CO2 Detectors

northern

Well-Known Member
Jan 17, 2007
3,516
Anacortes Washington
Boat Info
380 Aft Cabin 1989 Charts Timezero radar Furuno
Engines
Twin 454 strait shaft
We have 2 on the boat. They expire this year. New ones are $70 each. Ones you plug into 120 volt with battery backup are $30. Are the $30 ones Coast Guard acceptable or do I need to get the 12 volt ones that are permanently connected and on?
 
Of course you sparked my interest so I goggled it. Seems like they are all hardwired
 
I bought two battery only ones from Costco to go along with the one that is factory.
Doubt they are Coast Guard approved, but I'm sure they work just fine.
 
CO, not CO2.
 
I just added to my marine one, so I don't consider it going cheap.
 
I caught that also, just didn't think it was a big deal.
It's just my pet peeve of mine I suppose, when discussing a deadly gas to use the right term.
 
I will order the hard wired ones. Smoke detector in house is hard wired 120 volt and I get a slight reduction in my home insurance. $140 is only 40 gallons of gas or a 40 knot trip.
The reason I was asking was I had my 5 year insurance inspection and it noted the CO detectors were out of date. The out of date ones seem to still work as they go off some times.
 
Just as important is that the marine-rated Fireboy detectors use a "time-weighted" method of detection and alarm. That means far fewer false alarms, and the knowledge that when it goes off, it's a real alarm.
 
It's just my pet peeve of mine I suppose, when discussing a deadly gas to use the right term.
I'm with you... I opened the thread just to make sure someone corrected the OP. There's a huge difference between the 2 gases.
 
MN has required all boater use a certified marine CO detector. I replaced mine last year. On one hand I am glad I have it, on the other hand, I expect to be boarded by the sheriff more often which is friggin' lame.
 
I keep the factory CO detector up to date and supplement with 9V battery powered digital display Kiddie units in any sleeping area as well as one for the helm to keep track of "station wagon effect" CO when using the canvas. It is comforting to manage the CO levels as you navigate on a spring or fall day.

MM
 
Have 3 battery operated ones in my house. Basement, first, and second floors.
Converted to gas heat recently and wound up with what turned out to be a freak down draft condition causing all three to go off.
I’ve got two hard wired ones hooked up to my alarm system and the battery ones went off before the wired ones.
Boy was I glad to have redundancy.
If I wasn’t a believer before, I sure am now.
I’ve got the same redundancy with the smoke detectors in the house.
Plan is now to make sure the hard wired ones on the boat are up to date this Spring and add a battery one as extra insurance.
Buy cheaper beer or store brand snacks for consumption on the boat next season, but go overboard on the CO detectors.
 

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