Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors?

Celtic Blue · 03-21-2009, 12:09 AM

I need to replace a very old CO monitor that I doubt is even registering. I was planning to do this as a plug in AC type with digital display. I would prefer not to mess with batteries. In the interest in keeping my vampire loads to a minimum I would like to find one pulling a minimal amount of current.

My old one like this pulls about 3W continuously. I was hoping a newer one might pull about 1W, but I haven't found any operating power usage ratings for these. The specs merely indicate 60 mA peak current (giving me the max with the alarm sounding.) Does anyone have any recommendations for low wattage ones? I might even put in more than one, but only one of them will need a display.

jayman · 03-21-2009, 06:15 PM

I checked the one I got last year at Canadian Tire, it claims Garrity. Had to dink around with the short custom extension cord with separate wires, I'm reading 122 mA constant

Celtic Blue · 03-22-2009, 02:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jayman

I checked the one I got last year at Canadian Tire, it claims Garrity. Had to dink around with the short custom extension cord with separate wires, I'm reading 122 mA constant

Is that 122 mA off of the 110/120V? That's a fair bit of power!

jayman · 03-22-2009, 02:43 PM

Yes, that is what I recorded using a calibrated Fluke DMM. Around 14 watts by my math. It does feel warm to the touch

That would be ironic if it burst into flames and burned my house down. A gadget intended to keep me from croaking in my own house, kills me. Yep.

Celtic Blue · 03-22-2009, 03:21 PM

123 kwh/yr for a CO monitor seems a bit over the top doesn't it? Granted, your electric is cheap, but even a battery powered unit would make more sense.

Is it a combustible gas analyzer as well? I've seen combo units like that.

jayman · 03-22-2009, 06:16 PM

Yes it also checks for combustibles too. There is a backup 9 v battery but it won't last long

Celtic Blue · 03-24-2009, 10:48 PM

Spent 20 minutes on hold with Kidde. The rep. said that their current line of plug-in CO monitors pulls 0.75 watts (both LED and non-display models, which I found a little suspect.) So I guess I'll just buy one and test it.

jayman · 03-25-2009, 07:58 AM

Oops I think mine was an anomaly after all. It quit on me. Maybe I didn't notice before, but when I walked by it this morning the green LED was out. It's cold too

icarus · 03-25-2009, 04:06 PM

I've got several CO monitors that run on three AA batteries,, and they seem to run about a year between battery changes.

Icarus

jayman · 03-25-2009, 11:22 PM

Yep, my fancy-schmancy combustion gas/CO monitor is Tango Uniform. Well, at least it didn't burst into flames while I was sleeping, and kill me

That would have been ironic!

Had better find that receipt and demand a replacement. Mumble mumble hunk of mumble grumble ....

03-21-2009, 12:09 AM	#1
Celtic Blue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,224 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 165 Thanked 129 Times in 100 Posts Friends: 0	Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? I need to replace a very old CO monitor that I doubt is even registering. I was planning to do this as a plug in AC type with digital display. I would prefer not to mess with batteries. In the interest in keeping my vampire loads to a minimum I would like to find one pulling a minimal amount of current. My old one like this pulls about 3W continuously. I was hoping a newer one might pull about 1W, but I haven't found any operating power usage ratings for these. The specs merely indicate 60 mA peak current (giving me the max with the alarm sounding.) Does anyone have any recommendations for low wattage ones? I might even put in more than one, but only one of them will need a display.

03-21-2009, 06:15 PM	#2
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? I checked the one I got last year at Canadian Tire, it claims Garrity. Had to dink around with the short custom extension cord with separate wires, I'm reading 122 mA constant

03-22-2009, 02:43 PM	#4
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? Yes, that is what I recorded using a calibrated Fluke DMM. Around 14 watts by my math. It does feel warm to the touch That would be ironic if it burst into flames and burned my house down. A gadget intended to keep me from croaking in my own house, kills me. Yep.

03-22-2009, 03:21 PM	#5
Celtic Blue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,224 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 165 Thanked 129 Times in 100 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? 123 kwh/yr for a CO monitor seems a bit over the top doesn't it? Granted, your electric is cheap, but even a battery powered unit would make more sense. Is it a combustible gas analyzer as well? I've seen combo units like that.

03-22-2009, 06:16 PM	#6
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? