........a bit of Trivia

[Gafferbill]

My caravan left the Swift factory in 1995 and was bought new by me.
It was fitted with a smoke alarm which still works perfectly.........I know this because the slightest bit of toast burning sets it off!
Yes I know they are supposed to be changed on a regular basis as they are said to loose their sensitivity .......but this one hasn't.
Early on I modified the smoke alarm by fitting it with an on/off micro switch so that it could be on at night and off during the day.
I turn it on last thing at night when I lock the caravan door and off in the morning when I unlock the door.
This is done to save annoying activations caused by cooking during the day.
The net result of this modification is that the smoke alarm is only active at night when I am sleeping in the caravan.......... (Total of 850 nights to date)

The 9volt battery has just been changed for the first time ever.........so it has lasted 19 years!

 

[Gagakev]

Know what you mean with the sensitivity, before cooking I wrap ours up in a doggy poo bag :silly:
(It is a clean un-used one)

 

[brian_c]

My caravan left the Swift factory in 1995 and was bought new by me.
It was fitted with a smoke alarm which still works perfectly.........I know this because the slightest bit of toast burning sets it off!
Yes I know they are supposed to be changed on a regular basis as they are said to loose their sensitivity .......but this one hasn't.
Early on I modified the smoke alarm by fitting it with an on/off micro switch so that it could be on at night and off during the day.
I turn it on last thing at night when I lock the caravan door and off in the morning when I unlock the door.
This is done to save annoying activations caused by cooking during the day.
The net result of this modification is that the smoke alarm is only active at night when I am sleeping in the caravan.......... (Total of 850 nights to date)

The 9volt battery has just been changed for the first time ever.........so it has lasted 19 years!

That must be some kind of a record for a battery. I bet if you buy one today it won't last the same.
I like your ingenious idea with the isolator switch.
I must admit to changing the battery in our smoke alarm every time the van has it's service so it's on it's third one now.
However I've recently doubled up on my smoke alarm because in September last I woke up one morning almost totally deaf, my right ear has never had any hearing but now my left is virtually useless. So unless I've got my hearing aid in I'm unable to hear the alarm.
Because I occasionally have a few day on my own with the van for a spot of fishing it occurred to me that should the alarm activate I wouldn't hear it.
I've bought an alarm that should it detect smoke it also activates a vibrating pad that goes under the pillow on the bed. Whilst I never want it to go off I'm sure it would wake my if required. The unit has a rechargeable battery built in with a standby time of twenty four hours so it limits me a bit to sites with electric hook up.
We too have had quite a few activations of our original system due to cooking etc.
Best regards Brian

 

[Sproket]

So in all of that time it has only been switched on for two years three months hmy: as it's not been constantly on maybe that has helped the battery

 

[Gafferbill]

So in all of that time it has only been switched on for two years three months hmy: as it's not been constantly on maybe that has helped the battery

.......that is my conclusion Steve.
I was at a rally over Easter and the dreaded chirping started so actually had to remove the battery for one night.
I have kept a caravan diary where everything is written down so I know the battery was original.

.........incidentally the caravan has been towed for 69480 miles to date.

 

[LizziePope]

Gafferbill, 19 years must be a record – Duracell and the pink bunnies would be proud! I love that you know you've spent 850 nights in that caravan, too, that's pretty awesome.