Check out our round-up of the 3 best RV carbon monoxide detector options for RV campers and learn what features to look for when deciding.
Are you ready to protect yourself, your family, and your RV from the silent killer?
Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that can cause serious injury and even death.
That’s why ensuring you have a reliable carbon monoxide detector installed in your RV is important.
Join us as we dive into the options available and review the best carbon monoxide detector option for campers.
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At A Glance: Best RV Carbon Monoxide Detector Options
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1. Safe-T-Alert: Overall Best RV Carbon Monoxide Detector
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2. Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Detector: Best Plug-In RV Carbon Monoxide Detector
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3. Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, Battery Powered with LED Lights: Best Battery Operated CO Detector
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4. Kidde Battery Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display: Best Digital CO Detector
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5. First Alert Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector: Best Combined Smoke & CO Alarm
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How To Choose The Right CO Alarm For Your RV
An RV carbon monoxide detector is an important safety tool for your RV.
They provide early warning of CO exposure and can help prevent a dangerous situation.
Several types of RV carbon monoxide detectors are available, each with features and benefits.
Here’s a summary of the most important features when choosing a carbon monoxide detector for your camper.
Plug-In Carbon Monoxide Detector
When protecting yourself and your family from carbon monoxide, a plug-in carbon monoxide detector is one of the best types and should be at the top of your list.
Not only do they detect levels of CO that are too low to smell or otherwise detect, but they also provide peace of mind as you go about your day-to-day activities.
Plug-in CO alarms use shore power, which means that you need to have a source of electricity connected to your RV for them to work.
Most RVs come with 110V AC power hookups, so you can plug in a detector for continuous monitoring.
It’s always a good idea to have a backup battery in case of power outages, which is why most plug-in detectors come with an internal backup battery.
This ensures the detector will still operate without a power supply, providing added protection when you’re away from shore power sources.
Installing a plug-in CO detector in your RV is pretty straightforward.
You only need an electrical outlet and enough space on the wall or ceiling to position the device correctly.
Since most models come with adhesive backing, they can be easily mounted anywhere in the RV without drilling or other tools.
UL Certified & PPM
PPM stands for parts per million and is a unit of measurement for the amount of a substance in the air.
It is commonly used to measure the carbon monoxide level in the air.
Carbon Monoxide is a toxic gas that can be dangerous when the concentration in the air becomes too high.
Exposure to very high levels of CO over a short period, or even to lower concentrations of CO over a longer period, can result in oxygen being displaced from your blood – posing serious health risks.
To protect you from these dangers, the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have set standards for carbon monoxide alarms that sound off when certain levels of CO are reached:
- 30ppm for 30 days
- 150ppm for 10-50 minutes
- 70ppm for 60-240 minutes
- 400ppm for 4-15 minutes
Always make sure your carbon monoxide alarm is UL certified.
Benefits Of Installing A Carbon Monoxide Detector In Your Camper
Provide Early Warning For Low PPM CO Exposure
One of the main benefits of installing a carbon monoxide detector in your camper is that it will provide an early warning for low ppm CO exposure.
Carbon monoxide detectors are designed to detect and alert you when gas levels reach dangerous levels, allowing you to ventilate or seek immediate medical attention before the situation becomes more serious.
This is especially important for campers, as they often have poor ventilation, leading to a build-up of dangerous fumes more quickly than in other environments.
Help Prevent Dangerous Situations From Occurring
Having a carbon monoxide detector in your camper gives you peace of mind knowing that any dangerous situations that may arise due to potentially hazardous levels of carbon monoxide will be detected long before they can become serious.
Whether it’s burning fuel or combustion appliances such as generators, furnaces, and stoves, installing a carbon monoxide detector will help protect you against potentially fatal situations.
Allow For Peace Of Mind While Traveling In Your RV
With your RV’s carbon monoxide detector installed, you can have peace of mind while traveling, knowing that any build-up of harmful gases is being monitored around the clock.
This gives added reassurance that should anything happen, you’ll be alerted quickly enough to take the necessary steps to ensure everyone’s safety.
1. Safe-T-Alert: Overall Best RV Carbon Monoxide Detector
Features
- Dual Propane/Carbon Monoxide Alarm
- Flush mount
- Hardwired into 12-volt system
The Safe-T-Alert 35 Series dual propane/carbon monoxide alarm with flush mounting is the best RV carbon monoxide detector available overall.
