[SirenWilliams]

They are sensitive to hydrogen.

Was this the FIRST time you used the stove or the oven?

Had you just cleaned the stove or oven?

Where are you? Are you heating the boat and if so how?

Not the first time using the oven, but first day with smoke/Co detectors on the boat. We've had this boat for a week and there were none on the boat.
Hadn't cleaned the oven, no. We had just used it, but detectors didn't go off until maybe 30 minutes after turning the oven off. Opened the whole boat up until the levels dropped throughout (these detectors have a numerical display for the ppm so I can watch it drop, and see where it's at a higher and lower concentration), but then again in the night the one in the V berth went off again (the batteries were out of the second one in the salon at that point because we thought we were in the clear).

My assumption, based on the first event, is that it's coming from back aft somewhere- probably the oven, maybe the batteries. The batteries ARE a few years old, but the area they're in is packed with stuff. These batteries have the special caps on them to prevent an explosion, should they not have proper airflow, but there is "some" ventilation.

We have a 16,000 btu marine air conditioner that we use daily right now, and we're in Florida, so it stays around 76-80 degrees F in the boat. It runs non-stop, usually. There is a diesel heater also in the boat and we did use it maybe 4-5 days ago, but haven't used it since.

 

[SirenWilliams]

Ok, So I asked about the color of the Flame on the stove before, and you answered Blue, that's great!

Is the flame to the oven also Blue?

lol yes, it is also blue. We are fairly savvy over here, but this one has us stumped. I will say that in regards to the "oven needing to be cleaned" something about the lines, etc etc... I don't fully understand that one. Can someone explain? My fiancé may know exactly what that means, but I sure don't.

 

[fortunat.mueller]

My assumption, based on the first event, is that it's coming from back aft somewhere- probably the oven, maybe the batteries. The batteries ARE a few years old, but the area they're in is packed with stuff. These batteries have the special caps on them to prevent an explosion, should they not have proper airflow, but there is "some" ventilation.

If the batteries were on charge at the times this happened (or you are on shore power), I think looking at the batteries makes sense. As someone else said, cheapish CO detectors are very cross sensitive to H2, sometimes up to 2.5x. so a reading of 40 ppm CO might be just 15 ppm H2.

I know you said you have lots of stuff piled up around the batteries but H2 is not easily contained (definitely not by couch cushions). Maybe put an alarm in that cabin and see if it alarms in there too?

~f

 

[pdqaltair]

Read up on interference

Ok, So I asked about the color of the Flame on the stove before, and you answered Blue, that's great!

Is the flame to the oven also Blue?

. There are many gases that set off CO monitors, including hydrogen.

 

[boatpoker]

My first thought the batteries off gassing. Is your battery compartment ventilated to the outside.
My second thought is ... Propane alone should not set off a CO detector but ...
Propane tanks in the cockpit ! Seriously ???

Safe Boat Propane System Installation

 

[Aquarian]

We have issues with our co detectors if the boat has been closed and humidity gets to high. We also have issues occasionally when the exhaust from boats nearby finds it's way in through open hatches. Never had an issue with the stove or lead acid batteries

 

[hpeer]

I appreciate your answering all our silly questions.

I have had a CO alarm go off due to outside sources. Once it was my diesel heater, we were at dock and there was a very slight wafting wind. It was enough to bring some gas ito te cabin.

I forget other circumstances.

You best option may be to monitor the alarms for some days, annoying as that may be. It is possible this was a one off weird occurrence. But if repetitive you may eventually see some pattern to it.

I would NOT ignore it.

I would consider purchasing a third detector, either similar or from a different store. Try to make sure the quality stamp shows a different lot. Mike ORiley's suspicion of a identical bad problems has merit. I had RayMarine send me a tiller pilot with a bad gyro. Then the replacement also had a bad gyro. EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
Not unheard of.

 

[Minnewaska]

How about the possibility these are counterfeit detectors. Thats a real thing. Did you buy them online?

 

[SirenWilliams]

How about the possibility these are counterfeit detectors. Thats a real thing. Did you buy them online?

Oh gees. hahahah Alright alright! We will buy a Kidde as a control. haha

 

[SirenWilliams]

I appreciate your answering all our silly questions.

