Carbon monoxide detector - what am I doing wrong?

[heisthegaffer]

I may appear a bit of a thicko but I bought a new carbon monoxide detector yesterday but it keeps beeping as if the batteries are low and need replacing.

it's a Smartwares FGA-1304 new from Screwfix.

I've tried two different sets of varta batteries and tested them with my battery tester and they're fine.

It keeps beeping and flashing yellow. Anyone had the same issue and resolved it or is it buggered?

[bitchstewie]

Have you read the manual?

I know that sounds like the smartarse comment but I'd expect it will state what the beep/flash codes mean.

https://www.manuals.co.uk/smartwares/fga-1304/manu...

Sounds broken.

[Mr Pointy]

Sounds lke it's mullered - take it back to Screwfix for a new one.

[Gary C]

Normal operation Green LED flashes every 45 seconds
Testing Red LED flashes rapidly 5 beeps
Alarm Red LED flashes 15 times in 4 seconds. Rest 3 seconds, then repeats15 beeps in 4seconds, rest 3seconds, then repeats
Malfunction Yellow LED flashes 2 times every 11seconds2 beeps every 11seconds
Low battery signal Yellow LED flashes every 45 seconds1 beep every 45seconds
End of life Yellow LED flashes 2 times, END is shown on display 2 beeps every 60second

[heisthegaffer]

Thanks all. I read and re-read the manual but appreciate a lot of people don't.

I'll take it back.

Cheers

[heisthegaffer]

I've taken it back and gone for a different brand.

Frustratingly neither the original one or its replacement have been held in stock so I have to go back for the 4th day in a row.

[Cold]

Could it be that it's detecting carbon monoxide?
Open a window, quick!

[QJumper]

Get a canary...and don't insert any batteries

[Ham_and_Jam]

QJumper said:

Get a canary...and don't insert any batteries

Cue a very concerned looking canary!!

[heisthegaffer]

They were out of stock of canaries too!

[dhutch]

We use Kidde CO alarms on the boat, Argos stock them.

[alscar]

Have had the Fire angel ones from Safelincs for a number of years - 7 year battery life and no issues.

[heisthegaffer]

All sorted with a Kidde one now.

[dhutch]

heisthegaffer said:

All sorted now.

Happy days!

[Downward]

Reading some article and it says normal alarms down work below 50ppm.

I have 3 so do i need to get these ?

https://trustsentinel.co.uk/


Key Standard RequirementsResponse Times: To comply with the standard, a CO detector must alarm within specific timeframes depending on the concentration of gas in the air (parts per million, ppm):
At 30 ppm: No alarm for at least 120 minutes.
At 50 ppm: Must alarm between 60 and 90 minutes.
At 100 ppm: Must alarm between 10 and 40 minutes.
At 300 ppm: Must alarm within 3 minutes.

Edited by Downward on Monday 29th June 15:37

[E-bmw]

Downward said:

Reading some article and it says normal alarms down work below 50ppm.

I have 3 so do i need to get these ?

https://trustsentinel.co.uk/

That link goes to a "FAKE E-STORE" according to my AV.

[Gary C]

https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/trustsentinel.co....

[Downward]

Yeah I saw the product on Amazon exactly the same

[chris1roll]

Downward said:

Reading some article and it says normal alarms down work below 50ppm.

I have 3 so do i need to get these ?

https://trustsentinel.co.uk/


Key Standard RequirementsResponse Times: To comply with the standard, a CO detector must alarm within specific timeframes depending on the concentration of gas in the air (parts per million, ppm):
At 30 ppm: No alarm for at least 120 minutes.
At 50 ppm: Must alarm between 60 and 90 minutes.
At 100 ppm: Must alarm between 10 and 40 minutes.
At 300 ppm: Must alarm within 3 minutes.

Edited by Downward on Monday 29th June 15:37

You can get alarms with a display.
Bear in mind that if you ever:
Cook with gas
Burn Incence sticks
Burn candles
Refuel your woodburner.
(Or smoke cigarettes)
You will get a low level of CO displayed, which may just be something else to obsess about. A lot of them show 0 below 30 for this reason.

That said it can be useful to know how 'serious' the alarm is. Two houses ago, one night we found the correct combination of open/closed doors and fires lit/unlit that the smoke from one of the woodburners was sucked back down the other side of the shared chimney stack, into the bedroom fireplace, setting the alarm off there with a level of ~400ppm
(Every door and window was opened quite rapidly!)
It was clear from that it was a sudden event, not a creeping insidious level, so we could work out what had gone on.
Also proved I was right to put one in every room!

[Downward]

Thanks I have only a gas boiler so assume any bad stuff would only come from there ?