Real world test of a First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector

[HoneycombAgent]

Kidde makes CO/smoke/gas detectors, but in all seriousness, technology has come a long way since the "airplane CO detector".

[MikeRemlap]

I don't get your point. Regardless of how old the airplane CO detector is, it responded immediately to CO from an extinguished match. Whereas the First Alert took more than 4 minutes to respond to the CO from a million matches. If an "old" unit can do it, so should a new. BTW, the airplane CO uses a modern sensor by Figaro.

[gasdorf]

i tested mine on propane seems quite effective ...i keep it above my small propane tanks during winter for my mr heater

[MikeRemlap]

There are different sensors which sniff different gases. First Alert does make a natural gas detector too. Is this the one you're using that responds well to propane?

[gasdorf]

@MikeRemlap my biggest issue with it soo far is it use one battery a week ...gets expensive!!!!

[MikeRemlap]

It's an AC powered unit. It shouldn't be using battery at all.

[rainbowsalads]

what a rubbish device., you could live in a house with a faulty gas fire for months and seriously harm your health.

[CarMoves]

think about it -- if the alarm sounds too easily, all the time, people will disable it.

the alarm is labeled as being for "in-doors". your test, being outdoors, is misleading because fresh air would dilute the PPM.

it would have been better to start the smoke, attach the unit under a garbage lid and close it -- concentrating the air to quickly accumulate the required ppm.

[MikeRemlap]

The alarm doesn't sound easily enough. There are other units available that trigger at lower levels sooner. They don't false.

As for your alternate test - remember, the manual says the FirstAlert will take a few minutes before it first alerts. A zillion ppm of CO wouldn't make it sound faster.

[HoneycombAgent]

@MikeRemlap

Next time you get a detector, select ones that have a digital readout.

[hyperbaricchicken101]

The sampling is suppost to save battery life.