It is designed to simultaneously detect propane gas and carbon monoxide leaks, making it a reliable and safe device for your RV.
This alarm is hardwired into the RV’s 12v system, so you don’t need to worry about replacing flat batteries.
It’s also easy to install with good instructions, so you can do it yourself without any hassles.
Unlike other alarms, this one must be replaced every 5 years regardless of how well it functions to maintain its reliability and effectiveness.
It also features two LED indicators:
- a green light that is always on to indicate power, and
- a red one that warns you when dangerous levels of CO are detected.
Additionally, you can choose from three colors – white, black, or brown – that best match your RV interior.
With its extreme environment resistance and UL 1484/2034 listing requirements, the Safe-T-Alert 35 Series alarm offers superior protection for your entire family when out on the road.
Pros
- Can detect a propane leak and carbon monoxide
- Flush mount
- Hardwired into 12-volt system
Cons
- Doesn’t include wire connectors
- Not available as CO only version
- Hefty price tag
2. Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Detector: Best Plug-In RV Carbon Monoxide Detector
The Kidde Nighthawk carbon monoxide detector is an easy-to-install alarm with three convenient mounting options.
It features four quick beeps followed by five seconds of silence, and then four more quick beeps in case of carbon monoxide (CO) detection.
Additionally, it has a loud pulsing alarm that will sound if a potential problem is detected, as well as a low battery warning feature to indicate when the battery needs replacement.
Not only does this device detect both CO and explosive gas, but it also has a digital display and peak level button that displays the peak CO level recorded by the alarm since it was last reset.
Battery backup is provided with a 9-volt battery included and UL Certified for safety measurements with a 5-year limited warranty.
The LED display is large enough to read from across the room, giving peace of mind about gas leaks. Overall, this detector provides both peace of mind and security -all in one!
Pros
- 3 mounting options
- Backup battery
- Digital display
Cons
- The device will stop working after 7 years, and resetting it is impossible.
- It’s quite large
- The battery cover is difficult to remove
3. Kidde Carbon Monoxide Detector, Battery Powered: Best Battery Operated CO Detector
Protect your family and home with the Kidde carbon monoxide detector, battery powered detector.
This affordable alarm uses sophisticated electronic technology to detect poisonous gas and warns with alarms and LED lights.
Two AA batteries power it so you can rely on it during a power failure.
The device has a slide-out battery door and features a battery lockout system. That makes it difficult to install without fitting the batteries. That’s a benefit to ensure you don’t bypass the important safety backup.
Of course, it’s UL certified and has a 5-year limited warranty.
The detector alerts you of elevated carbon monoxide levels in your RV with four short beeps followed by five seconds of silence and four more short beeps.
The red LED light pulses until the device is reset or carbon monoxide is eliminated. When no CO is present, the green LED will flash every 30 seconds to indicate normal operation.
Pros
- Battery lockout system
- Great budget-friendly price
- Low battery warning alarm
Cons
- No digital display
- Doesn’t connect to 12v system or shore power
4. Kidde Battery Operated Carbon Monoxide Alarm with Digital Display: Best Digital CO Detector
Safeguard your family from the dangers of carbon monoxide with the Kidde battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm with a digital display.
This device measures exposure to carbon monoxide over time and is designed to sound at 85 decibels when it detects dangerous levels.
The easy-to-read digital display displays exact measurements of carbon monoxide levels and updates every 15 seconds.
Additionally, its two LED lights indicate operation status.
The digital display provides the current PPM CO detected and the highest carbon monoxide concentration detected since the device was last reset.
The free-standing design allows for flexible placement around your home, which is ideal for moving it to the bedroom at night.
A slide-out battery door provides quick access to change the batteries.
If you don’t install the batteries correctly, closing the battery compartment is almost impossible, an extra security feature for your safety.
It even has a 10-year limited warranty!
Pros
- Digital display
- Budget-friendly
- Available with a smoke detector option
Cons
- We recommend mounting it rather than using it as a freestanding device.
5. First Alert Combination Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector: Best Combined Smoke & CO Alarm
The First Alert combined smoke and carbon monoxide gas alarm is the perfect modern safety technology for your RV.
