LP Gas Solenoid Removal to Reduce Shutoff

[RBuzz]

I’ve been having a few issues between the quick connect on my Big Buddy and my LP gas alarm. The quick connect isn’t as tight as a solid gas connection and sets off the LP gas alarm if I place BB too close to the alarm.

My CCI Controls alarm is 21 years old and has a solenoid gas shut off. It still works but takes a long time to reset after being tripped like that. I talked to my RV mechanic and he told me to just take out the solenoid and disconnect the alarm. HUH? I thought this was strange but he told me they found out that those alarms with shut-offs really weren’t saving any lives so that’s why the new ones don’t have the shut-off. He said I’ll smell any gas leaking so it won’t be an issue. Maybe he meant to just disconnect the solenoid and not the whole alarm.
I went ahead and removed the solenoid today because like he also said, one of these days that’s going to shut off and not come back on. Times like that for me are usually when it’s raining, dark, or something of the such.
it really wasn’t much to remove and was accomplished with a wrench, screwdriver, and a little cussing. After 21 years some things were really corroded into place and didn’t like the idea of being disturbed. I didn’t like disturbing them anymore than they didn’t like being disturbed by had to get this done. it did require a trip to Home Depot because of some of the corroded in place issues but I was in and out for about $13. I turned the gas back on and all is good but no more shut-off issues.
Pippi may want to consider this because of her farty dog.

I did leave the alarm in place but it won’t shut off the gas now when it trips.

[Chip Jarman]

Disconnecting your LP alarm is not a good idea. It’s there for a good reason and it can’t save your life if it is not functioning properly.
The real problem might be with your quick-connect. If your quick connect is functioning properly, it will not leak. Have it checked or replace. The bottom line is you need to determine exactly where the leak is coming from.

• This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Chip Jarman. Reason: typo
• This reply was modified 9 years, 9 months ago by Chip Jarman. Reason: typo

[RBuzz]

I’ll look into that.
I left the alarm hooked up but there’s no auto gas shut-oI was within ff. The newer alarm units don’t have the gas shut-off incorporated into the alarm like this unit does.
The alarm tripped when the BB was within about a foot of the alarm. It may have also been the scented candle I was burning and this isn’t the first time it’s tripped like that. They are sensitive to a variety of household sprays and it looks like a scented candle falls into that now.

[Pippi]

Yeah, I find even cleaners like Lysol, when sprayed near mine will trigger the alarm.

I’m not even sure where you’d find the solenoid for this. Would it be more immediately behind the actual alarm’s face plate or would it be down near the propane?

Interesting that the newer alarms don’t have that. Thanks for the suggestion! 🙂

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