Inexpensive CO/Propane Detector for Car

[cynanne]

I will be sleeping in a small suv for a week at rtr. There will be no heating so that is a non issue but I would still like to have something for my trip. Any suggestions on a less costly brand meant for travel? I just read about someone who died sleeping in the back of a stationwagon in a closed parking garage. There was no heater being used and the car was not running but somehow something seeped in from another car. I did not get the full story and it sounded unlikely but there could have been a heating source under or in the garage that malfunctioned as well. This garage was closed and likely underground. I had never thought of this as being possible. My friend told me it can be dangerous to sleep in a car that is parked inside no matter how big the parking structure.

 

[highdesertranger]

a canary?

sorry about being a smart ass. if you are not using a heater and not running your car I believe this is a non-issue.

wait, unless you park real, real close to another vehicles exhaust pipe with your window down.

for mobile applications I would get a CO detector designed for mobile applications. my 2 cents. highdesertranger

 

[AJ452]

Is there a link available to the closed parking garage story? I'd like to know what is fact and fiction there.

 

[Moxadox]

I would only worry about this if you are literally parked in a closed space like a garage. There is lots of air and wind in the desert to blow away exhaust gases, even from your own vehicle. The only time I have ever heard of anyone being poisoned from carbon monoxide while parked outdoors was a vehicle with holes in both the exhaust system and the floor.

The Dire Wolfess

 

[QinReno]

sorry about being a smart ass.

That's twice inside of 3-minutes on 2 different threads, HDR. A record I think.

As far as CO being a problem for someone sleeping in a car, it seems much more likely that the car would be producing a problem when the engine was actually "running", and the people would already have died while driving. 

Cynanne, one thing you'll find with car camping is that you'll be outside most of the time, and the car doors will be open much of the time, and there will be a lot of fresh air inside in any case.

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

I don't think you have a problem but for your peace of mind a battery powered home smoke/CO detector would work for the short time you will be using it.  I've had a home CO detector in my camper for 4 years and it still is functioning.  Just pack it away when traveling (with clothing would be a good place) and put it out when camping.  Just don't put it anywhere close to your ears - they are LOUD.

Propane detectors are separate, more expensive and need to be mounted low.  You probably don't need one.

 

[Weight]

Do believe! People die sleeping in parked cars. Don't be one. the wind doesn't always work to our advantage. It is not necessary for the vehicle to be in need of repair. People die sleeping in parked cars.

 

[cynanne]

Do believe! People die sleeping in parked cars. Don't be one. the wind doesn't always work to our advantage. It is not necessary for the vehicle to be in need of repair. People die sleeping in parked cars.

This is what my friend was telling me. I will try to get more info or a link to this story. I actually had this experience in an apartment in 1994. No vehicle involved. It happened to me the first night I stayed in a new place. Luckily I woke up but it was scary as Hell. I was alone and woke up covered in dried vomit. In live in California now where these things don't happen but this was in Brooklyn NY (3 degrees out on a saturday night) and I was young and dumb. I did not even know what had happened to me initially and a few days later the boiler underneath blew and there you have it. I have not camped much and sleeping in a vehicle is pretty new for me. This trip will be a trial run.

 

[highdesertranger]

"Propane detectors are separate, more expensive and need to be mounted low. You probably don't need one."

unless you had seconds on the double five alarm chili. highdesertranger

 

[QinReno]

Imagine the problems in an RV. First formaldehyde (do you really trust the manufacturers?), secondly propane, thirdly carbon monoxide, many RVs are 20-years old. Quadruple whammy. How do those people even stay alive?

 

[cynanne]

Imagine the problems in an RV. First formaldehyde (do you really trust the manufacturers?), secondly propane, thirdly carbon monoxide, many RVs are 20-years old. Quadruple whammy. How do those people even stay alive?

LOL. But some of this can be urban legend especially if there is no heating happening. The enclosed spaces thing is of more interest to people who are docked in residential areas I would guess. This is a possibility for me as I will be sleeping in a vehicle when I am not camping at times.

 

[John61CT]

No worries if you aren't burning propane inside nor running the engine while stationary.

But a decent alarm is well under $100

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

unless you had seconds on the double five alarm chili.  highdesertranger

For that you need a methane detector.  Luckily you can get them with a remote probe, so you can place it right where needed 

 

[highdesertranger]

um they are all hydrocarbon based gas my explosive gas meter doesn't care which one is present propane, methane, butane, even the fumes from gasoline they all set it off. highdesertranger

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

But the portable methane one has the advantage of being able to tell WHO set it off  

 

[Moxadox]

unless you had seconds on the double five alarm chili. highdesertranger

That's why I only eat Texas chili.

The Dire Wolfess