How to Stop the Beeping in your Camper!
About a month ago I heard a beeping noise coming out of our camper. Now a little side note, my husband’s hearing is not great at certain pitches. We had an alarm (like a watch) going off at our house that was driving me nuts because I couldn’t find the source. He never even heard it! This beep was one of those noises that he can’t hear very well. I went into the house to ask my husband what the beeping was and to make it stop before the neighbors called the police. Of course, since it wasn’t bothering him, he told me to go check it out.
It turns out there are two or three things that beep in your RV, the smoke detector, carbon monoxide detector and the LP detector.
Carbon Monoxide Detector
Propane Gas/LP Detector
Propane and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Propane and Carbon Monoxide Detector
Smoke Detectors and Carbon Monoxide Detectors are just like the ones in your home (unless your camper has the combination LP/Carbon Monoxide detector). They will beep or chirp when the battery is low. Change the battery and this chirping will stop. If they detect smoke (or a bonfire nearby), or Carbon Monoxide, the alarm will be louder and more insistent.
LP detectors are hardwired in and do not have a battery like a smoke detector. The reason it is hardwired in is so that you do not disable it. That way you do not have a “bomb” sitting in your driveway. The alarm will sound (like a smoke detector) if it detects propane in the RV. NI have seen LP detectors set off by strong chemicals like Pine Sol too. LP detectors will also chirp when RV battery is about to die. An LP detector can drain a battery in about 2 weeks. This is why we recommend that you disconnect the battery when the RV is not in use and not plugged in to 110 power. If your camper is equipped with a battery disconnect switch, just turn it off. Otherwise, to disconnect the battery simply unhook the negative connection of the battery. If you think a low RV battery is the reason for the beeping simply plug the camper into 110 power and the chirping should stop.
RV Converter Cover
RV Converter
In our case, it was the smoke alarm. Our converter went out and was over charging the battery. The smoke alarm detected that. If you think it is your converter too, unfortunately it is best to contact a dealer and have a tech help. You are dealing with electricity and unless you really know what you are doing you could cause more damage to the RV or get hurt.
Happy Camping!
15 Comments
Janet Bellacera
Always such great information…thank you.
Tricia Snow
I have had a fire in an RV. It is terrible!
Mary
Thanks for the great tips and photos as usual!
Laura
Wow. I never would have guessed that RV have smoke alarms. But I guess that makes sense. Great post!!!
Ruth Iaela-Pukahi
Very interesting! It’s a dream of mine to one day fly up to the mainland and take my family on an RV adventure. 🙂 I wonder how big an RV it would have to be to fit my whole family of 9! lol 😛 Maybe half the family at a time… 😉
Nicki
Lol. You would be surprised how many campers can sleep a lot of people!
Michele Vadnais
I hate those beeps! Great tips and advice!
Amie Lara
I always enjoy reading your posts about your RV lifestyle.
Katie Mitchell
Great reminder to check the batteries on your alarms! Especially in an RV.
Dee
Good thing you are there to hear the beeping! And glad that you were able to find the source of it.
Jennifer Morrison
I really don’t think I realized how complex RV’s were. This is a great post to help sort out some of the complexity.
Kathryn at QuestFor47
Mystery beeping is the WORST, no matter where you live. Thanks for sharing such a helpful post!
Dennis
Those beeps can be rather annoying! Great reminders and tips!
Kirsten
These sound like great tips. Thank you!
Lynn and Dick Geiser
Fred, we couldn’t have gotten through the ordeal with our first Columbus without you.
Grateful for all of you suggestions on “RV like A Pro” .
Thanks again, Lynn and Dick