Do You Analyze Your Gas for CO?

[hunabku]

They should incorporate a CO tester into a HE/o2 tester

I use an aquarium gang valve and have my He/O2 and CO piped to the same flow limiter to test all three at once. It stays set up neatly in a pelican case.

Makes it very easy and conveinient. Plus it is hard to skip a test.

[cavediver256]

I started using a CO analyzer during my Trimix courses with Shirley. She made one available during the course and insisted that we analyzed not only for content of He and O2 but for CO as well after every fill. After the course, I went and purchased my own. I now have a Storm case with an Oxycheq O2 analyzer, Analox Helium and O2 analyzer, and a Analox CO analyzer, dive computers, tape, sharpies and all the goodies I need for analyzing and marking all tanks with content, date, and time. Having everything in one spot for analyzing, marking tanks and adjusting computers for the mix on hand makes it convenient and leaves me no excuse for not checking and verifying the contents of all tanks prior to diving.

Thanks Shirley!!!!!

[MORGAN]

...a Storm case with an Oxycheq O2 analyzer, Analox Helium and O2 analyzer, and a Analox CO analyzer, dive computers, tape, sharpies and all the goodies I need for analyzing and marking all tanks with content, date, and time.

That's a good idea. I'm going to do the same thing when I have a few extra bucks. I already have a Pelican case that will be the right size.

Mike

[cavediver256]

Morgan, here ya go .....

http://www.cavediver.net/forum/galle...?i=10581&c=501

Thats a Storm iM2700 Case, I could have probably went slightly smaller, but I already had this one laying around, so I just ordered new foam and laid it out. And yes that is pink duct tape !!! Shirley made me put that in there !!!!!

[MORGAN]

Very nice!

I have always used the plain old gray duct tape, but if I had been trained by Shirley I would proudly use the pink!

I'm waiting for the bacon-pattern duct tape.

Mike

[Jack Hammer]

....I'm waiting for the bacon-pattern duct tape.

Mike

Interestingly enough, I actually saw bacon patterned duct tape a couple of months ago, pretty sure it was at Target. My local Ace hardware also has a variety of "designer" pattern duct tape too.

[Chris H]

I believe the CGA standards for Grade D and E breathing air is <10ppm CO. What are you using as your maximum, there is no way in hell I'm breathing this, value? Do the available meters require a zero and span gas? I analyze NF Nitrogen in the laboratory using Draeger Tubes, and sometimes Gas Chromatography. What are those of you who test regularly seeing for values, and if you always get a reading of Zero, how do you know the sensor is working? I'm not attempting to downplay the importance of CO analysis, and I've seen Michael Angelo's presentation regarding this topic. I'm interested in the data.

[Chris H]

I believe the CGA standards for Grade D and E breathing air is <10ppm CO. What are you using as your maximum, there is no way in hell I'm breathing this, value? Do the available meters require a zero and span gas? I analyze NF Nitrogen in the laboratory using Draeger Tubes, and sometimes Gas Chromatography. What are those of you who test regularly seeing for values, and if you always get a reading of Zero, how do you know the sensor is working? I'm not attempting to downplay the importance of CO analysis, and I've seen Michael Angelo's presentation regarding this topic. I'm interested in the data.

I just checked out the analog manual so that answers my questions about the span gas. I'm still interested in what people consider their maximum allowable CO value and what numbers people are seeing.

[Mark Vlahos]

It becomes necessary to consider your planned depth since depth increases the partial pressure of the gas (and contaminants) you will breathe. Personally I draw the line at 3.

I don't dive tri-mix so my depths are going to be shallower than many others. I will dive a reading of 1. I will consider my planned depth and probably dive a reading of 2. I will reject a tank with a reading of 3.

I'm no expert, but that is my plan. So far the most I have seen is a reading of 1, and I dove that tank. Of course that dive had a planned maximum depth of 45 feet, the actual maximum depth was more like 30 feet and that was only for a very few minutes.

Mark Vlahos

[Chris H]

Thank You Mark. Further reading of the Analox manual and I found the following:
Analox advises that the maximum allowable CO exposure levels should be to that
stated in the British Health and Safety Executive (HSE) DVIS9(rev1) document (Diver’s
breathing air standard and the frequency of examination and tests (Diving Information Sheet
No 9 (Revision 1)).
This states that: Carbon monoxide content shall be as low as possible but not exceed
3 ppm. (For air diving to 50metres)
It looks like your limit of 3ppm is reasonable.

Chris