Smoke alarm over cooktop

[gkainz]

What genius thought that putting the smoke detector almost directly over the cooktop was a great idea? My Laredo 245RL smoke detector goes off almost every time we cook something ....

[skifreak76]

it was probaly the same genius that put the gfci outlet inches above the floor in the bunkroom where my son is in my sprinter tt

[hankpage]

Originally Posted by gkainz

What genius thought that putting the smoke detector almost directly over the cooktop was a great idea? My Laredo 245RL smoke detector goes off almost every time we cook something ....

My wife would see that as a good thing. "We have to eat out tonight so the smoke alarm does not disturb our neighbors." ..... Seriously, It makes you wonder if the people who design these things ever used one.

[Jay D]

same thing in my 299BHS Sprinter.

[hankaye]

Howdy All;

At least you wont suffer from a burnt meal... Wife #3 used to use one as a cooking timer... LOL

hankaye

[Jim W]

Actually if you look at the design of the camper most smoke alarms are located in the center of the camper and close to the bedroom. At least on the 318SAB it is. Another thing if a fire was to occur it would be close to the stove while you cook, oils and such. When we cook we open the vent over the stove and use the exhaust vent to keep the smoke alarm from being activated.
Jim W.

[gkainz]

Jim, you're correct. Unfortunately, the layout of the 245RL puts that location about 1 step inboard and 1 step forward of the cook top. All cooking fumes go straight to the smoke alarm. Guess I need to boost the power of the range hood vent.

[JRTJH]

The sad part is that, from what I understand, a "smoke detector" isn't intended to alert the "aware" people of a problem. Rather it's intended to alert the "unaware" of a problem. I don't think there's much benefit of an alarm when the cook is standing in front of the range and a fire happens. I'd think the cook would be fully aware of the problem and alert others pretty quickly. So, one person's opinion.... Putting the alarm over the stove (or at least so close to the stove) may not be a "design error" but rather may be a part of one of the multitude of directives designed to protect us from ourselves. You know, RVIA and others.....

One solution, relocate it to another area further from the stove and closer to the center of the trailer. Let's face it, any smoke when everyone is sleeping would almost certainly be detected there as easily as over the stove.

[SAABDOCTOR]

MY 3750FL IS THE SAME WAY TO AND THE VENT IS OF NO HELP. SO SINCE I GRILL AND MY WIFE COOKS LOOKS LIKE I DO THE GRILLIN AND SHE DRINKS WINE. THINKING ABOUT A TIMER FOR IT. BUT FOR SAFTY SAKE IT NEEDS TO BE WHERE IT IS.