Carbon monoxide detectors

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Mctavish

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I noticed that three carbon monoxide detectors were reviewed as being ineffective on the consumer advice website, Which. The site recommends that you steer well clear of them. Obviously any detector that fails to do its job could be dangerous. I know that I rely on CO detectors heavily and wonder how reliable they are.

Note that I can't see a date for the review, but it states that one of the detectors, the ATZ saviour, launched in January 2016.

The detectors mentioned are:
Binwo (£8.99)
Mudder (£8.99)
ATZ Saviour (£12.99)

The site does go on to recommend alternatives as effective but if you want to see those you'll have to buy a subscription!
 
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Some of the detectors listed on the Which review conform to BS EN 50291-2:2010. You might have to search on the manufacturers' webpages.
 
While there is absolutely no guarantee that they will still function if needed I bolster my confidence by testing my gas alarm with butane from a lighter and my CO alarm with smoke from a burnt match at the start of the season. They also got tested inadvertently during the season with vapour from spray glue and the grill products of combustion - rarely used and well below critical concentration.
My preference is for a numerical reading CO monitor rather than Go/No-Go though as mine also has a temperature function which over-reads consistently by ~5C, I'm not convinced by its probable accuracy.
 
Mctavish said:
I noticed that three carbon monoxide detectors were reviewed as being ineffective on the consumer advice website, Which. The site recommends that you steer well clear of them. Obviously any detector that fails to do its job could be dangerous. I know that I rely on CO detectors heavily and wonder how reliable they are.

....!
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I think you are wrong to rely heavily on CO detectors.
They are much better viewed as an additional 'just in case' backstop.
You should be relying on proper equipment, safe operating procedures, adequate ventillation and routine checking.

It's like ABS, nice to know it's there, but no substitute for driving safely.

You can get a reputable make like Kidde for less than a round of drinks.
But a yacht is a harsh place for consumer electronics to live. So there is a limit to the reliability I expect.
Luckily I like fresh air.....
 
"I think you are wrong...." What are the chances!
It depends on how you choose to interpret and respond to what I said. I rely heavily in that I don't rely on my "instincts", or estimates about CO levels. I rely on an electronic detector that I have bought carefully. I question the accuracy of the detector (see above) and share the information with my friendly fellow forumites when I find information about their accuracy.
 
Kidde 10 year Lithium battery (non-rechargeable) one, with display. The display is handy because you can check if it's still working (goes up a bit when baking something in the oven, but not to alert levels) and you can also reassure yourself if you think your diesel heater might be poisoning you but actually is just pumping in a bit of funny smelling air because you forgot to run it sometimes during summer.

No wiring to fail and you can even detach it from the wall bracket and carry it to other peoples boats when their diesel heater is fogging up the cabin. It'll beep at you after approximately 10 years and remind you to buy a new one.

It's not "marine", but honestly, there's no vibrations there, and I don't see what a bit of rolling concerns a device without moving parts. Feel free to enlighten me.
 
Yngmar said:
It's not "marine", but honestly, there's no vibrations there, and I don't see what a bit of rolling concerns a device without moving parts. Feel free to enlighten me.
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I don't know what amounts to "vibrations" in the standard, but I'd have thought that the engine puts quite a lot of vibration through the boat compared to, say, a house? Also slamming through heavy seas in a flat bottomed modern boat can shake your fillings out.

Having just bought 4 CO detectors for my boat this year, and only getting round to fitting one so far, I read this thread and am feeling like I've just learned a mildly expensive lesson.
 
My understanding about CO was that it was produced by poorly functioning gas burners/boilers charcoal (as in barbeques in tents) and petrol engines. But was not produced by diesel engines or diesel heaters.
I fully agree with the need for gas alarms and smoke alarms on all boats but in many cases I think the need for a CO alarm may be overstated. There have been some tragic accidents on mostly inland waters and relating to gas heaters but as far as I can tell none were related to diesel engines, diesel heaters found on most sea going yachts.
A CO alarm in the galley may well be a good idea just in case the cooker is not combusting the gas properly but this seems the only place CO could be produced.
 
