Testing LPG Gas Sensors/Alarm

Ever since one of Fisjeries boats blew up with fuel vapours below decks all their boats have been fiotted wth LPG siffers.

I bought a boat off them with a sniffer and two sensors one inside the cabin and one under the floor.

Its extremely sensitive - in fact annoyingly so. (Just like smoke detectors and toast example).

They seem to detect ANY hydrocarbons at al.

I had a leaking shock absorber on one of the helm seats - the damn sniffer would detect the oil smell and go off all the time.

Replaced the shiocker and cleaned up all the oil - no more problem.

Then I put CRC on all the locks and window catches etc etc in the cab - again - weeks of false alerts on the sniffer until the aerosol hydrocarbons eventualy evaporated.

Work on the OB;s and get grease on your hands and walk into the cabin the sensor goes off!

Like I said - they are a royal PIA BUT - compared to getting blown to kingdom come - they are worth their weight in gold and I wouldn't be without them.

Better a ounce of prevention than a pound of cure!

Just means there are SOME things you can't keep / store in your van if you want the sniffer to be of any real value - OR get used to tracking own your false alerts.

They work - no two ways about that!

Cheers

I have one and while it has not had to respond to any LP leaks, it has gone off twice for electrical problems. Once was a faulty connection that led to a wire overheating and the insulation starting to melt; on the second occasion the battery charger went berserk and started to boil the house batteries. They seem to be more sensitive than smoke alarms for some vapours.

BruceV