Real world test of a First Alert Carbon Monoxide Detector

An unofficial test of a First Alert Model CO606 Carbon Monoxide Detector. After I made this video, I found another video which confirmed my findings. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2M28lRzyEcI

There they say Fire Fighters put on masks at 35 ppm CO! (Whereas the First Alert won't alarm until 400 ppm.) In the aforementioned video, they show a unit which responds very quickly, Exactly what I was looking for.

The NSI 3000 looks to be a good deal. The biggest bang for your buck. See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vgMBMN8BuQk

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• carbon monoxide
• smoke detector
• gas
• fireplace
• natural gas
• safe levels
• unconsciousness

[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?

[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.

[hyperbaricchicken101]

The sampling is suppost to save battery life.