Replaced the propane detector

[Ken / Claudia]

The propane detector was chirping and had the yellow light on. It says yellow light on means replace it. I went to Amazon to look up the model number
to order a new one. Some reviews said when they got the new one it was already half out of date. Some had problems getting a new one with a current date. That sounds bad, but I ordered one anyway. It came in and I checked the model and date on it. It was made in 2015, I was about to sent it back until I read the instructions and than the unit itself. The unit says replace 84 months after retail sale, Ok without reading further it may be good or not. In the fine print of instructions it explains the unit sensor is good for 84 months after powered up.
So, the date when made really does not mean it goes bad from than, only after you power it up. If the ones posting complaints had read the instructions they could have also figured that out without writing up bad reviews.
Nowadays it seems many do not read instructions, warranties or contracts and complain. I fully understand some people not understanding instructions, but read them first and you might save time posting questions or bad reviews.

[ChuckS]

Good info to know.. my propane detector is still original..2014.. says 84 months after install so good to know the start date doesn’t begin till initial powering up the circuit. Thanks for posting

[bobbecky]

With any of these detectors, propane, CO, or smoke/fire, not only is age an issue, but also what chemicals in the air they’ve been exposed to. Our propane detector that was original to the rig only lasted about three years, but it was exposed to all the outgassing of the new materials inside the rig from when it was built. I just had to replace it last month while at Quartzsite, and it was just under six years old. I’ve also replaced both the CO and smoke detector in the past due to age.

[Alpine]

I dunno know.... some item that sits on a shelf for 5 or 6 years without selling makes me go hmmmm!!! Was there a discount? Is there a free replacement period of time? Just curious! Where are the units that were manufactured in 2018 - 2019 - 2020? I have done some research and the newest ones folks are reviewing are 2015.

[Pull Toy]

LP and Smoke Detectors are probably not a high demand item. So the sit on a shelf.

Just like the grocery store, they put the older items up front to sell first. Want the freshest milk? Grab it from the back row of the cooler. Same with electronics. This might be the time to spend the extra few $$ and buy it in person from a larger parts store, and inspect the build date yourself. The possible hidden advantage, is that the newest model will have the latest upgrades.

Good Luck,

[Alpine]

Originally Posted by Pull Toy

LP and Smoke Detectors are probably not a high demand item. So the sit on a shelf.

Just like the grocery store, they put the older items up front to sell first. Want the freshest milk? Grab it from the back row of the cooler. Same with electronics. This might be the time to spend the extra few $$ and buy it in person from a larger parts store, and inspect the build date yourself. The possible hidden advantage, is that the newest model will have the latest upgrades.

Good Luck,

Excellent points... I visited 3 RV parts supply shops in the Portland area this morning! Newest one was 2017 & they wanted $81.... I could not honor bad behavior and walked out!

[Northofu1]

I just replaced my original Safe T Alert propane detector this evening. With the same make, only it also has a CO detector. No manufacture date on it but it does say 60 months from date of install. Small price to pay for safety.
It was packaged and it definitely isn't milk, it is electronics and there is no freshness test.

[Lee]

To clarify,.... The LP detector I just replaced in my TT came with instructions stating to replace 7 years after install, not 7 years after manufacturing date:

""The Detector will operate in end-of-life mode after the Detector has been
powered for 7 years +/- 128 days. This represents the operating life of the
sensor used to detect LP gas. After 7 years, the sensor is no longer
reliable and the Detector must be replaced. Once end-of-life mode has
been entered, it is permanent, even after a power out cycle.""

So it appears that the install date is the important one,.... not the manufacturing date.

[sourdough]

I guess I'm the odd one. I don't care how long they last or what kind of expiration date is on them. First, why try to track that? You aren't going to get any kind of rebate. Secondly, when it chirps....put in a new one and go on down the road happy as a lark until it chirps again. Makes life SO simple.. BTW I've only owned trailers long enough for the OEM unit to chirp then replace it; never long enough for the replacement to start chirping so guess all of those lived long and prosperous? little lives....

[Alpine]

I did install one that had a manufacture date of 2016.

Question for ya'll: If "manufacture date" means absolutely nothing why is it on there? Oh... you just have to wait for the replacement yellow light to flash & hear the chirp to replace it right? No manufacture date needed!

[flybouy]

Many reasons other than expiration for a mfg date. Recalls, rotation of stock, possibly required by law?

[Lee]

Originally Posted by Alpine

I did install one that had a manufacture date of 2016.

Question for ya'll: If "manufacture date" means absolutely nothing why is it on there? Oh... you just have to wait for the replacement yellow light to flash & hear the chirp to replace it right? No manufacture date needed!

Well,.... I track it because,...first off, I only dry camp at remote locations a long way from "civilization" and the last thing I need is for the LP detector to meet end-of-life and start chirping on nite 2 of a 15 day trip in the back country.

I replace it at (very near) the 7yr mark BEFORE it starts chirping.

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Lee

Well,.... I track it because,...first off, I only dry camp at remote locations a long way from "civilization" and the last thing I need is for the LP detector to meet end-of-life and start chirping on nite 2 of a 15 day trip in the back country.

I replace it at (very near) the 7yr mark BEFORE it starts chirping.

What you need to track is the "installation (or in service) date", not the "date of manufacture". Most LPG detectors will sit on the shelf for 2-3 years before being placed in service. If you're tracking DOM, then you're replacing the LPG detector "years ahead of the need"..... As for being on day 2 of a 15 day back country trip, most LPG detectors will start chirping 128 days prior to the "life termination". All you have to do is press the reset button every 12 hours, and it won't chirp again until it reaches the end of that 128 days or until power is removed and repowered.

[Lee]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

What you need to track is the "installation (or in service) date", not the "date of manufacture". Most LPG detectors will sit on the shelf for 2-3 years before being placed in service. If you're tracking DOM, then you're replacing the LPG detector "years ahead of the need"..... As for being on day 2 of a 15 day back country trip, most LPG detectors will start chirping 128 days prior to the "life termination". All you have to do is press the reset button every 12 hours, and it won't chirp again until it reaches the end of that 128 days or until power is removed and repowered.

John,.... go back and read post #8 of this thread.... that's exactly what I said.

[Northofu1]

The attached pictures are of the brand the 5er came with and the new unit I recently replaced. No manufacture date on the new unit.

[travelin texans]

Originally Posted by Northofu1

The attached pictures are of the brand the 5er came with and the new unit I recently replaced. No manufacture date on the new unit.

Did you look at the back of the new one?
Everyone I've had or replaced had the date on the back.

[Northofu1]

Yes sir, was the first thing I did.
I bought the same make as space was limited where my original was and some brands would not fit there.

[LHaven]

Originally Posted by Northofu1

It was packaged and it definitely isn't milk, it is electronics and there is no freshness test.

To the contrary, with electronics, the syndrome to beat is "infant mortality." If it doesn't crap out in the first 30 days, it will likely never crap out.

[Northofu1]

I hear you on that, I am still using an Acer PC that I bought in 2010 (11?) with windows 7.
However my last name should have been Murphy as in the law.
Whatever can go wrong, will go wrong. I have learned to accept it and live within its code.