Installing an LPG Gas Detector | Caravan DIY
In this article, The RV Repair Centre shows us the principles of how to install an LPG gas detector.
Unwanted gas in a caravan can be a killer in two different ways. There is the unburnt gas (LPG) that is stored in your gas bottles and resides in the gas lines feeding your appliances. And there is the product of burnt gas – carbon monoxide.
Unburnt LPG is heavier than air and if there is a leak in your system inside the van it will tend to ‘pool’ and concentrate in the low points of the van. As LPG is highly explosive it is clearly dangerous. Carbon monoxide can find its way into your van through appliances that are burning incorrectly or through using cooking appliances for extended periods. (Never use a cooking appliance for heating, only use a gas appliance for its intended purpose.)
Carbon monoxide is only a little lighter than air and tends to evenly disperse with air. In simple terms, carbon monoxide is dangerous to humans and pets because it prevents our bodies from processing oxygen which is vital for life.
One method to protect yourself against unwanted gases is to install gas detectors. The science of detecting LPG and carbon monoxide is quite different so usually there is a specific detector for each job. This month The RV Repair Centre shows us the principles of how to install an LPG gas detector. (You may notice that this is only a mock up installation as we used a dummy panel to simulate mounting the detector).
The installation of these styles of detectors is a bit more involved because it is wired up to the house battery rather than just using a little 9V battery as you see in some smoke detectors. Without getting too technical, this is because these detectors generate heat to do their job and require a small but continuous power supply. Therefore, a good understanding of how to do 12V wiring is required to complete this project. (This unit has been connected to the directly to the house battery without an external shunt. In some new caravans, this is not possible, and you may need to purchase an external shunt, due to the on-board charge system. Please contact your caravan dealer prior to installing any item directly to your house battery.)
Step-by-step guide
1. Choose a suitable location to mount the gas detector – generally lower to the floor, refer to the installation manual for guidance
2. Unclip the mounting plate from gas detector unit
3. Screw the mounting plate to the selected surface
4. Temporarily clip the gas detector unit onto the mounting plate
5. Mark with a pencil the lowest point of the gas detector unit
6. Remove the gas detector unit mark a point to drill that corresponds with where the wire cable protrudes from the gas detector unit
7. Drill a hole to allow the gas detector unit electrical wire cable to be passed through
8. Feed the wire cable through the hole
9. Remount the gas detector unit
10. Pull through the gas detector unit wire cable
11. Remove some sheathing from the wire cable to expose the positive and negative wires
12. Route a length of suitably rated wire cable to connect the battery to the gas detector unit wires
13. At the gas detector unit end, split the newly routed power cable
14. Strip the sheathing on both the split wires to expose the copper strands
15. Join the newly routed power cable to the detector unit wires with connectors. (Look for coloured strands on the split wires to designate positive and negative).
16. At the battery end, split the newly routed power cable
17. Strip the sheathing on the on both split wires
18. Fit a battery terminal connector onto both split wires, again looking for the coloured tracer to designate negative and positive
19. Crimp fit terminal connector with pliers*
20. Fit an inline fuse to the positive wire using the same sheath stripping and connector crimping techniques
21. Connect the inline fuse to the positive battery terminal
22. Insert a fuse in the fuse holder
23. Fit the negative terminal connector to the negative battery terminal**
24. Follow the manual to test the gas detector unit
*Our pliers have a crimping unit built into them, please use a crimping tool if your pliers do not have this feature
**If a shunt is installed connect the wire to the correct terminal of the shunt
IF IN DOUBT, CONSULT A PROFESSIONAL
Improper maintenance can lead to injury, death or property damage. Maintenance work of this nature should only be undertaken by people with suitable competence. Information provided is general in nature, not comprehensive and should only be taken as a guide. Individual discretion must be exercised and persons undertaking described tasks do so completely at their own risk. Publishers and creators of this content accept no responsibility for loss or damage.
Thanks to Andrew Phillips and the team from the RV Repair Centre for their assistance.