OxyCheq Expedition Carbon Monoxide Analyzer

Expedition Carbon Monoxide Analyzer. Compact and fits in your hand. Does not include regulator or calibration gas.
 

Carbon Monoxide

What Is It?

Carbon monoxide (CO) is an odorless, colorless gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body. It is produced by the incomplete combustion of fuels.

What Are the Major Sources of CO?

Carbon monoxide is produced as a result of incomplete burning of carbon-containing fuels including coal, wood, charcoal, natural gas, and fuel oil. It can be emitted by combustion sources such as un-vented kerosene and gas space heaters, furnaces, wood stoves, gas stoves, fireplaces and water heaters, automobile exhaust from attached garages, parking areas, and tobacco smoke. Problems can arise as a result of improper installation, maintenance, or inadequate ventilation on or around compressors used for filling SCUBA tanks.

What Are the Health Effects?

Carbon monoxide interferes with the distribution of oxygen in the blood to the rest of the body. Depending on the amount inhaled, this gas can impede coordination, worsen cardiovascular conditions, and produce fatigue, headache, weakness, confusion, disorientation, nausea, and dizziness. Even low levels can cause death.

OxyCheq Vs Analox

CO Analyzer Comparison

• Analox advises use of a bump test before every dive due to the 6 ppm drift per year. So you will be purchasing a bump test every year, at least every 20 dives. Accuracy of Analox bump test seems to be approx 6ppm variance to zero “Ensure that the displayed reading rises above 7ppm but below 13ppm CO” The gas in the Analox’s Bump Test is / should be 10 ppm (Page 12 Analox EII CO Manual).
• Trying to throttle a valve down to a flow rate that a galvanic sensor would not be effected is nearly impossible. The Anolox as it has no option for a flow restrictor to use on a DIN or Yoke valve. The OxyCheq has the option to use a flow restrictor and is recommended.
• Venturi effect is very common when trying to butt the analyzer up to the valve. The Venturi effect will cause the reading to be lower by mixing ambient air into the sample. Again the OxyCheq has the option to use a flow restrictor to not have a venture effect.
• Bump test kit can is only good for 20 uses ($80 dollar for twenty dives = 4 dollars a dive) (Pg 24 of Analox manual).
• ** Humidity, temperature and pressure cause galvanic sensor to give false readings. The Analox EII CO does not allow for a flow restrictor to be used. The OxyCheq Expedition CO does allow for use of a flow restictor thus reducing the likelihood of external factors.
• Warranty for Analox is from the date they ship to reseller. OxyCheq is from the date the reseller sells the analyzer to the consumer (minus any reasonable extended time of shelf life of sensor).
• Discussion with OxyCheq, they have not seen any sensor replaced before 3.5 years.. most are at least 4 years old.. In the past 5 years they have seen one bad sensor and that was a warranty and that was within the first 30 days use.
• OxyCheq has an alarm at 10 PPM. This is a magic number for Maximum Average Occupational Exposure (Clean Ambient Air). As 30 ppm is only permissible over 8 hours in ambiant air.. http://www.nutramed.com/environment/monoxide.htm OxyCheq believes that any CO in air is bad for diving… Especially when dealing with partial pressures (under water). Just as oxygen is toxic at various pressures when under water.. so is CO.
• Do not dive if you get a reading of 3 to 5 ppm or more on the OxyCheq. Check again on a known clean air source to verify. Safety first.
• 50 ppm for calibration of OxyCheq (replacing sensor or 3.5 years) / 10 ppm for Analox (before every use) .