I have had a CO alarm go off due to outside sources. Once it was my diesel heater, we were at dock and there was a very slight wafting wind. It was enough to bring some gas ito te cabin.

I forget other circumstances.

You best option may be to monitor the alarms for some days, annoying as that may be. It is possible this was a one off weird occurrence. But if repetitive you may eventually see some pattern to it.

I would NOT ignore it.

I would consider purchasing a third detector, either similar or from a different store. Try to make sure the quality stamp shows a different lot. Mike ORiley's suspicion of a identical bad problems has merit. I had RayMarine send me a tiller pilot with a bad gyro. Then the replacement also had a bad gyro. EXACT SAME PROBLEM.
Not unheard of.

Ok, I'm going to get a Kidde, since they're known and reputable. Maybe that will help decipher what's going on next time it happens.
We do have a diesel heater but hadn't used it in a few days.
The alarms have gone off again in a couple of days! We use the stove daily, but haven't baked since that night. I guess if we bake something tonight we might know.

 

[SirenWilliams]

We have issues with our co detectors if the boat has been closed and humidity gets to high. We also have issues occasionally when the exhaust from boats nearby finds it's way in through open hatches. Never had an issue with the stove or lead acid batteries

Both times was pretty late at night, so not boats coming in and out. Surely it wouldn't be humidity... the AC runs ALL DAY (not by my choice hahah) so humidity levels aren't extremely high or anything, through it is Florida.

 

[Minnewaska]

Oh gees. hahahah Alright alright! We will buy a Kidde as a control. haha

I didn’t mean to offend. Google counterfeit CO detectors. It’s a real issue, with Amazon and eBay being the most common vectors.

 

[SirenWilliams]

My first thought the batteries off gassing. Is your battery compartment ventilated to the outside.
My second thought is ... Propane alone should not set off a CO detector but ...
Propane tanks in the cockpit ! Seriously ???

Safe Boat Propane System Installation

It's a 1976 Tayana and the propane locker is in the cockpit. But this isn't out of the ordinary at all. Many, many sailboats have propane in the cockpit lockers. They have ventilation holes and can breathe out there.

 

[SirenWilliams]

If the batteries were on charge at the times this happened (or you are on shore power), I think looking at the batteries makes sense. As someone else said, cheapish CO detectors are very cross sensitive to H2, sometimes up to 2.5x. so a reading of 40 ppm CO might be just 15 ppm H2.

I know you said you have lots of stuff piled up around the batteries but H2 is not easily contained (definitely not by couch cushions). Maybe put an alarm in that cabin and see if it alarms in there too?

~f

I'm going to order one from another company, and also I'm going to move the one from the V berth to that pilot cabin with the batteries, and leave one closer to the oven, and then maybe if one goes off before the other I'll have a better idea.

 

[SirenWilliams]

I didn’t mean to offend. Google counterfeit CO detectors. It’s a real issue, with Amazon and eBay being the most common vectors.

Oh you didn't offend! I was more just appalled that that is even a thing! hahaha

 

[OntarioTheLake]

The batteries ARE a few years old, but the area they're in is packed with stuff. These batteries have the special caps on them to prevent an explosion,

From what you wrote, I’d suggest learning about batteries, and testing them. For example, can you/ have you checked the levels and gravity? What type of batteries? How old is the charger? What kind of “stuff” is packed around the batteries? Whether they are the CO source or not, your battery situation concerns me.

 

[SirenWilliams]

From what you wrote, I’d suggest learning about batteries, and testing them. For example, can you/ have you checked the levels and gravity? What type of batteries? How old is the charger? What kind of “stuff” is packed around the batteries? Whether they are the CO source or not, your battery situation concerns me.

We have tested the batteries and they're being replaced next week, along with the charger. All of that system does work, however. We're upgrading to lithium. We're working on the boat all day everyday, so things are being shoved in that cabin at the moment to make space to work, but that's not how it'll live.

 

[SanderO]

As a rule of thumb... have cabin ventilation at all times.
Have a CO monitor/alarm
Turn off gas at tank when not in use.
store tank in a compartment which drains over board

 

[hpeer]

As a rule of thumb... have cabin ventilation at all times.
Have a CO monitor/alarm
Turn off gas at tank when not in use.
store tank in a compartment which drains over board

That's why I have Kerosene.

 

[Siamese]

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