Polly's Kettle said:
I don't know what amounts to "vibrations" in the standard, but I'd have thought that the engine puts quite a lot of vibration through the boat compared to, say, a house? Also slamming through heavy seas in a flat bottomed modern boat can shake your fillings out.

Having just bought 4 CO detectors for my boat this year, and only getting round to fitting one so far, I read this thread and am feeling like I've just learned a mildly expensive lesson.
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I agree with Yngmar and don't see it as a major problem depending upon how you use it. I only use the CO detector when I use the generator which means that the engines are not running so there is no vibration. I place it in the cabin nearest to the generator which is as dry as my house. It's a solid state device (from Argos) so I can't see an issue as it can't be that fragile.

Richard
 
RichardS said:
I agree with Yngmar and don't see it as a major problem depending upon how you use it. I only use the CO detector when I use the generator which means that the engines are not running so there is no vibration. I place it in the cabin nearest to the generator which is as dry as my house. It's a solid state device (from Argos) so I can't see an issue as it can't be that fragile.

Richard
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Most, ITYWF, are based on an electrochemical cell. Which is why they have a finite life and are, I understand, relatively fragile . Hence the enhanced specification of detectors for "mobile" applications.

Surprised you have a solid state one. I thought they were rather power hungry and more suitable for mains operation but if you only use it when the generator is running I guess thats not a problem

I can only see electrochemical ones on the Argos website now
 
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VicS said:
Most, ITYWF, are based on an electrochemical cell. Which is why they have a finite life and are, I understand, relatively fragile . Hence the enhanced specification of detectors for "mobile" applications.

Surprised you have a solid state one. I thought they were rather power hungry and more suitable for mains operation but if you only use it when the generator is running I guess thats not a problem

I can only see electrochemical ones on the Argos website now
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Fancy meeting you Vic ..... Lol :)

I suggest you quote Yngmar rather than me as I'm merely picking up on his comment about fragility.

Definition of solid state :

noun

the state of matter in which materials are not fluid but retain their boundaries without support, the atoms or molecules occupying fixed positions with respect to each other and unable to move freely.

adjective

(of a device) making use of the electronic properties of solid semiconductors (as opposed to valves).

And guess what ... I'm using "solid state" as an adjective. :encouragement:

On the other hand, maybe I'm trying, as i have noticed I often do, to twist an incorrect answer to make out it was really correct in the first place. :rolleyes:

Richard
 
RichardS said:
Fancy meeting you Vic ..... Lol :)
I suggest you quote Yngmar rather than me as I'm merely picking up on his comment about fragility.
Definition of solid state :
noun
the state of matter in which materials are not fluid but retain their boundaries without support, the atoms or molecules occupying fixed positions with respect to each other and unable to move freely.
adjective
(of a device) making use of the electronic properties of solid semiconductors (as opposed to valves).
And guess what ... I'm using "solid state" as an adjective. :encouragement:
On the other hand, maybe I'm trying, as i have noticed I often do, to twist an incorrect answer to make out it was really correct in the first place. :rolleyes:

Richard,
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What a load of clap trap and B.S.

However thanks for clarifying that your CO detector uses solid state semiconductor electronics rather than thermionic valves . Who would have guessed?

The fact remains that there are two standards applicable, whether YOU can see an issue or not .
One is for detectors intended purely for domestic use, the other, which IIRC includes some additional tests, for detectors which may be subject to movement or vibration.
 
VicS said:
The fact remains that there are two standards applicable, whether YOU can see an issue or not .
One is for detectors intended purely for domestic use, the other, which IIRC includes some additional tests, for detectors which may be subject to movement or vibration.
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I ask once again, why is Yngmar in post #11 getting off scot-free when this was his train of thought rather than mine? He even specifically asked for an opinion. :confused:

Richard
 
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