Geico266
Well Known Member
It is that time of year again when it is not a bad idea to test your heaters to make sure they are NOT LEAKING CO into your cabin. A monitor is cheap insurance and a "final test" to make sure you don't poison yourself or others.
I use a $45 portable CO detector with a digital monitor on the front. It uses a 9v battery and I test the air when ever I do something to the exhaust or add a heat muff, ect. It is cheap, portable, sensitive (I get readings of 15 PPM after taxing, zero when flying), and reliable.
http://www.kiddeus.com/utcfs/Templates/Pages/Template-53/0,8062,pageId=4428&siteId=384,00.html
There are some 12v portables also
http://www.guardianavionics.com/products.html
Here is a table I found about the different levels of CO and what it can do. It is not as simple as just get fresh air. CO inhibites the blood from taking in O2 for a long time after exposure. You could be exposed to a high level and still become incapacitated even if you can correct the situation. I'm not trying to scare anyone, just educate. Be SAFE!
Concentration of CO in air / Inhalation time and toxic developed
30 parts per million (ppm) = Safety level as specified by the Health and Safety Executive
100 PPM = Slight headache within 2-3 hours
300 PPM = Frontal headache within 1-2 hours, becoming widespread in 3 hours
600 PPM = Dizziness, nausea, convulsions within 45 minutes
1,000 PPM = Unconsciousness in minutes, death within 1 hour
I use a $45 portable CO detector with a digital monitor on the front. It uses a 9v battery and I test the air when ever I do something to the exhaust or add a heat muff, ect. It is cheap, portable, sensitive (I get readings of 15 PPM after taxing, zero when flying), and reliable.
http://www.kiddeus.com/utcfs/Templates/Pages/Template-53/0,8062,pageId=4428&siteId=384,00.html
There are some 12v portables also
http://www.guardianavionics.com/products.html
Here is a table I found about the different levels of CO and what it can do. It is not as simple as just get fresh air. CO inhibites the blood from taking in O2 for a long time after exposure. You could be exposed to a high level and still become incapacitated even if you can correct the situation. I'm not trying to scare anyone, just educate. Be SAFE!
Concentration of CO in air / Inhalation time and toxic developed
30 parts per million (ppm) = Safety level as specified by the Health and Safety Executive
100 PPM = Slight headache within 2-3 hours
300 PPM = Frontal headache within 1-2 hours, becoming widespread in 3 hours
600 PPM = Dizziness, nausea, convulsions within 45 minutes
1,000 PPM = Unconsciousness in minutes, death within 1 hour
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