Smoke alarms?

Lazy-Ferret · 15-07-2017, 20:34

What smoke alarm do you have in your caravan, and do you find it has a habit of going off every time you use the cooker, or is it better than that?

We had a Kidde one, and it felt like you only had to breath on it, and it went off, which resulted in us forever taking it off the roof, and removing the battery every time we cooked, but then we would often forget to put it back up.

I got a Fireangel Atom Smoke Alarm, which was recommended by a caravan place, to replace it, and over the cooler winter and spring months it seemed perfect. Unfortunately, the first hot day we had, we were sitting in the house and could hear an alarm which we eventually worked out to be coming from the caravan. I took the smoke alarm down, and removed the battery, then when the temperature in the caravan had cooled down a bit, I put the battery back in the smoke alarm, and put it back. The trouble is, during the warm weather it goes off all the time, so guess what, we end up taking it off the roof, removing the battery, and then forgetting to put it back again. Ironically, when I looked at the small print in the Atoms instruction sheet, it does specifically say that it is not for use in caravans.

So, time has come to replace it, but, what with?

rustic · 15-07-2017, 20:52

Optical ones are better than the ionisation type, it's what we have in the boat now !
Less susceptible to false alarms in a confined space.

Can't remember the make though.
Rustic

panelbeater · 15-07-2017, 21:20

my one is good even do toast a bit dark and not go off but fry bread a bit dark and off it goes only thing is cant remove the battery its a sealed one with a long life span.cant remember the make though till i look at it.to stop it you need to do a 45 degree twist and pull the thing from the mounting plate thats still on wall.

terranosaurusdoug · 15-07-2017, 21:35

I have one of these in mine, not used the van much since I fitted it but no troubles.
20170715_213908.jpg

Lazy-Ferret · 15-07-2017, 21:48

The one I have is optical, it's a SL-602. The one you show TDoug, is the SO-601. I have just found the instructions, and weirdly, yours specifically says it is OK in caravans and Mobile homes, where as the one I have, says it is not, even tough they are both optical. I wonder what the difference is?

I would be interested to know which one you have Panelbeater, as Suz's does like to cook things until they are er... well done....

rayf3262 · 15-07-2017, 23:56

Many optical smoke alarms also include a temperature sensing function too.
The simpler types only have a set point threshold which I suppose could easily be reached in a caravan on a hot day.
The more intelligent temperature sensing types look at the rate of rise of temperature rather than a fixed set point.

15-07-2017, 20:34	#1
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	Smoke alarms? What smoke alarm do you have in your caravan, and do you find it has a habit of going off every time you use the cooker, or is it better than that? We had a Kidde one, and it felt like you only had to breath on it, and it went off, which resulted in us forever taking it off the roof, and removing the battery every time we cooked, but then we would often forget to put it back up. I got a Fireangel Atom Smoke Alarm, which was recommended by a caravan place, to replace it, and over the cooler winter and spring months it seemed perfect. Unfortunately, the first hot day we had, we were sitting in the house and could hear an alarm which we eventually worked out to be coming from the caravan. I took the smoke alarm down, and removed the battery, then when the temperature in the caravan had cooled down a bit, I put the battery back in the smoke alarm, and put it back. The trouble is, during the warm weather it goes off all the time, so guess what, we end up taking it off the roof, removing the battery, and then forgetting to put it back again. Ironically, when I looked at the small print in the Atoms instruction sheet, it does specifically say that it is not for use in caravans. So, time has come to replace it, but, what with?

15-07-2017, 20:52	#2
rustic Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Staffordshire Vehicle: Maverick Mk I 2.7 TD LWB Posts: 7,825	Optical ones are better than the ionisation type, it's what we have in the boat now ! Less susceptible to false alarms in a confined space. Can't remember the make though. Rustic __________________ Ford Maverick GLX 1995 2.7TD LWB in illusion silver, 98k miles. Owned since new, for 22 years. Best car I have ever owned. Just wish I could drive it more.

15-07-2017, 23:56	#6
rayf3262 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Norfolk, Poringland NR14 Vehicle: Terrano 3.0 SVE 2002 Posts: 1,549	Many optical smoke alarms also include a temperature sensing function too. The simpler types only have a set point threshold which I suppose could easily be reached in a caravan on a hot day. The more intelligent temperature sensing types look at the rate of rise of temperature rather than a fixed set point. __________________ Remember what the dormouse said: Feed your head....

15-07-2017, 21:20	#3
panelbeater Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2012 Location: clacton on sea essex Vehicle: nissan terrano 2 2.7 tdi Posts: 1,633	my one is good even do toast a bit dark and not go off but fry bread a bit dark and off it goes only thing is cant remove the battery its a sealed one with a long life span.cant remember the make though till i look at it.to stop it you need to do a 45 degree twist and pull the thing from the mounting plate thats still on wall.

15-07-2017, 21:35	#4
terranosaurusdoug Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Yorkshire, J33 M62 Vehicle: 2000 Terrano lwb 2.7TDI Posts: 5,500	I have one of these in mine, not used the van much since I fitted it but no troubles. 20170715_213908.jpg

15-07-2017, 21:48	#5
Lazy-Ferret Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Sevenoaks, Kent Vehicle: Terrano 2.7TDi SE Touring Posts: 5,221	The one I have is optical, it's a SL-602. The one you show TDoug, is the SO-601. I have just found the instructions, and weirdly, yours specifically says it is OK in caravans and Mobile homes, where as the one I have, says it is not, even tough they are both optical. I wonder what the difference is? I would be interested to know which one you have Panelbeater, as Suz's does like to cook things until they are er... well done....