Newly Installed RV Safe Gas Detector Doesn't Work on Shore Power

Published 08/28/2021

Question:

I recently installed an RV safe gas detector and it works normally if I'm running the trailer off the batteries but when I plug into shore power. What's wrong here?

asked by: Mike

Expert Reply:

This has happened a few times before with the 2-Wire RV Propane Gas and Carbon Monoxide Detector - 12 Volt - Black # RS54FR, where someone replaces their old non-functioning alarm with a new one, but the new alarm appears not to work when the RV is plugged into shore power; but it does work when the RV is powered by the 12v battery. The problem is actually the 12v power converter, which is a more common problem on older RVs.

The power converter may appear to work, and will even read a 12VDC output with a voltmeter; but the filtering capacitors are dried out, so the supply is actually switching between 0V and 12V many times per second (setting a handheld meter to read AC should show 0VAC on a good supply, but will read about 6.8VAC on a bad supply). Some items like lights and older / larger electronics might function, although lights may be dimmer and other items may not work properly.

If you can let me know the converter you've got in your coach I can help you locate a replacement that will eliminate this issue.

expert reply by: Erik B