Portable CO monitor

[DandyDon]

I've posted our pricing before. The Analox CO Portable will be available on our webpage for $339.00 USD. Dimensions: 2.5"W x 3.5"H Weight: 6.6oz

You had? I tell ya, my memory never was what it used to be.

I kinda thot it would be similar in pricing to the ToxiRAE 3 plus needed accessories package, which it is, as...

A company needs to get a reasonable return on it's development & productions expenses.

Not much point in producing it if it were more expensive as tight as people are, unless the rewards were outstandingly different.

And in the scuba-internet business, you can never increase prices, huh?​

Of course, an introductory SB price would be nice.

One suggestion for those of us serious about checking out air....

What happens if you check 100 tanks and never have a problem? Do you lose interest?

Well, if you drive 100,000 miles without a car wreck, do you stop wearing seat belts? Ok that's a law that took a lot of initial enforcement, and we still read news stories of those killed because they weren't - but similar idea.​

That bad tank from a bad day at the fill shack or stupid driver crossing your path could come at any time.

 

[swamp diver]

Hi All,

Fair questions, every one...so here's a sneek peek
ScubaBoard Gallery - Analox CO Portable
Shhhhhhhh...don't tell anyone
I've posted our pricing before. The Analox CO Portable will be available on our webpage for $339.00 USD. Dimensions: 2.5"W x 3.5"H Weight: 6.6oz

This unit does not look much different than the C-Squared unit which is resold by Oxycheq, Nuvair, and Amron under their own name albeit for significantly more. (~$400). Not the most up to date technology on the market as one is required to calibrate at either 50 ppm or 100 ppm which is too high for breathing air applications. Now if Analox has had the unit's software redone to allow calibration at a lower concentration such as 10 ppm CO then that would be a significant improvement.
C-Squared Inc - Gas Analyzers

So one still has to purchase a regulator and tank of calgas as with all the other units on the market. It will be interesting to see the sensor replacement cost.

 

[Scared Silly]

I have been waiting to hear more from Patti on their unit. One can find more information on their web site:

CO Portable: Analox - Looking after the air you breathe.

As Pete noted above it is a rebranded C-Squared and as fare as I can tell there were no changes to the internals.

Some ramblings here. I see Analox testing the waters by using C-Squared as a base as there is very low overhead. It takes money to bring a new product to market. At $340 I think the price point is still too high for most people. Especially when compared to the Toxi Rae3 that comes in at $150.

I think many would pay a bit of premium (~$250) so to speak over the Toxi Rae if we saw some greater sensitivity. For instance, the ToxiRae is 0-500pmm C-Squared is 0-100ppm. While that range is better I would like to see it down into the 0-50ppm range. Those sensors are made but I am not sure of the pricing (smaller ranger -> greater sensitivity -> greater price??).

So at this point in time at least for me I really do not see a need to trade in my ToxiRae. As others have said if the unit were more like the Analox O2EII with single point calibration and price there would probably be more interest.

All that said I greatly appreciate the folks at Analox listening to us and proposing an option.

 

[DandyDon]

Well, your Toxi Rae3 is also over $300 with all needed accessories isn't it? I don't think that linked page is finished, as it certainly has flaws and does not explain their calibrations. If it's $340 plus more calibrate now and then, I see resistance, and how much to replace sensor in a year or two...?

Ah, from the manual...

Warning:
The analyser is sensitive to partial pressure. Calibration must always be carried out at the same pressure as the CO measurement.

Carbon Monoxide Calibration:
Obtain the 50ppm or 100ppm Carbon Monoxide from a certified Distributor and measure the gas using a 100 to 300 cc per minute flow rate. Be sure to allow the reading to stabilise.

So that's $340 plus cal gas and regulator?! Ouch.

Sadly, most divers will continue with the current lack of action I think.

 

[Patti Analox]

Hi Guys,

I am still working out some last minute refinements as they relate to calibration of the Port CO (with an eye toward diver convenience and saving money). What I can say tonight is this analyzer is purpose built for scuba and comes with the backing of Analox Sensor Technology. It will save lives. I absolutely "get it" when you guys talk about price point and we are working hard to offer an analyzer that, like the O2EII, will never be the cheapest on the market, but offers considerable value for your dollar. especially over time. I should have more news tomorrow evening.

 

[swamp diver]

I have been waiting to hear more from Patti on their unit. One can find more information on their web site:

CO Portable: Analox - Looking after the air you breathe.

As Pete noted above it is a rebranded C-Squared and as fare as I can tell there were no changes to the internals.

