Installing propane gas detector

[kjpalmer100]

Hi All,
I have purchased a 12v propane detector that i would like install in my Swift Elegance 570 (2016) caravan. After some reading i have discovered that it should be mounted fairly low down to ensure it detects leaks reliably.

My challenge is finding a reliable 12v supply for the detector. There doesnt appear to be many places to tap into the supply. I have found two reliable points, one in the cupboard where the stereo is and the other the 12v supply to the tv aerial booster.

I am thinking of using the aerial booster and getting a 5.5 x 2.5mm dc jack splitter and then running a cable down the corner of the wardrobe to the area where i would like to mount the detector. It only has a power requirement of 75mA so i dont see any problem this tapping into this supply.

Has anyone here done anything like this before? Any suggestions?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

[JTQ]

Personally I have found the stench of bottled LPG so all pervasive that I haven't felt the need to electronically sense it, even a minute leak outside; agreed though that does not address your question.

 

[Mr Plodd]

Gas lockers and gas appliances all have to have appropriate drop out vents, so the chances of any gas getting into the habitation area in any sort of volume is pretty miniscule. Plus of course te gas system is tested for leaks on an annual service. As JTQ has stated, the stenching agent in LPG is VERY pungent and very distinctive.
An LPG gas detector, to my thinking, is a pretty pointless and unnecessary item. A carbon monoxide detector and smoke detector on tge other hand are vital.

 

[IanB1485]

Just a note , apparently 20% of people can't smell the stench gas which is added to propane . Propane is heavier than air and will settle at the bottom , hence the gas drops in the caravan where gas appliances are fitted and as Mr Plodd says regular inspection is the key rather than constant monitoring. Both my combustible gas detectors are super sensitive and with tiny leaks where I can't detect any smell, they can. When doing a service first thing I do is open the gas locker and take a big intake of breath and when I smell gas then reach for the gas detector before getting out the manometer. Up to 30% of calor bottle valves leak so the black plastic bung should always be fitted when not in use , and yes it will stand the 7 Bar pressure if the bottle is opened , although I wouldn't recommend it . On another point the combustible gas detectors not only detect propane and butane they will also detect methane so be careful with bottom burps!. They also will detect acetone , IPA and toluene and other volatile organic compounds and once to my horror , curry sauce! ( the customer had a split container down the back of his kitchen cupboards where the gas manifold was located .They also can be contaminated by uncured silicone sealant . Once when in a previous life I designed some ATEX rated controlled environmental rooms with butane detectors ( 2 per room) , they worked perfectly when tested in the factory , however when taken to site and erected , the lads applied silicone sealant to seal the seams . The butane detectors were fitted and we couldn't stop them from alarming. When checking with the manufacturer ( Zellwegger) their tech guy informed of the issues with silicone sealant . fortunately we returned them under warranty and got them replaced for free.

 

[otherclive]

I lost my sense of smell in my forties after a bad head bang but never felt the need for a gas detector in my caravans. As others have said regular service of the system plus keeping the drop vents clear is satisfactory. After all few if any have gas detectors in their house, and houses don’t have drop vents or the general ventilation of a caravan.

 

[GUMPY]

We used to have one in the boat which obviously had no drop out vents. It never really worked properly, giving false alarms on a regular basis even with the gas turned off. It went in the bin.
The CO alarm however saved our lives when we had a leaky solid fuel stove on the boat.