CO Detectors

[anm]

I want to get a CO detector for my van, and I have a price limit of about $10. Some do smoke as well as CO. I've seen a few cheap ones on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/171519946401
and
http://www.ebay.com/itm/261508524970
and
http://www.ebay.com/itm/281532084285
Any one have any input? Any recommendations?

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

Funny you should mention this now.

Just last week I had to undergo my annual fire safety training at the state facility I work at. ( I retire in 108 days, but who's counting? )

Anyway thus subject came up, and our fire safety officer called combined smoke and CO detectors ridiculous. Smoke detectors must be mounted up high. But CO is slightly heavier than air. The way he put it was: " If you're asleep when the CO starts coming in, by the time there's enough of it to reach a ceiling mounted detector and set it off, you're already dead."

CO detectors must be mounted low.

Btw, I know that money can be awful tight, but using the word "cheap" in the same sentence with "safety equipment on which your life may depend" doesn't make a lot of sense.

Regards
John

 

[anm]

Funny you should mention this now.

Just last week I had to undergo my annual fire safety training at the state facility I work at. ( I retire in 108 days, but who's counting? )

LOL

...
Btw, I know that money can be awful tight, but using the word "cheap" in the same sentence with "safety equipment on which your life may depend" doesn't make a lot of sense.

Regards
John

I know, but 'cheap' is not a synonym for 'inoperative'. That reminds me of a commercial I heard in the UK, at the end of it a man's voice says: "reassuringly expensive". I can't remember what they were selling, CO alarms maybe? I have no intention of buying anything because it is "reassuringly expensive"...

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Funny you should mention this now.

Just last week I had to undergo my annual fire safety training at the state facility I work at. ( I retire in 108 days, but who's counting? )

Anyway thus subject came up, and our fire safety officer called combined smoke and CO detectors ridiculous. Smoke detectors must be mounted up high. But CO is slightly heavier than air. The way he put it was: " If you're asleep when the CO starts coming in, by the time there's enough of it to reach a ceiling mounted detector and set it off, you're already dead."

CO detectors must be mounted low.

Btw, I know that money can be awful tight, but using the word "cheap" in the same sentence with "safety equipment on which your life may depend" doesn't make a lot of sense.

Regards
John

Thanks for that. That is excellent information.

Question:

CO - carbon monoxide - is usually from car exhaust
CO2 - carbon dioxide - what we breathe out, and part of what propane heaters expel

So the CO detector goes low--ish... maybe 12 inches off the floor?

Where should the CO2 detector go?

I also plan to put in a propane detector and smoke detector.

Safety first!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I know, but 'cheap' is not a synonym for 'inoperative'. That reminds me of a commercial I heard in the UK, at the end of it a man's voice says: "reassuringly expensive". I can't remember what they were selling, CO alarms maybe? I have no intention of buying anything because it is "reassuringly expensive"...

Well, it doesn't need to be gold plated, and it certainly doesn't need to be "By Appointment to Her Majesty the Queen"

I like the word "reliable". I like the phrase "fail-safe". I like "mil-spec", which has been defined as "Throw it in an airplane. Fly it half way around the world. Kick it out of the airplane and let it fall six feet down into the wet mud. It' still going to work."

Too much of the stuff sold cheaply on ebay can only be described as Cheap Chinese Crap.

Regards
John

 

[mockturtle]

CO is not heavier than air. Propane is, of course, so propane detectors must be mounted low but CO detectors should be mounted high.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

CO is not heavier than air. Propane is, of course, so propane detectors must be mounted low but CO detectors should be mounted high.

Interesting.

Since you are contradicting someone I trust, I decided to try googling the subject to see what other info I could find on it. I found one site devoted to CO detectors that said:


"You must ensure you get your carbon monoxide detector installation height right. While some guides might recommend placing your detectors on the ceiling, we don't agree.

