CO Detector

troy994719 · Jun 23, 2009

Has anyone had good luck with a home CO2 detector? I know diesel gen sets are much safer than gas but I still sleep better knowing that I have a CO2 detector on board my boat. I tried a home fire CO2 combo unit from Wal-Mart and the d*mn thing likes to go off about every other week in the middle of the night. I really dont want to spend $100 on a marine unit, maybe someone has a home model that has worked out?

-- Edited by troy994719 on Tuesday 23rd of June 2009 06:49:53 PM

Keith · Jun 23, 2009

Seeing as the home units are even less sensitive than the marine ones, you might have a problem on your hands. You might want to figure out why the alarm is going off before you don't wake up one day. Here's what I use... expensive ($160) but works well.
http://www.aeromedix.com/product-ex...id/7/product_id/1342/nm/CO_Experts_Model_1070

Oh, and I do have a home unit that only goes off when I cook! It's a First Alert Carbon Monoxide / Smoke detector.

-- Edited by Keith on Tuesday 23rd of June 2009 06:38:26 AM

troy994719 · Jun 23, 2009

RE: CO2 Detector

Well its not going off when the gen set is running, it goes off at random times at the dock. its never when an engine is running or when a boat around me has been running.

Keith · Jun 23, 2009

RE: CO2 Detector

They can also pick up hydrogen gas, which comes out of wet cell batteries if they're overcharging, or the electrolyte level is too low. Have you checked for that? Offgassing from new fiberglass resin can also contaminate the sensors and cause false alarms. I even heard one guy who was pickling cabbage on his boat determined it was setting his off!

troy994719 · Jun 23, 2009

RE: CO2 Detector

yep batteries are full of water and this happened before and after my new battery charger, so i dont think its the batteries overcharging.*i am sure they still put off some gas so it could be that. what fun would boating be without mysteries like this? haha

i googled c02 life span and got results of 2 years up to 7 years, maybe this one is just shot.
for some reason i was thinking the home units were more sensitive?

Capn Chuck · Jun 23, 2009

CO2 Detector

Troy, None of the home style detectors are recommended for boats and most will state that in their paper work. Many things including batteries, solvents and even a build up of moisture, molds, etc. will shorten their life and cause false alarms including the difference in sensitivity of the marine units compared to household. For the sake of safety get a marine unit. Chuck

-- Edited by Capn Chuck on Tuesday 23rd of June 2009 09:07:43 AM

troy994719 · Jun 23, 2009

RE: CO2 Detector

Sounds like the best thing to do, have you seen a smoke/co2 marine combo?

Keith · Jun 23, 2009

RE: CO2 Detector

troy994719 wrote:

yep batteries are full of water and this happened before and after my new battery charger, so i dont think its the batteries overcharging.*i am sure they still put off some gas so it could be that. what fun would boating be without
mysteries like this? haha

i googled c02 life span and got results of 2 years up to 7 years, maybe this one is just shot.
for some reason i was thinking the home units were more sensitive?

Guys, CO2 is what fizzes sodas. CO (carbon monoxide) is what you're worried about.*

*

Keith · Jun 23, 2009

RE: CO2 Detector

troy994719 wrote:

Sounds like the best thing to do, have you seen a smoke/co2 marine combo?

Yes, read my first post.

*

CO Detector

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