Propane Alarm

[mrhill]

The propane (LPG) gas alarm on the used IP-40 I just bought seems to go off for no reason when first activating the LPG breaker switch. The broker/dealer feels that it is okay as he can usually get it to stop by flipping the LPG breaker on and off a few times or airing out the boat. We got the stove working and don't detect a leak, but the alarm is a pain. Anybody else had this problem?
Mark Hill

[mikeronie]

I would have the dealer replace the sensor on the alarm. Also as LPG and other fuels are heaver than air I would make sure there is nothing leaking, smal LPG bottles, gasoline or diesel anywhere in the boat. BTH my boat does not have an LPG alarm so I am not sure if it is a factory install.

Mike IP350 #131
Aquila

[hellosailor]

Mark-
"The broker/dealer feels that it is okay as he can usually get it to stop by flipping the LPG breaker on and off a few times or airing out the boat. "
Let me run that through my Cynic/English Translator:

"The broker/dealer feels that it is okay as he can usually get it to stop by flipping the defective and unreliable LPG breaker on and off a few times and trusting that it might work when I really need it, or airing the real propane that has been building up short of explosive levels out of the boat. "

I'd say your broker doesn't have a proper respect for explosives and safety issues. "Bang on it, maybe the problem will go away" is NOT a good long-term policy around explosives. If he fails to understand the problem, call the manufacturer, and tell them this dealer is liable to cost them a couple of million dollars if they don't educate him.

[captlar]

This sort of malfunction is common and flipping the breaker to reset is also common, but I agree with "hello sailor"....if is goes off when it shouldn't - will it go off when it should ? I replaced mine at the start of the season for the same reason. Tell the broker/dealer to replace the sensor. Should have been picked up during survey, so who pays now will be interesting.
Larry