The specific gravity of Carbon Monoxide is 0.9657 (with normal air being 1.0), this means that it will float up towards the ceiling because it is lighter than regular air. However, when a build up of dangerous levels of CO gas is taking place, this is nearly always due to a heat source that is not burning its fuel correctly (motor vehicle exhaust fumes are an exception). This heated air can form a layer near your ceiling which can prevent the Carbon Monoxide from reaching a ceiling detector.

For this reason we suggest that it is best to mount your detectors on the walls at least a couple of feet below the height of the ceiling. If your detector has a digital read-out, then we recommend placing it at about eye level so you can easily read it."


Personally, I've decided to mount mine near my bed, around the same height my head will be at while I'm asleep.

Regards
John

 

[LeeRevell]

Googling this question nets us answers running the gamut of high, low and in between. But this seems to be a fairly reputable answer:
https://nest.com/support/article/Shouldn-t-a-carbon-monoxide-CO-alarm-be-installed-near-the-floor

Also read this one:
http://www.jaymarinspect.com/carbon-monoxide-detector.html

Both use the same industrial reference to suggest a central location as a compromise.

 

[anm]

...
Personally, I've decided to mount mine near my bed, around the same height my head will be at while I'm asleep.

Regards
John

My thoughts exactly...

But why not in the bedroom? Is it just to try and have it closer to the potential source?

 

[mockturtle]

Mine was installed on the wall of my RV about a foot from the ceiling. I only have one room.

 

[akrvbob]

I would NOT bet my life on a $10 O detector.
Bob

 

[anm]

Mine was installed on the wall of my RV about a foot from the ceiling. I only have one room.

My home is an Astro van so I'm the same, one small room. I have a ceiling vent fan that I have on every night so I don't want to put the detector close to it, that may give it a false negative...

 

[MikeRuth]

I'd go with the Kiddie of those three but then again I can't use any of them you listed, In my case I must spend a minimum of $50.00 so I can have one with a strobe light. I'm hearing impaired and the alarms don't do anything for me.
If you are interested in one with a strobe the BRK is a good unit.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-BRK-Brands-SL177/dp/B001U0ONAW

 

[anm]

I don't think price can be used as a selection criteria for CO detectors since I've seen the same detector selling for ~$10 from one vendor and over $30 from another vendor. The phrase "reassuringly expensive" comes to mind...

---

I'd go with the Kiddie of those three but then again I can't use any of them you listed, In my case I must spend a minimum of $50.00 so I can have one with a strobe light. I'm hearing impaired and the alarms don't do anything for me.
If you are interested in one with a strobe the BRK is a good unit.
http://www.amazon.com/First-Alert-BRK-Brands-SL177/dp/B001U0ONAW

I will probably go with the Kidde detector, as long as my hearing doesn't get too bad...

 

[One Awesome Inch]

If there is a debate on where to put the CO detector I'd do two things:

1. Call your local fire dept and ask them. They are (or should be) experts.

2. Spend the money and buy two good ones place one high-ish and one low-ish. Thus, you are definitely covered.

 

[ccbreder]

The place to mount your CO detector is as close as you can to the height your head is when you are sleeping.
There are CO detectors certified for RV use. They are not that expensive. If you can afford $10 you can afford $20.

 

[MikeRuth]

I'm not gonna say don't call the fire department but don't expect a clear answer. They can't really tell you anything more than follow the manufactures directions as otherwise they would become liable. Personally I'd go with what ever the manufacture states. They have done the testing etc.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Actually, that is a great point. I just kinda figured if there is any public authority that should know about these things if would be the fire dept. Another possibility is to call your local poison control centre.

 

[akrvbob]

I have a 6 foot ceiling and mine is at 4 feet just over my head. The debate mainly applies to houses where you can have very high ceilings, do any of you have high ceilings in your vans or RVs?

It's a few feet difference, put it about in the middle.
Bob

 

[highdesertranger]

I saw it on the internet so it must be true. ha ha. most guberment employees will not give a straight answer. they are afraid of the liability. if you ask for it in writing you will even get more bs. highdesertranger