rambling robin Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Just wondering what the consensus of opinion is on the best place to site a Carbon Monoxide monitor. I seem to recall that CO is heavier than air so it seems floor level is best, or am I missing something? Trouble with all these alarms is the pulsing red or green light which means the inside of the van is like a set of traffic lights at night - so it needs to be out of site towards the rear somewhere. Thank you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest pelmetman Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Should the placement of carbon monoxide (CO) detectors be influenced by CO's weight relative to air? Hampson NB1, Courtney TG, Holm JR. Author information BACKGROUND: Numerous states and localities have recently passed legislation mandating the installation and use of residential carbon monoxide (CO) detectors/alarms. Interestingly, there seems to be confusion about the optimal placement, if any, of CO alarms inside the home. OBJECTIVES: It was the goal of this study to demonstrate the behavior of CO in air and to help provide a data-based recommendation for CO alarm placement. METHODS: CO was calculated to be slightly lighter than air. An 8-foot-tall airtight Plexiglas chamber was constructed and CO monitors placed within at the top, middle, and bottom. CO test gas (15 L, 3000 parts per million) was infused at each of the three heights in different trials and CO levels measured over time. RESULTS: ***********Contrary to a significant amount of public opinion, CO did not layer on the floor, float at the middle of the chamber, or rise to the top. In each case, the levels of CO equalized throughout the test chamber.************* It took longer to equalize when CO was infused at the top of the chamber than the bottom, but levels always became identical with time. CONCLUSIONS: As would have been predicted by the Second Law of Thermodynamics, CO infused anywhere within the chamber diffused until it was of equal concentration throughout. Mixing would be even faster in the home environment, with drafts due to motion or temperature. It would be reasonable to place a residential CO alarm at any height within the room. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. ;-) .......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted April 3, 2016 Share Posted April 3, 2016 Instructions on our detector say between 2 and 4 metres from burning fuel and at eye level. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
breakaleg Posted April 4, 2016 Share Posted April 4, 2016 Elddis has sighted ours in the middle of the van on the ceiling if that should help. Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rambling robin Posted April 4, 2016 Author Share Posted April 4, 2016 Thank you for the helpful replies - blindfold self, spin around a few times and throw a dart - wherever it lands that's where it gets installed. (lol) pelmetman's info seems to hep de-bunk yet another urban myth then.... :-D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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