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  #1  
Old 08-29-2016, 05:31 PM
Ron B. Ron B. is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Yarmouth, Nova Scotia
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Default Carbon monoxide alarm

I'm getting an intermittent alarm signal on my new RV with a CO Guardian 353 detector. If I use cabin air it self clears , it I use cabin heat it self clears. Without air it will stay on. I only have 7.4 hrs. so far, I doubt it's the new aircraft smell causing this. I thought I did a good job sealing the firewall and after sealing the firewall I added Fiberfax along with S.S. foil and sealed all that. As I wright this I'm recalling that I did not seal around an eyeball cable pass thru. I will get to that before next flight , but I'm doubting that will solve the problem ( I hope it will).
Anyone else run across an alarm in a new aircraft? I could not find any threads on this topic.
Thanks Ron
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  #2  
Old 08-29-2016, 06:01 PM
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rvbuilder2002 rvbuilder2002 is offline
 
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Location: Hubbard Oregon
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Default

Do a light test.

In a very dark hangar (at night if necessary) have a helper move a very bright light across the entire area of the firewall while watching for any hint of light on the aft side.
If you see any light at all, you have found a potential leak point.
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  #3  
Old 08-29-2016, 06:07 PM
Ron B. Ron B. is offline
 
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Quote:
Originally Posted by rvbuilder2002 View Post
Do a light test.

In a very dark hangar (at night if necessary) have a helper move a very bright light across the entire area of the firewall while watching for any hint of light on the aft side.
If you see any light at all, you have found a potential leak point.
Thanks , I'll do that.
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  #4  
Old 08-29-2016, 07:38 PM
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Pat Hatch Pat Hatch is offline
 
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Location: Vero Beach, FL
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Also, be aware of the "tail pumping" phenomenon whereby air can enter from the high pressure area in the tail area and travel through the fuse to the cockpit where there is lower outside pressure over the canopy. Not sure if this will be a problem for the -14 but it has been in some of the others, like my RV-6. Solution was sealing the baggage bulkhead to prevent air from getting through the bulkhead. I was getting pretty consistent CO warnings until I fixed it.
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  #5  
Old 08-29-2016, 07:56 PM
Evolution10 Evolution10 is offline
 
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: oregon
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If all else fails, call Ash at Guardian - he is a wealth of knowledge. I have one of his units with zero alarms in my -10.
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  #6  
Old 08-30-2016, 04:40 AM
Ron B. Ron B. is offline
 
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We never had any alarms on our 10 either, but I think we had Flightline's interior covering up the rear bulkhead. Might not have been tight but might have made the difference.
Thanks for the tips.
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  #7  
Old 09-02-2016, 05:35 PM
Ron B. Ron B. is offline
 
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Sealed the baggage bulkhead best I could and sealed the cable ball penetration, thought I had it made as the alarm never sounded in the first two hrs. today. But this evening it went off a couple times. I would clear it with opening the fresh air vents wide open for a minute. The bulkhead below the baggage floor is full of lightning holes and the air can flow forward and come out numerous places.
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  #8  
Old 09-02-2016, 06:48 PM
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Jesse Jesse is offline
 
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Location: X35 - Ocala, FL
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There is exhaust air entering somewhere, very likely from the aft portion of the airframe. Opening the vent or even cabin heat adds a little pressure to the fuse so you have air going out the hole that is sucking in exhaust when the vent is closed. Maybe you could tie/tape some pieces of yarn around the cabin to see which one blow forward with the vent off and back with the vent open and see if you can seal those openings. I have seen exactly this same scenario with a poorly sealed A/C system in the tailcone of a -10. Opening any vent shut off the CO Guardian alarm.
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  #9  
Old 09-02-2016, 07:07 PM
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Pat Hatch Pat Hatch is offline
 
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Ron, I had to also seal up a couple of canopy leaks when I sealed the baggage bulkhead. Just wondering if you've checked that. I think the slider is probably more prone to leaks than the tip-up, so probably not a factor for you, but worth checking. I took a small piece of cloth and moved it around the canopy edges in flight to see if I could detect any suction. If you find any, you need to seal them up. I think you're on the right track. With me, I would get CO indications at different airspeeds, mostly when I would slow down. Happy hunting.
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  #10  
Old 09-02-2016, 07:42 PM
Evolution10 Evolution10 is offline
 
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No cover on my bulkhead, never open the fresh air vents (a/c) and never receive an alarm on the -10. Did you call Ash yet?
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