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Topic: Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps? (Read 245 times) previous topic - next topic
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Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps?
I'm parked behind my parents house and when I went back out to the RV after a couple hours in the house my smoke detector was going off. No smoke, took and down and shut it off and remembered it is a carbon monoxide detector too. It is very close to my AC where the air blows out. The fan was on high and the compressor was on low, getting really hot in the middle of the day, was wondering if that might have caused it to go off. Hasn't gone off since. I have 2 cats and now really think I need to get a smoke alarm that will send an alarm to my phone in case I'm out. Also a thermostat in case the AC quits working or something.  Anyone got any recommendations?
1990 Mid Bath
Re: Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps?
Reply #1 –
how old is it?  Many will have an “end of life” alarm ...if that’s the case you need to replace (got my replacement from Amazon today)
2013 31' Silver Twin Bed
Semi-retired 6/21....
Re: Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps?
Reply #2 –
Any Wifi-enabled smoke detector is going to need a cellular router or hotspot to be able to notify your phone, unless you plan to always stay in parks with strong Wifi signals.
Wifi detectors are made for home use where a router and wifi access is always available.
When away, your phone needs to be in an area with a usable cell signal too.
IMO. this is too much fault-prone technology to depend on keeping your pets alive.

Pets have a lot of responsibilities that go with owning them and will limit your freedom to wander as much unless you take them with you. It's a trade-off.
If it is so hot that your pets will be injured if he A/C fails, use either the 12-volt roof fans or don't leave them alone.
Power failures are not uncommon during hot spells, RV parks often have voltage problems.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps?
Reply #3 –
Quote from: Faren  - 
I'm parked behind my parents house and when I went back out to the RV after a couple hours in the house my smoke detector was going off. No smoke, took and down and shut it off and remembered it is a carbon monoxide detector too. It is very close to my AC where the air blows out. The fan was on high and the compressor was on low, getting really hot in the middle of the day, was wondering if that might have caused it to go off. Hasn't gone off since. I have 2 cats and now really think I need to get a smoke alarm that will send an alarm to my phone in case I'm out. Also a thermostat in case the AC quits working or something.  Anyone got any recommendations?
It reads like your a/c froze up. No matter what set up you have, if you leave pets in your LD when it's very hot outside, you will not be able to relax until you get back to make sure the a/c didn't freeze up or the power went off. That's just the nature of traveling with pets. Been there, done that.

Chris
Formerly: 2002 30' IB
Re: Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps?
Reply #4 –
Thanks everyone. The detector is less than 6 months old, but the batteries are ones that came with it, so they may not be good. When I'm out I like to boondock, but I travel to where the weather is nice. It's when I'm stuck at home in Kansas is more where I need the alarms on my phone, which is where I have wifi. Might want to go ahead and get a wifi booster though while I'm at it.
1990 Mid Bath
Re: Smoke Alarms and thermostats with phone apps?
Reply #5 –
Regarding pets and failed AC units, I repost my cautionary tale from some years ago:

“ Oh yes, failure IS a possibility. On our first long trip in our new TK, we were parked, plugged in, at the then Caesar's RV park in Vegas, on our way to Utah. We left our cat inside for the day with the AC on and set to "automatic " operation. Came back to find the AC blowing hot air and the cat nearly dead on the floor. Long story, but the start capacitor had failed as the automatic cycling allowed the unit to ice up, making it impossible to start. The repair place (two months later-- we had to finish our 7 week trip through the Southwest in summer without AC) told us to never run the unit on auto or low fan speed. Always use medium or high. They'd seen a number of such failures. So, leaving animals alone in the rig in high heat can be a disaster. Something very well might go wrong. -- Jon“
(Former) ‘06 TK “Albatross.” And (former) Vespa 250.   Alas, no more; both are gone.😕 Great memories remain! 😄