Ask The RV Engineer

Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Inside an RV

It’s invisible. It’s odorless. It’s tasteless. And it can kill you: the “quiet killer.”

Sounds like a teaser trailer to a B-grade horror film, but we’re talking about carbon monoxide (CO). Today’s topic: How NOT to get carbon monoxide poisoning in your RV.

More than 20,000 people are rushed to the ER every year because of carbon monoxide poisoning. It’s the number one cause of poisoning in the United States. Symptoms include dizziness, fainting, nausea, confusion and hallucinations. It’s not a pleasant way to go.

  • Use an inverter generator, which can limit the amount of fuel burned based on the electrical load.
  • Orient the generator exhaust away from the RV! And position the generator so prevailing winds don’t blow the fumes towards your motorhome or camper trailer.
  • Keep your generator at least 20 feet away from any window, door or vent.
  • Close any windows within 20 feet of a running generator.
  • Seal any holes in the floor or walls where gasses can leak in.
  • Don’t sleep with a running generator.
  • Hey, don’t even operate a generator! Invest in a bigger battery bank and solar panels, and do away with those nasty fossil-burning fossils themselves.

3 responses to “Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Inside an RV”

  1. ronald lacelle

    Can I operate a norcold refrigerator inside my home with 120v ac only and be safe from carbon monoxide

    Reply
    1. Andy

      Yes, Ronald. By code, gas-combustion appliances must have the combustion gases completely isolated from the interior air. There’s no air exchange between inside and outside. Outside air is drawn in for combustion and exhausted directly outsides. Anyways, if you’re running off 120VAC only (just a heating element), there should be no gas fumes to worry about 🙂

      Reply
  2. tirod3

    I appreciate those who can afford the high cost per watt of solar generators fueling lithium banks. A lot of us use lithiums in our power tools, and if you get caught up with a brand they seem to proliferate – which then becomes an asset to take on the road. Radio, fan, light, air compressor, it’s good to have them, cordless is an solution.

    In tools and accessories, they are affordable. But, cost per watt, the inverter generator wins hands down. They will be here until solar can equal the output dollar for dollar. That still doesn’t overcome other issues – low light in the winter, deployment of the panels, if hard mounted, damage from low limbs, and the much slower recharge times.

    What I’ve learned reading the experiences of inverter users after weather events is they don’t run them 24/7, and don’t need to. Expecially freezers and frig’s, they operate them 2 hours at a time throughout the day, and leave them off overnight. The insulated boxes do well with no power, and recover the next day. Older models gen heads have to run 100% at all times, the newer inverters can self regulate and throttle down. Far superior management and fuel use. If anything, we are now in the midst of a heyday in smart gas powered gensets, while, frankly, the costs of solar for the returns remains high and for a lot of us, inadequate power is the result.

    I may be a voice crying in the wilderness about this, but there are hints a lot of the current focus on solar and lithium is there to market their high profitability. When you read the “history of generators” online and see the same copy paste prose which skips over most of the portable generator history used from 1930 to present day, with just a few mentions, it becomes a concern. And just because some adopt solar for off grid doesn’t mean we aren’t compensating for its issues – which every system has. The American West is a great showcase for them, but the dominant clear skies contribute a lot to it, unlike coastal areas. Or, Canada.

    If RV and camping is to continue as it is, with new younger users coming into the game over time, solar sounds like an attractive feature however it’s costs are a turn off. Their diminishing earning power is a large national conversation, jacking up the entry fee to enjoy the outdoors will sour them and they will turn away from the opportunity. I’d rather see them enjoy some of the outdoors, with an inverter, than stay home with an internet connection because it has less impact on their disposable income compared to solar/lithium.

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *