Carbon Monoxide / CO detectors / analyzers

[cabio]

Originally posted on

Death of diver from quebec in cenotes???

I was deeply troubled by the death of this experienced diver that I had meet at the dive shop.

I am not comfortable with the idea, especially when traveling, of diving with tanks that I can not test.

That's why I am looking for a practical way of monitoring CO levels in a tank. Does anyone have information on the subject ?

Thank you and safe diving.

 

[AzAtty]

One example of a CO detector here. There are others on the market, too. I don't know if there is a practically priced CO "gas analyzer" (like an O2 or He analyzer) that will tell you the actual level of CO in your gas.

 

[cabio]

Thanks for your response.

After reading this article I feel that a monitor that can detect low levels of CO (10 p.p.m. for diving ) and that can give a numerical reading would be best.

Someone on another thread suggested this detector and I contacted the rep to see if it could be used by filling a transparent bag containing the monitor with air from a tank. He said he saw no reason why it could not be used in that fashion.

So that seems to be the best solution so far, as chemical indicator strips do not seem to be sensitive or fast enough.

Safe diving.

 

[Warren_L]

I've been looking into this too. The trouble with most household CO detectors is that they have been set not to be too sensitive. Although the detectors will detect below 30 ppm, the alarms are not triggered until 30 ppm or higher. In breathable gas, damage of course can occur well below this level.

Some manufacturers do have detectors that will go off at lower levels. C-O experts have one. http://www.coexperts.com/manual/04manual.htm. You can also check out oxycheq's co detector. http://www.oxycheq.com/Oxygen_Analyzer_Main_Page.html. Not cheap, though.

 

[pipedope]

http://www.aeromedix.com/index.php?_siteid=aeromedix&action=sku&sku=coex

CO is a serious problem for divers so anything you can do to detect it is a good idea.

 

[dc4bs]

http://www.aeromedix.com/index.php?_siteid=aeromedix&action=sku&sku=coex

CO is a serious problem for divers so anything you can do to detect it is a good idea.

I've got an Aeromedix detector and it seems to be prety good. It normaly sits on my desk or dresser when not taken on dive trips.

I was out but my roomate said it went off one weekend because someone was running a car in the parking garage for a few hours to recharge the battery, etc. The car usualy sits with a cover on it for months at a time.

By the way, the garage is 2 floors down and off to one side of where my apartment is in the building I live in and the windows were closed as it was the middle of winter...

 

[Scubakevdm]

This is what we used on submarines. The range for the CO tube is 2-300 ppm. I happened to bump into a compressed air quality checking business's booth at DEMA last year and noticed that they used these tubes too.

 

[aa777888]

How about http://www.co-cop.com?

They have 2 versions: a tank mount and one that goes in your inflator hose.

 

[cabio]

How about http://www.co-cop.com?

They have 2 versions: a tank mount and one that goes in your inflator hose.

From the company web site.


" CO-Cop™ is easy to use.
It attaches to your air tank quickly, as simply as a regulator. After mounting CO-Cop, release a tiny bit of air from your tank and watch the replaceable Detector Capsule (1 included) for any change in color. If the air is contaminated by CO, the Capsule will change color.* That's all there is to it. One capsule can test up to 10 air samples.


*CO-Cop is intended only for detection of gross contamination by carbon monoxide and is not a substitute for proper testing or inspection of breathing air. "

 

[aa777888]

I see your point. So if one were to use the Aeromedix unit, what's the best way? The fill a plastic bag method? Also, what's the highest non-zero reading you would consider acceptable (probably a very low number admittedly, since we are going to breathing that gas under pressure). Have you actually caught any contaminated tanks with the Aeromedix unit?