Some ramblings here. I see Analox testing the waters by using C-Squared as a base as there is very low overhead. It takes money to bring a new product to market. At $340 I think the price point is still too high for most people. Especially when compared to the Toxi Rae3 that comes in at $150.

I think many would pay a bit of premium (~$250) so to speak over the Toxi Rae if we saw some greater sensitivity. For instance, the ToxiRae is 0-500pmm C-Squared is 0-100ppm. While that range is better I would like to see it down into the 0-50ppm range. Those sensors are made but I am not sure of the pricing (smaller ranger -> greater sensitivity -> greater price??).

So at this point in time at least for me I really do not see a need to trade in my ToxiRae. As others have said if the unit were more like the Analox O2EII with single point calibration and price there would probably be more interest.

All that said I greatly appreciate the folks at Analox listening to us and proposing an option.

Scared Silly, don't be fooled by the detection ranges reported by the various CO monitor manufacturers in relation to sensitivity. Most are using a cheaper high range sensor which is only locked down with software to display a lower range. For example the Analox CO Clear has an upper limit of 70 ppm if I recall but the Alphasense sensor has a true range of 0 to 1000 ppm. I would not be surprised if the sensor used in the C-Squared unit also has a range of 0 to 500 ppm or 0 to 1000 ppm despite the software limiting the display to only 100 ppm. I have an older BW Tech unit which is locked down from 0 to 70 ppm, however the sensor has a true range of 0 to 500 ppm.

This is not to say these units don't have good precision and accuracy in the range they are designed to display at, but in order to have this accuracy one must calibrate using a concentration in and around 10 ppm.

There are medical CO sensors (CityTech) available which truly have a range of 0 to 50 ppm, but these are much more expensive and as far as I know none of the monitors we have examined for diving use such a sensor.

I too appreciate Analox's attempt to get some form of personal CO protection device on the market for divers, but it would be great if the next in-house designed unit would use such a low range medical CO sensor. Again it comes down to price point and given the small sport diver market the use of such a sensor may not be economical for them.

It would be nice if the Analox CO Portable price included biannual calibration for a couple years. That might get divers interested but otherwise one is looking at purchasing a $200 calibration set up as you have done for your ToxiRae 3.

Peter

 

[DandyDon]

Yeah calibrating with 50 or 100 ppm when you need to know the 0 to 15 ppm contained is not appealing. I suppose that even calibrating @ 100 pm...

If the tank test is -0- ppm I suppose that's accurate enough?

If the tank test is some double digit number or worse three, that's enough info to not dive it.

But if it says 3 or 5 ppm, is that really supposed to be 1 or 3 - or 10 or 15? ​

It would be nice if the Analox CO Portable price included biannual calibration for a couple years. That might get divers interested but otherwise one is looking at purchasing a $200 calibration set up as you have done for your ToxiRae 3.

Peter

Surely not. Why bother even rebranding a product and introducing a guaranteed market failure?

 

[Scared Silly]

Well, your Toxi Rae3 is also over $300 with all needed accessories isn't it? I don't think that linked page is finished, as it certainly has flaws and does not explain their calibrations. If it's $340 plus more calibrate now and then, I see resistance, and how much to replace sensor in a year or two...?

Ah, from the manual...

So that's $340 plus cal gas and regulator?! Ouch.

Sadly, most divers will continue with the current lack of action I think.

DD, Because there is a supplier of safety gear close to me that can do the calibration I decided to skip buying the reg and cal gas. With every unit they sell before it goes out the door they do an in house calibration. They said they would be happy to recalibrate my unit on an as needed basis for $20-$25. Given the costs, $200 for doing it myself I thought it reasonable to have them do the calibration. However, I do realize not everyone will have that ability. And as Peter noted if there was a program for doing calibrations that would certainly entice folks.

Patty, thanks again for listening. Your comment - "like the O2EII, will never be the cheapest on the market, but offers considerable value for your dollar, especially over time" is spot on to what I think folks are looking for. Sure we all can pay $150 for the ToxiRae3 and some of the others and though not specific for scuba it works. But I would be willing to spend $250 for one specific to scuba but over $300 I will stick with my ToxiRae. And as Peter said hopefully you can find this price point. But even if you do not - we will understand. Diving is small market and ya gotta make money if you want to stay in business.

 

[iztok]

Where does one get calibration gas (how much does it cost?) and how often do we need to calibrate this new portable CO monitor?

 

[DandyDon]

Where does one get calibration gas (how much does it cost?) and how often do we need to calibrate this new portable CO monitor?

Here is one source, your choice of levels (they have 10 ppm on request) GASCO Non-Reactive Single & Two Gas Mixtures - Carbon Monoxide - 10 or 17 liter for $45 plus shipping. Regulator required.