DIY gas alarm

[Gsailor]

Does anyone remember the PBO magazine article (possibly 10 years ago - probably less) with detailed instructions on how to make a gas alarm?

I made it and it worked well.

However, I can’t remember if I powered it from 12V (probably) or from a small 9v alkaline battery.

 

[penfold]

Gas alarms cost buttons, unless you're short of a winter project?

 

[Gsailor]

Gas alarms cost buttons, unless you're short of a winter project?

I have the one I made for a few quid - courtesy of the pbo contribution.

I guess I will try 9v and see if it works (just use a lighter with the flame extinguished) and move up to 12 v if it doesn’t work.

There is a gas alarm in the for sale section that does not work for £25 which made me remember the one I made.

 

[penfold]

LPG alarm. Other internet auctions are available.

 

[Gsailor]

LPG alarm. Other internet auctions are available.

Thanks, just found some old notes of mine from 10 years ago, - the parts cost £2.50 - took me 30 minutes to make and runs off 12 volts.

It can’t hurt to have two alarms though.

 

[Refueler]

I have Gas Alarms from eBay .. cheap as chips ... tested and fine.

I think items like this are often the good feeling of creating oneself ... as long as they are dependable of course.

Years ago - before cheap water alarms came on eBay etc. - I used to convert Smoke alarms to water alarms. Basically a wire bridging the test button ... dangle bare ended wire in the space .. bilge .. and the water completes the circuit as if you pressed the test button. All I had to do was occasionally clean the wire ends.

 

[Minerva]

Whilst I am al for DIY odds and sods (much to my wife’s dismay at the amount of “projects” dotted around the house) a gas or smoke alarm is not something I would risk my family’s life with.

Somethings are worth buying a reputable brand, especially if it may stop your family being killed in their sleep.

 

[Crazy-Diamond]

I made one using an Arduino mini computer, learnt about the coding etc - it was a fun project. The sensors are a couple of pounds each and do not last that long, especially in a damp bilge, so I wanted to make my own because if you want to buy a sensor for a commercially available alarm it is very expensive.

I get that a safety item is worth investing in, but the device is so amazingly simple.

I also added a water alarm to the lowest point of the bilge - which gave a different tone if activated.

 

[Refueler]

Gas Alarm - covers all the common gases we use ... 12v powered .... ~10 quid + shipping on eBay.