Carbon Monoxide Detector

aero3113

Has anyone ever replaced the hard wired 12 volt carbon monoxide detector in the cabin? I know they usually have a life cycle on them. What unit did you replace it with?

Aqua_Aura

Mine was not working so I removed it to check the connection and the wire was undone. I plugged it back in and screwed it back in and then it started beeping which I found it means it's probably past it's useful life so I disconnected it. I know there is two that are replacements but I don't know the difference other than price. Now that I looked again these are not Marine I don't think but this is what I had in my cabin. 

65-541-P-WT

65-542-P-WT

Cableguy Greg

I replaced mine with the same brand, just the updated version of it. They do have an expiration date.

Cableguy Greg

Aqua_Aura said:

Mine was not working so I removed it to check the connection and the wire was undone. I plugged it back in and screwed it back in and then it started beeping which I found it means it's probably past it's useful life so I disconnected it. I know there is two that are replacements but I don't know the difference other than price. Now that I looked again these are not Marine I don't think but this is what I had in my cabin. 

65-541-P-WT

65-542-P-WT

The beeping is usually a low battery condition. 

Aqua_Aura

Cableguy Greg said:

Aqua_Aura said:

Mine was not working so I removed it to check the connection and the wire was undone. I plugged it back in and screwed it back in and then it started beeping which I found it means it's probably past it's useful life so I disconnected it. I know there is two that are replacements but I don't know the difference other than price. Now that I looked again these are not Marine I don't think but this is what I had in my cabin. 

65-541-P-WT

65-542-P-WT

The beeping is usually a low battery condition. 

It's hardwired. Also it was 14 years old and either it said on the unit or in the manual that the beeping and or light it was giving was for a bad unit. 

Aqua_Aura

541 is surface mount and 542 is flush mount. Finally after all this time I have answered life's biggest question. 

aero3113

Aqua_Aura said:

541 is surface mount and 542 is flush mount. Finally after all this time I have answered life's biggest question. 

LoL! Thanks for the info!

aero3113

I just checked mine to see when it’s supposed to be replaced by. June 2010! It’s a little outdated I would say!

Cableguy Greg

Time to replace!! 

TonyG13

Replaced our hardwired unit last year - and also have two battery operated units that I put the batteries in when we're sleeping aboard, then store away when not. I like redundancy.

Dream_Inn

I've left my hardwired ones alone (they are old and expired), but I have a couple battery operated ones with the digital reading on them that I like better.  I use one in the cockpit area anytime any isinglass is up.

aero3113

@TonyG13 I was thinking about getting a battery operated one also. The wired one is only as good as your batteries. If your not running you generator and you batteries die and your dock or anchor neighbor is running his generator....... I know the odds are slim but it can definitely happen.

Aqua_Aura

This is the one in my house and if you look on the back you can see to types of chirp patterns that means to replace alarm. I believe the MTI detector had something like this on the back as well. 

aero3113

I pulled the one off in the boat earlier and it doesn’t have that info.

aero3113

Mine was stamped as new Aug 02 2007 but replace by June 2010. Is that all the life they have?

Aqua_Aura

I must have seen the chirp thing in the manual then for the MTI one. 

TonyG13

Last year I sent in the bad one that came with our boat (since it was from 2014 and under warranty) to Fireboy-Xintex. They tested it and said it was damaged from spray aerosols, most likely cleaning fluid and/or suntan lotions (from previous owner). They gave me a pro-rated price to send a replacement, but West Marine was having a sale that was cheaper so I just bought it from WM. I think it is seven year lifespan.

But it was a good lesson: Don't use any spray type cleaners around the unit. It will damage the sensor. 

aero3113

Searching the Internet, it looks like the new ones say “Replace By 60 Months After Retail sale” on the front instead of having a date.

aero3113

I also see some say RV and some say Marine on the front? 

TonyG13

@aero3113 - This is the one I installed: https://www.westmarine.com/buy/fireboy-xintex--co-carbon-monoxide-detector--18023986?recordNum=1

About once a year WM has it on sale for around $79.

TonyG13

aero3113 said:

I also see some say RV and some say Marine on the front? 

When I was talking with Fireboy-Xintex they said the marine version is supposed to stand up better to high humidity / salt water uses. Could just be marketing, but with life safety equipment I usually do try to buy marine recommended.

aero3113

Makes sense 

aero3113

@TonyG13 , the one you posted, does it mount to the original holes?

TonyG13

aero3113 said:

@TonyG13 , the one you posted, does it mount to the original holes?

From what I remember, yes. I think the mounting holes for the bracket matched up from the old version.

aero3113

I found a MTI Marine one from Hodges Marine at a decent price. It’s on back order till around the end of April. Since it’s on backorder I’m hoping the manufacturer date will be recent.

https://www.hodgesmarine.com/safm-65-541-safetalert-65-series-marine-carbon-monoxide-al.html

Liberty44140

Ouch on the price! On my 342 I had two battery operated home detectors that were less than $20 each. The cruisers has hard wired units that work but I’m sure are expired so I’ve already bought a battery one to add. I just can’t see paying $60 for hard wire when battery costs 1/3 the price...

aero3113

@Liberty44140  , I agree but it’s safety related. I will have a hard wired one and a battery operated one installed.

Liberty44140

I got cha aero but are the hard wired more safe than battery? I’m actually curious, is there a thought that one is better for safety? 

aero3113

If one is better, I would think the hard wire one is more reliable. Just my thoughts, nothing proved. 

Aqua_Aura

aero3113 said:

I found a MTI Marine one from Hodges Marine at a decent price. It’s on back order till around the end of April. Since it’s on backorder I’m hoping the manufacturer date will be recent.

https://www.hodgesmarine.com/safm-65-541-safetalert-65-series-marine-carbon-monoxide-al.html

This is what I just ordered on Amazon. I think it said there was only 2 left. 

aero3113

@Aqua_Aura I saw it on Amazon, there’s now one left, LoL.