T@Bs's 12V circuits and does not appear to have an internal battery backup.

Unless your 2015 has different components form mine (always a possibility) I'd say yours is haunted.  :-0

mona

Mine is the same as ScottG’s. 

BrianZ

As I recall, @jkjenn,  we normally must squeeze two sides together while pulling towards you to swing the lid open to get to the battery.  Here's our Instruction sheet..

falcon1970

OK, what is special about a smoke alarm for an RV--as opposed to any other smoke alarm?  BRK's product literature makes a point of saying it is "approved for RV's."

rfuss928

In my T@B the unit near the floor is the propane (combustible gas) detector.  Both the smoke and CO detectors are mounted on or near the ceiling.

Mouseketab

rfuss928 said:

In my T@B the unit near the floor is the propane (combustible gas) detector.  Both the smoke and CO detectors are mounted on or near the ceiling.

Same here for my 2007, but my original ones died, so I replaced them with a combo smoke/CO detector on the wall. I brushed the carpet on the ceiling a bit and you can't even tell the smoke detector was ever there. I'm sure it's getting close to time to replace my propane detector.

ScottG

IIRC the propane and CO detectors are combined in a single unit (the one near the floor) in the newer T@Bs

jkjenn

ChanW said:

Jenn, you mean the thing on the floor, or up by the AC unit?

I'm with @Sharon_is_SAM - the smoke detector, near the AC unit, is independent, with a 9v battery.

With the CO/propane detector, I think we've had it beep on low battery (scream is more like it, freaking out the dog), but nothing once the battery was unhooked.

OK will take another look in better light. ..finding good light is hard on these short days....especially with the little amount of sun we get. I thought it had it's own battery but when I could not get the cover off I figured I was wrong. 

jkjenn

Thanks to @BrianZ for posting instructions. Mine disappeared a while ago.

My detector was installed very close to the A/C cabinet and 110 outlet for the A/C, and upside down, so it took a little bit of effort, but at the end of the day, the job is done. 

That battery lasted 4 seasons, including through several polar vortexes. I cannot complain.

Sharon_is_SAM

During winter storage, we take out battery out and label the smoke detector with tape as a reminder.  New battery in the spring.

jkjenn

Sharon_is_SAM said:

During winter storage, we take out battery out and label the smoke detector with tape as a reminder.  New battery in the spring.

Good idea. I left the smoke detector cover open so that it would stick out to me.

ScottG

@jkjenn, I'm still not clear why the smoke detector's low battery alarm only started when you disconnected the T@B battery. That might be consistent with an alarm that was also hard wired (like in a house), but even those beep when the back-up battery gets low.

jkjenn

ScottG said:

@jkjenn, I'm still not clear why the smoke detector's low battery alarm only started when you disconnected the T@B battery. That might be consistent with an alarm that was also hard wired (like in a house), but even those beep when the back-up battery gets low.

Coincidence....