Carbon Monoxide Alarm XC70 renewing the battery?

[ericmark]

There has been now for 6 months a bleeping in my flat, which at first I thought was the smoke alarm, but after hunting today my daughter found it was a Carbon Monoxide Alarm XC70 since no one lives in the flat, not really a problem, but it would be good to fix it for the odd time someone says, clearly not designed to have the battery changed, but I am unlikely to buy a new one, so swapping the battery would be a good idea, I assume put in the flat due to the oil fired boiler fitted, and now back has been removed, the beeping has stopped, I think Wales&West Utilities are a gas firm, so would assume it was not issued for use in this house, so maybe not required anyway. So any ideas if battery can be renewed?

 

[Alec_t]

Is that rectangular section on the back removable?

 

[flameport]

Those things are not intended to have the battery replaced.
The CO sensor has a limited life, which is why that one and others like it have an expiry date on the back.

 

[333rocky333]

I was called out to one of them bleeping, unclipping from base does turn unit off.
I had a look inside it and im sure there was a battery, , so long ago I forgot what it was, but in the end just binned it

 

[ericmark]

Seems likely I will bin it, not sure if I will replace it.

 

[SUNRAY]

It probably has 2 AA or a PP3.
I'd get that rectangular big out of the way to see the situation before binning.
I have replaced 'non replacable battery' before now - in 2020 when replacement detectors were not available and they are required in my rental properties with gas.

 

[ericmark]

Opened it, but battery fell out, no idea which way around it goes. Expensive

as new alarm, not that expensive.

 

[JohnW2]

Opened it, but battery fell out, no idea which way around it goes.

Are the connectors the same at both ends? As I'm sure you're aware, very often there is a 'spring' contact of some sort (helical or 'strip') at the negative end, and just a solid fixed contact at the positive end.

 

[ericmark]

Found a video, and it seems the picture of battery in the frame is the right way around, but it will all now go in the bin.

 

[JohnW2]

Found a video, and it seems the picture of battery in the frame is the right way around, but it will all now go in the bin.

That sounds fairly wise!

 

[SUNRAY]

View attachment 404433View attachment 404434View attachment 404435View attachment 404436View attachment 404437View attachment 404432 Opened it, but battery fell out, no idea which way around it goes. View attachment 404438 Expensive View attachment 404439 as new alarm, not that expensive.

At least the price had dropped since the unobtainium price hike, I see to remember paying more like £30 for the last one.

 

[ericmark]

Same model

still expensive, the Wales&West Utilities written on it, makes me wonder, as no gas in the house, so why would they have had anything to do with my house? Seems likely last owners annexed it somewhere, then left it behind? Do I need a replacement? The smoke alarm yes, although since not linked to any unit in main house, that is also of limited benefit.

 

[Rodders53]

Your Govt possibly wants them fitted: https://www.gov.wales/carbon-monoxide-alarms-html in any place where fossil fuels are burnt. Welsh Legislation so I'll let you check the details and if / when it comes into force.

 

[ericmark]

Your Govt possibly wants them fitted: https://www.gov.wales/carbon-monoxide-alarms-html in any place where fossil fuels are burnt. Welsh Legislation so I'll let you check the details and if / when it comes into force.

So sitting on a shelf never did comply. And in theory, a boiler which has a balanced flue should not be able to release CO into the room. I have looked at the approved document Part J see page 39.

 

[Rodders53]

Eric knows best.

in theory, a boiler which has a balanced flue should not be able to release CO into the room.

Welsh Govt CONSULTATION was wanting them as balanced flues can fail / be installed poorly regardless... and in all homes not just rentals... and all fuel types... No idea if that consultation has closed and the result in changing any BR laws in that foreign country... Eric doesn't say.

IMHO for the cost of a CO alarm over its lifetime is pretty insignificant.

On the other hand Eric really ought to consider upgrading the smoke alarms to fully interlinked (RF or wired) for safety and that ain't cheap. {Combined CO and smoke/heat alarms are available.}

Google tells me

Wales & West Utilities supplies free CO alarms for eligible households across many of its Vulnerability Carbon Monoxide Allowance (VCMA) funded programmes. The VCMA is funded by Ofgem and is designed to support households living in vulnerable situations and to increase the awareness of carbon monoxide (CO), through projects that go above and beyond Wales & West Utilities’ business-as-usual activities.

and may be how that unit was there?