A Co monitor is an alarm that alerts you to the presence of dangerous levels of carbon monoxide. It is particularly useful in homes with gas cookers, fireplaces and heaters, garages, caravans, campers and motorhomes or anywhere else that has combustion equipment. CO2 is an odourless, colourless and tasteless gas that can cause many different health problems at high concentrations. Because CO2 cannot be detected by human senses it is important to have a sensor in place that will notify you of any leaks as soon as they occur.
CO detectors can be either fixed or portable and have various features but they all work in the same way; to monitor the ambient air and detect rising levels of CO2. Most use electrochemical sensors that are sensitive to the changes in electrical currents produced when carbon monoxide comes into contact with the cell.
Some models have a digital display that shows the current reading and a peak reading from memory so that you can see at a glance whether the levels are unsafe or not. Others offer a number of notifications including colored light signals, voice alerts or audible alarms. Some also have a silencing feature that can be used to silence the CO2 alarm when there are no leaks or when the battery is low.
Versatile Protection: The Role of a Multi-Gas Detector
Other models use metal oxide semiconductor or electrochemical sensors that operate with very little power and have an instant response. These sensors are often found in commercial sensing equipment and can have very high levels of sensitivity. Alternatively, some CO detectors are designed to reduce the cross-interference of hydrogen using one or two electrodes and a catalyst with a lower sensitivity to hydrogen. This type of detector is commonly used in mining/mine rescue and steel plants.