Pilot Mini Gas Alarm

Judders

Judders

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How sensitive us a Pilot Mini Gas Alarm?

Magic's is under the chart table about a foot and a half above the cabin sole and another few inches above the bulges. Since gas will gather low down, can it be effective there?
 
The alarm is sensitive, supposedly detecting well below the explosive value. But it needs to "see" the gas so the lower the better.

At sole level would be preferable, and in the bilges even better. The sensors don't like getting wet though.
 
Judders said:
How sensitive us a Pilot Mini Gas Alarm?

Magic's is under the chart table about a foot and a half above the cabin sole and another few inches above the bulges. Since gas will gather low down, can it be effective there?
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Thats far too high in my opinion. You could have seeping gas build up to sensor level before it detected it. I think that sort of volume would be dangerous and you need to detect before then.

If water is a problem in the bilge then just above the sole would be a better position.
 
The answer to the question, "How sensitive us a Pilot Mini Gas Alarm? " is that it is set to alarm at 25% of the lowest explosive limit.

I agree with the others If you have a single sensor alarm then position the sensor as low as possible .
and
below the most likely place for leaks to occur which is probably the cooker
 
Don't get the sensor wet

We're now on on third gas sensor for the Pilot alarm in 6 years. Up to now our sensor has been in the bilge but as I'm keen to get more than two seasons per sensor the replacement is going in at sole level.
 
Where did you get your replacement sensors? I've twice emailed Pilot and been ignored.

I took the cover off to see the actual component, and from the codes I found the Japanese manufacturer, but couldn't find a distributor. Needless to say the bit of paper with all this information is now mislaid.
 
DaveS said:
Where did you get your replacement sensors? I've twice emailed Pilot and been ignored.

I took the cover off to see the actual component, and from the codes I found the Japanese manufacturer, but couldn't find a distributor. Needless to say the bit of paper with all this information is now mislaid.
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I bought a whole unit online and just typed in Google and up popped a load of sellers. Some offered the sensor as a separate item to purchase, quite easy to find.
 
If memory serves there was a PBO test of 7 gas alarms in the Nov 2011 issue. I can't remember the results off hand but I can look when I get home tonight. This might help answer the question of sensitivity.

As for positioning its a case of the lower the better as the boat will fill up from the bottom so the higher the sensor the more gas will be present when it gets detected. Mine (not a pilot) is about 4 inches up from the sole boards and I wouldn't want to go any higher than that.
 
DaveS said:
Where did you get your replacement sensors? I've twice emailed Pilot and been ignored.

I took the cover off to see the actual component, and from the codes I found the Japanese manufacturer, but couldn't find a distributor. Needless to say the bit of paper with all this information is now mislaid.
Click to expand...

I phoned Technisol who make them (01954-212918) last Friday afternoon and in Saturday morning's mail had a replacement sensor for my Pilot Mini.

As mine is fitted in a coded boat I had a discussion with the surveyor doing the coding. He wanted it just below the cooker, just above cabin sole level. I pointed out that it would last about two days there before someone kicked and broke it, so we eventually agreed a position low down but above bilge level, in an adjacent compartment where it was less exposed to knocks, but with a small vent hole between the two areas.
 
Medic said:
I got my replacement head from SOCAL http://www.socal.co.uk/pilot-gas-alarm-replacement-sensor-head.html

I have always found SOCAL to be incredibly efficient, quick, helpful and happy to provide advice - usual disclaimer applies - I have no personal, financial or business association with SOCAL, just a satisfied customer.
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Thanks for that. Replacement ordered. Not cheap, though: £45 inc. postage. For future use I think I'll have another go at finding a supplier of the the actual gas sensor component.
 
Medic said:
I got my replacement head from SOCAL http://www.socal.co.uk/pilot-gas-alarm-replacement-sensor-head.html

I have always found SOCAL to be incredibly efficient, quick, helpful and happy to provide advice - usual disclaimer applies - I have no personal, financial or business association with SOCAL, just a satisfied customer.
Click to expand...
Socal wanted over £40 (IIRC) at the SIBS last year, the manufacturer sold me one for £24 ish!
I found the Socal guy at the show to be an arrogant twot!
Stu
 
skipper_stu said:
£24 from technisol!
Stu
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Too late, too late, the maiden cried... :(

Annoyingly, I hadn't spotted the previous post about Technisol until after I'd ordered from Socal in a rare moment of "just do it".

I'm going to have another go at finding a source of the actual sensor components: one of these plus one resister is all that's in the plastic cover.
 
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DaveS said:
Too late, too late, the maiden cried... :(

Annoyingly, I hadn't spotted the previous post about Technisol until after I'd ordered from Socal in a rare moment of "just do it".

I'm going to have another go at finding a source of the actual sensor components: one of these plus one resister is all that's in the plastic cover.
Click to expand...
would be interested in that, i did the same as you, wasnt sure of the connections for the bits i found and the calibration.
Stu
 
What do folks think of this: encase the sensor inside a fine mesh housing. The mesh will restrict splashes of water from entering but still let the gas in.
 
There already is a wire mesh cover on the sensor element, so I doubt if adding another would make much difference. FWIW the one that I'm going to replace is mounted under the cooker but well clear of the bilge. While I can't be entirely certain, I don't think it's ever been immersed; splashed with fresh water when in rough weather a kettle bounced off the cooker, possibly. I plan to add a small "roof" to the replacement to prevent this. Curiously the other, still working, sensor is mounted in the bilge in the engine compartment and is much more vulnerable to immersion since there's occasionally a little bit of water there which can slop about.
 
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