Pilot Gas Alarm??!!

not had a problem recently with mine but did change it a few years back when it stopped working.
I think i'm right in saying that the sensor is a pellistor type that work by a heated wired coated in a catalyst. some of these can be "poisoned" by contamination with any silicone product. Any chance you've been spraying anything in the vicinity?
of course I may be wrong and the sensors may have moved on from the old days and be a different type now. used to have a problem offshore with our gas detection systems due to silicone grease being used on box seals etc.

edit - offshore as in oil/gas rigs
 
Dougal said:
Anyone else have any problems with having to replace the sensors on a regular basis? Supplier said it was my fault last time I queried it, but the bilge is mostly dry and sensors NEVER get wet.
Click to expand...

Could you describe the failure, please? Does the sensor not respond to gas (e.g. lighter fuel) or does it not 'settle' when first turned on or ????

I ask, because I was also advised to change my sensors when my unit would not settle. After a long debate and much testing, some really good people at the new owners of the product uncovered a firmware issue and changed some resistors. The unit (bought new in 2013) has behaved impeccably since and has never had new sensors.
Cheers
Bob
 
I’m having problems with a Pilot make just now. After turning on power switch the alarm goes through its check buy sounding a regular bleep for about 20 seconds ending with one longer bleep. Then alarm sounds continuously for about a minute and a half then reverts to normal use green active light on. I not sure if it is the sensor or unit that could be faulty.
 
Mine's worse than most. If I haven't switched it on for a while (a day or more) it self tests then gives a fault reading and repetitive beep. It sometimes takes 15 minutes to clear but won't reset unless I turn it off and on again. If it has been switched on the the last few hours, it's fine. Since it's linked to a cut off solenoid, I have to get it to work in order to use the gas. New sensors sorted it out once but I'm not buying those every few months.
 
We had the same problem on the Pilot alarm that had been fitted by the previous owner, he had taken the fuse out to stop it sounding false alarms. We changed the entire unit and sensors, all was okay for a while but then the alarm kept going off at odd times, the sensors were replaced under warranty. All was okay for a while and then it started again, more false alarms. We have given up with it and now have a hand held detector.
 
I'd like to know why they work eventually. What's happening inside the sensors which first causes the fault and then it clears? I know it's not because my boat is shut up for days/weeks on end because I once left the alarm on and it wasn't faulty when I returned. So it's something that happens when it is powered down for an extended period.
 
I recently purchased and had similar issues with getting the sensors to stabilise. After a discussion with manufacturer it turns out the wiring diagram supplied is incorrect. Once I switch the pins around the unit stabilised within seconds. Hope this helps
 
Posters #4 to #8 all seem to have the fault I experienced (and eventually solved) as describe in my post #3.

After a four month exchange over the 16/17 winter, the new owners of the product rectified the firmware and at least one resistor within the unit, so there were two fixes needed.
- Updated firmware code to mute alarms during warm-up
- Replacement resistor to alter the detection of the sensors (even new sensors were not being detected). The new resistor was 470kOhm.

My self help approach was going to be to put a switch in the sounder circuit to mute the alarm until the system had settled. In my case that was around 8 to 12 minutes. But, given that the resistor had to be changed, I am not convinced my solution would have worked reliably.

I say again, Invensci were very helpful in resolving the problem bearing in mind the previous owner of the product caused it!
Cheers
Bob
 
This last week, we once again got the wretched 'bleeping'. A switch off and on reset it, but only for a while, when the noise returned. Not the 'alarm' but a rythmic beeping.

The firmware, a couple of years ago, has been updated and it has about 3 new sensors. I'm guessing it needs a new sensor on Channel 1 (Channel 2 shows all OK).

Quite irritating but apparently the sensors are all sorts of atmospherically affected, such as dampness, as well as by diesel and gas fumes
 
oakleyb said:
I recently purchased and had similar issues with getting the sensors to stabilise. After a discussion with manufacturer it turns out the wiring diagram supplied is incorrect. Once I switch the pins around the unit stabilised within seconds. Hope this helps
Click to expand...

Could you provide more detail of this fix please?
 
RIBW said:
After a four month exchange over the 16/17 winter, the new owners of the product rectified the firmware and at least one resistor within the unit, so there were two fixes needed.
- Updated firmware code to mute alarms during warm-up
- Replacement resistor to alter the detection of the sensors (even new sensors were not being detected). The new resistor was 470kOhm.

I say again, Invensci were very helpful in resolving the problem bearing in mind the previous owner of the product caused it!

Bob
Click to expand...

I'll contact them at the end of the season to see if they can sort mine out. How much did they charge?

I've just checked their web site. Mine's a twin channel unit and I get the fault LED illuminated so it may be the sensors or the circuit board. New sensors did solve the problem for a short time but I'm hoping it might be the circuit board which would be a more permanent solution.
 
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I've just been informed by manufacturer that the sensors only have an expected life of TWO years! That completely contradicts what I was informed by them previously. When I complained the sensors were failing, I was told I must have installed it incorrectly!
 
We also have problems with ours and didn't exactly get good service. Initially we were told a new base unit would costs us £45 to replace but then later told it would be £110. They did offer just the circuit board but at no discount and still £100 odd.

Problems we get are:

- takes 10-15 mins to settle when turning on after being off for a while. Alarm sounds and have to turn it on and off.
- when voltage drops below 12.3v then it gives small chirps and trips the gas solinoid. Very frustrating when the oven is on.

What is also staggering is that their new units, they are a few mm smaller than the old ones which makes it a pain to replace like for like without having to make some frame or fill in the gaps. Why they didn't just make the unit the same size is nuts.
 
There has to be a better, more reliable way. I shan't be purchasing another Pilot unit, but sadly it seems just about all equipment, from all walks of of life, has become far less robust, yet almost always more expensive.
 
Dougal said:
There has to be a better, more reliable way. I shan't be purchasing another Pilot unit, but sadly it seems just about all equipment, from all walks of of life, has become far less robust, yet almost always more expensive.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. But nothing to stop us from keeping things simple. Go outside and turn the gas of manually after each cooking session. Do away with electrics and use charts and a hand held GPS. Manually haul the anchor rode, row the dingy instead of outboard and the list goes on.
 
Dougal said:
I've just been informed by manufacturer that the sensors only have an expected life of TWO years! That completely contradicts what I was informed by them previously. When I complained the sensors were failing, I was told I must have installed it incorrectly!
Click to expand...

Ours is hard wired to batteries and left permanently on, I want to hear the alarm on entry before I flick any switches and ignite gas. It's been left on for a lot longer than 2 years and still passes self-test so, should the sensor be replaced anyway?
 
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