Smoke detectors

[dloase]

Anyone else have issue with the smoke decters going off in their campers? Every time we cook it seems it goes off, and no we aren't burning the food! It also seems like the microwave vents to the inside of the trailer instead of the outside. I guess thatbis one more thing to add to the punch list when the trailer goes in for service.

 

[Stuts]

We have the same thing in our 379. We turn the kitchen ceiling exhaust fan on low when cooking. This seems to be common. I'd rather have an over sensitive detector than not very.

-Scott

 

[tgalley]

The microwave vents to the inside by design, according to my dealer (this was spelled out upfront). We also turn the ceiling vent fan on low when cooking toast or other items likely to smoke. We do 90% of our cooking outside in our "kitchen area" (Coleman NXT stove connected to 20# propane cylinder with a lot of accessories, table, and utensil hangers). This keeps heat, humidity, and odors down. Additionally it is just more fun as well as tasty.

 

[notsosan]

Smoke detectors going off when cooking isn't unusual in RV's. The lack of an outside venting range fan is a serious omission IMO and should be corrected.

 

[WhittleBurner]

Ours went off the first time we toasted, scared the hell out of me and the poor loud noise sensitive dog. If the door would have been open he'd of broken through it.
I used the stove vent fan last time and had the toaster there and it made a big difference. It stayed nice and quiet.
So the toaster is now being used over there instead of on the hutch or counter next to the sink.

 

[thompsons 369rl]

I mentioned this in another thread:

I changed our kitchen (and ONLY the kitchen) smoke detector from the original "ionization" type to a "photoelectric" type. No new holes had to be drilled. The base plates are pretty universal. I do a lot of cooking in our rig and it eliminated those dang false alarms from the usual particulates created when cooking. Now, if I screw up and burn dinner, it will certainly go off but under normal conditions, no more problems.

 

[Kamper]

We have had the smoke detector issue with all of our RVs. I have always replaced our RV smoke detector in the kitchen with a photoelectric type for kitchen use. It fits over the existing holes and works well. It has only gone off once since installation and there was visible smoke in the air at the time. I agree with Andy & Julie that this is the way to go and still be safe.

Kamper
Johnny & Mary
McDonough, GA 4 Now
Solitude 369RL & Loving it!

 

[Renee]

We have the same issue with our smoke detectors. I also usually run the vents when cooking.
I think I'll switch to the photoelectric kind also. Anyone recommend any particular brand or are they all about the same?

 

[Kamper]

We got the First Alert from Walmart. Just make sure it is the photoelectric and designed for the kitchen. It is specially designed to handle the environment of cooking in the kitchen. Good luck. Home Depot & Lowes have similar models also.

Kamper
Johnny & Mary
McDonough, GA 4 Now
Solitude 369RL

 

[Renee]

Thanks Kamper! I'll check them out

 

[notsosan]

Our unit arrived at the dealer a couple of days ago and we are picking it up next week. Poking around and lo and behold, it looks like the range vent has an outside exhaust. That makes me happy.

 

[Abqscott]

This was my 2am alarm this morning. It's the LP and CO alarm that is on the 379 FL. A little scary when camping in freezing temps. It reset once then two hours later it went off and wouldn't reset. Had to go to my tools and get a real tester to check. No CO no LP, a bad detector. Went back to bed eventually.

Anyone else have issue with the smoke decters going off in their campers? Every time we cook it seems it goes off, and no we aren't burning the food! It also seems like the microwave vents to the inside of the trailer instead of the outside. I guess thatbis one more thing to add to the punch list when the trailer goes in for service.

 

[Kev&Gin]

Our unit arrived at the dealer a couple of days ago and we are picking it up next week. Poking around and lo and behold, it looks like the range vent has an outside exhaust. That makes me happy.

Agreed. The range hood on my 303RLS vents outside too. Just remember to secure the vent flap for travel and undo it when you need to use it.

 

[agoutdoors]

in our 385TH the kitchen roof vent is the also the stove vent (via the microwave). I specifically asked about this also at the dealer and was told and shown that the roof vent and microwave was the way to vent cooking on the stove. I am not really happy about it either as the roof vent must be open to vent...and I live in Washington state. If that is the way they are going to do it, they should put up a vent cover so you can operate it in the rain. I just installed a $60 roof vent and now we won't have to worry about it. This is the kind of thing that a manufacturer should do from the get go...

 

[tonyself]

We have a 2014 Momentum 385TH and the smoke detector is a problem with the toast and cooking I take the batteries out and then forget to put them back! so will get the photoelectric type.
As to the extract fan under the microwave we had GD supply the kit and the dealer did the conversion to extract to the out side via a flap vent on the slide out we had ask for this but it was not done in the build stage.

I said at the time to GD and on the forum it should be done as standard, (the old Raptor had one going out side) GD said it has the vent in the ceiling and that should be all you need, we said if its raining hard you cannot have that open so need a alternative system, saying that the noise from the fan in our microwave is so bad and the updraft is not that good we just have it on for a short time or open the door!!