This alarm is only 2 inches thick – making it less obtrusive than some alarms – yet still providing maximum protection from both fire and carbon monoxide (CO) with its two independent alarms.
The PC900V features a patented smoke entry system and an electrochemical carbon monoxide sensor that works independently to detect smoke and CO.
Additionally, its Nuisance Free Technology helps to reduce false alarms. So when steam pours out of your RV bathroom door or cooking steam, and odors waft up, the smoke alarm is unlikely to trigger.
This alarm also has convenient features like:
- power LED & alarm indicator,
- end-of-life signal,
- mute & test/silence button,
- voice alerting, and
- location detection to alert you where applicable dangers are present.
Moreover, installation is easy with the versatile wall and ceiling mount feature and the slide-in mounting bracket.
The PC900V comes in a white finish and includes 2 AA batteries for power supply and a 10 year limited warranty.
Pros
- Maximum protection from both fire & CO
- Reduces false alarms
- Features voice alerting & location detection for added safety
Cons
- Only available in white
FAQs About RV Carbon Monoxide Detectors
Where To Mount A Carbon Monoxide Detector In An RV?
When installing a carbon monoxide detector in your RV, the most important factor is to ensure that it is mounted in an optimal spot for detection.
The best place for this is usually high up on the wall or ceiling, away from direct heat sources and any obstructions that could block the device’s sensors from picking up the presence of CO gas.
Keep the device away from areas prone to moisture and condensation, as these can affect its accuracy or even cause it to malfunction entirely.
When installing a CO gas alarm in your RV, keep it away from any air vents, fans, doors, and windows.
This ensures that the alarm isn’t hampered by fresh air. You need it to detect the presence of carbon monoxide, and good ventilation near the alarm will affect it.
Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
How Often Should I Replace My Camper’s Carbon Monoxide Detector
The general rule of thumb is to replace your camper’s carbon monoxide detector every five years or sooner if necessary.
This is because the sensors in most CO detectors will become less accurate and reliable over time, potentially not providing enough warning when dangerous CO gas levels are present.
Additionally, some states have special regulations for CO detectors, which may require more frequent replacements.
Consult your local fire department or RV dealership for instructions on replacing your camper’s carbon monoxide detector.
How To Replace Carbon Monoxide Detector In An RV?
Replacing a carbon monoxide detector in your RV is relatively simple and straightforward.
- First, you must locate the existing detector and unscrew it from its mounting brackets.
- Be sure to unplug the device before attempting to remove it.
- Once detached, mount your new CO detector into the same spot and plug it back in.
- Ensure that the mounting location is away from any direct heat sources or obstructions that would block its sensors from detecting dangerous levels of carbon monoxide gas.
- Finally, check that all connections are tightly secured and that your RV’s CO detector is properly functioning.
Will A Propane Gas Detector Detect Carbon Monoxide?
Carbon monoxide and propane detectors detect different gases and serve to alert RV owners with an audible alarm when either gas is present in dangerous concentrations.
Both types of detectors are important for RV owners, as the combination of a carbon monoxide detector and a propane detector can provide adequate safety in the confined space of an RV.
Our favorite combined detector available is the Kidde Nighthawk Carbon Monoxide Detector & Propane, Natural, & Explosive Gas Detector.
In Conclusion
Whether you’re considering a road trip or want to stay safe in your RV, installing a reliable carbon monoxide detector is essential.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is lethal and often fatal, so this is one RV safety device you don’t want to scrimp on.
We highly rate the Safe-T-Alert, but it’s not the cheapest alarm on our list. If you’re on a budget, the Kidde battery-operated carbon monoxide detector does the same job of detecting the colorless and odorless gas.
The main thing is you have a UL-certified UL alarm fitted.
Angela Devaney
Angela Devaney, a former IT project management professional, embarked on an adventurous journey of full-time travel, which included touring West Africa in a converted overland truck and converting an ex-military 4×4 Sprinter van into a camper for a five-year South American expedition. She now utilizes her hands-on experience to create practical RV living and van life advice as a full-time digital media producer, reaching over a million users annually through her YouTube channel, blog, and newsletter. Angela also lends her expertise as the editor-in-chief of the Campervan Electrics Handbook.
