Best placement for CO2 detector??

[student]

Where is the best place to put the CO2 detector in a sleeper house? By the floor or the ceiling?

[slipperybob]

At snooze level. If you have a cot and sleep, right at that level of where you take your breath. If you're just gonna snooze in the chair, right at that level where you take your breath.

[Effie07]

I believe you mean CO detector....Carbon Monoxide is that one you need to be worried about in the ice house. If I were the government/EPA I would tell you to place a CO2 detector in front of your face so that I could monitor your annual carbon footprint and tax you at the end of the year.

[JimBuck]

Good question. I've been wondering the same thing. Doesn't CO2 tend to sink down towards the floor and fill up from there?

I think slipperybob has the right idea. Might as well protect yourself when most vulnerable (sleeping).

[fishwater]

Carbon monoxide will rise slightly in the air, so I would go bunk height or higher.

[olbaidhh]

Carbon monoxide is slightly lighter then air... so you would think the higher you put it the better. ??? yep what fishwater said

[jeffreyd]

When considering where to place a carbon monoxide detector, keep in mind that although carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air (carbon monoxide's specific gravity is 0.9657, as stated by the EPA; the National Resource Council lists the specific gravity of air as one), it may be contained in warm air coming from combustion appliances such as home heating equipment. If this is the case, carbon monoxide will rise with the warmer air.

Installation locations vary by manufacturer. Manufacturers' recommendations differ to a certain degree based on research conducted with each one's specific detector. Therefore, make sure to read the provided installation manual for each detector before installing.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

Last I was told, it is slightly heavier than air, but only by a little bit. The convection(?) of heat rising, and cold sinking, is enough to cause it to be generally spread out evenly (top to bottom) in a small area like a fish house.

Someone here can probably confirm or deny the validity of this info.

[herefish101]

Heck if your that worried put on down low and one up high. In a space the size of a wheel house it's not going to matter the detcectors on the market will go off even before the levles in the shack get to a point where you would be in trouble. I have no scientific proof but I swear I'v herd that carbon monoxide pools low then slowly fills a room.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

A lot of the detectors don't go off unless the CO level is elevated for a certain amount of time. I put a detector in mine that has a digital PPM read out, just to be extra safe.

[herefish101]

I did a little resurch and found this on another HSOforum...

Proper placement of a carbon monoxide (CO) detector is important. If you are installing only one carbon monoxide detector, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recommends it be located near the sleeping area, where it can wake you if you are asleep. Additional detectors on every level and in every bedroom of a home provides extra protection against carbon monoxide poisoning.

Homeowners should remember not to install carbon monoxide detectors directly above or beside fuel-burning appliances, as appliances may emit a small amount of carbon monoxide upon start-up. A detector should not be placed within fifteen feet of heating or cooking appliances or in or near very humid areas such as bathrooms.

When considering where to place a carbon monoxide detector, keep in mind that although carbon monoxide is roughly the same weight as air (carbon monoxide's specific gravity is 0.9657, as stated by the EPA; the National Resource Council lists the specific gravity of air as one), it may be contained in warm air coming from combustion appliances such as home heating equipment. If this is the case, carbon monoxide will rise with the warmer air.

Installation locations vary by manufacturer. Manufacturers' recommendations differ to a certain degree based on research conducted with each one's specific detector. Therefore, make sure to read the provided installation manual for each detector before installing.

So the propper install hight should be in the instalation manual that came with the unit.

[student]

You're correct, I meant CO not CO2.

I wasn't sure if it made a difference or not. Sounds like just having one somewhere is more important than where it's placed.

[slipperybob]

When you look at the atomic mass of the gas, yes some will be heavier than others, but gas do not stratisfy like how we think it should. Gas tend to diffuse fairly evenly in our ice shacks regardless. Warm air will rise, cool air will fall. Air is made up of several gas like nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide already. Carbon dioxide is heavier than oxygen. Oxygen is heavier than nitrogen. Carbon monoxide is lighter than oxygen.

[spearchucker]

You're correct, I meant CO not CO2.

I wasn't sure if it made a difference or not.

The difference is that the CO2 detector would go off whenever you open a beer or pop can...

[bobbymalone]

if yer in a normal sized ice house, I bet it doesn't matter a bit. Especially if you have a bit of circulation.

[cold one sd]

I put mine close to the ceiling where it is out of the way and where the manufacturer recommended. I have two computer fans circulating the air 24 hrs so placement probably isn't that critical.

[DIESELDAN]

I think as long as you HAVE ONE with good batteries thats the most important thing. I put mine fairly high I figured its a little warmer up high and batteries last longer if they are kept warm.

[Surface Tension]

I think as long as you HAVE ONE with good batteries thats the most important thing. I put mine fairly high I figured its a little warmer up high and batteries last longer if they are kept warm.

That was my reply.

Keep it high so the heat can keep it warm.

I'd go on to say take it out of the shack when your done and store it in an insulated case to reduce the amount of cycles of condensation getting at it. That will keep it clean as well and you don't want the exhaust from your power auger fouling it either.

Cold batteries are going to take a long time to warm and cold cheap batteries won't work worth at darn.

How do I know this?

From personal experience to the point the CO detector did not work and when it did the low battery warning beeped the entire time.

Use the same batteries you'd use in your digital camera.

I use Energizer Rechargeable batteries. Carry a spare set too.

[Mainehazmt]

I also agree with in the breathing zone! also beware some of them are alarming cumulative time! I also favor the style with the digital read out but then I tend to from time to time check it with one of my profesional meters! lol

[minnbowhunter]

This got me thinking, my wheelhouse came with a 12 volt CO detector that is mounted close to the floor. I recently put an addition on my cabin and my electrician used combination smoke alarm/CO alarms that were mounted on the ceiling. We talked about it and both thought it was kinda silly since we both thought that CO was heavier than air.

[Mainehazmt]

co in it's Pure form is lighter but add in the products of combustion and it will change

[korn_fish]

Quoted from some gas techy HSOforum

"The density of Carbon Monoxide at 20 °C (68 °F) is 0.96716 which is slightly lighter than the density of air (1.00). However, at 0 °C or 32 °F the density is increased to 1.250 which is much heavier than air. Practically speaking, placing the CO Alarm high or low is not a major concern at room temperature. CO permeates a room much like the scent of perfume dispersing uniformly in all directions and in effect engulfs a room. Install your CO Alarm within 40 ft of all rooms used for sleeping purposes."

Are you sure that floor mounted detector isn't a propane detector instead of CO? Propane detectors should be at floor level.

[RIPN LIPS]

Co is lighter that air and forms in the corners of the room, when there is a lot of co it starts to get heavey and sinks to the floor and fill the room. the detectors should be at outlet level. at your residents it should be by the utilities and in the adult bedroom. i found out this information when my whole family took a trip to the hyperbaric chamber 2 years ago. high and low is good but the one up high will go off from time to time. be safe this stuff is dangerous....

[grasshopper]

CO detectors can be placed near the ceiling or near the floor because CO is very close to the same density as air

[Surface Tension]

The biggest of shacks is very small in comparison to your home.

Are we worried whether the guy in the top bunk will pass away sooner then the guy in the bottom bunk?

Just put it where your not going to bump it and the batteries stay warm.