Carbon Monoxide Detectors?

Scuba_Noob · Oct 20, 2011

Based on the risks involved with even the smallest amount of Carbon Monoxide in your air (and some recent, though rare, accidents), I'm just wondering whether those of you who go on scuba vacations test your tank air frequently.

Do you own a CO detector? Would it be too paranoid for me to buy one (I'm sure most people who go on scuba vacations don't have them.)?

Can CO detectors measure the gas composition (e.g., percent oxygen/nitrogen or even trimix)?
Can CO detectors measure air pressure?

jar546 · Oct 20, 2011

I don't but want to and just might. AFter the recent issue in Coz, I think it may be the best bet.

gsk3 · Oct 20, 2011

Scuba_Noob:
Do you own a CO detector? Would it be too paranoid for me to buy one (I'm sure most people who go on scuba vacations don't have them.)?

Can CO detectors measure the gas composition (e.g., percent oxygen/nitrogen or even trimix)?
Can CO detectors measure air pressure?

Don't currently have one but starting to consider it.

CO detectors measure CO. If you want more gasses than that, you have to buy more detectors. It looks like the Oxycheq units could be plumbed in parallel, so that one tube from your tank fed all 2 or 3 boxes.

The sensors all work at LP after being down-regulated by an orifice, valve, or regulator. So they can't measure tank pressure.

Bombay High · Oct 20, 2011

Scuba_Noob:
Based on the risks involved with even the smallest amount of Carbon Monoxide in your air (and some recent, though rare, accidents), I'm just wondering whether those of you who go on scuba vacations test your tank air frequently.

Do you own a CO detector? Would it be too paranoid for me to buy one (I'm sure most people who go on scuba vacations don't have them.)?

Can CO detectors measure the gas composition (e.g., percent oxygen/nitrogen or even trimix)?
Can CO detectors measure air pressure?

CO detectors detect CO .... hence the name.

BDSC · Oct 20, 2011

Scuba_Noob:
Based on the risks involved with even the smallest amount of Carbon Monoxide in your air (and some recent, though rare, accidents), I'm just wondering whether those of you who go on scuba vacations test your tank air frequently.

I have never tested a tank for carbon monoxide and probably never will. While I realize that it is possible that a tank could become contaminated, the chances of that happening is so remote that it's a risk I'm willing to take. At some point I think a person has to decide where to draw the line in trying to mitigate their risk in diving.

Wookie · Oct 20, 2011

If you ask (and continue to ask) the dive destination you are headed to if they monitor CO at the source (the air compressor), eventually everyone will put a CO monitor on their air compressors. Of course, most folks won't even ask for a basic air quality test.

Bombay High · Oct 20, 2011

BDSC:
I have never tested a tank for carbon monoxide and probably never will. While I realize that it is possible that a tank could become contaminated, the chances of that happening is so remote that it's a risk I'm willing to take. At some point I think a person has to decide where to draw the line in trying to mitigate their risk in diving.

Do you test O2 on a tank of Nitrox ? Or do you take the label at face value

I think a time will come where CO testing will be a matter of course.

TSandM · Oct 20, 2011

I don't currently own a CO detector, but I think this last accident will make me buy one. There have been three CO-related deaths in the area in recent history, and I dive there regularly.

BDSC · Oct 20, 2011

Bombay High:
Do you test O2 on a tank of Nitrox ? Or do you take the label at face value

Either I test it or have my dive buddy test it so I'll know how to set my computer but I don't test it for carbon monoxide.

Bombay High · Oct 20, 2011

BDSC:
Either I test it or have my dive buddy test it so I'll know how to set my computer but I don't test it for carbon monoxide.

My point is that in the same way that we take for granted that we need to test O2 content in Nitrox ourselves, a time will come where testing for CO will be as commonplace.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors?

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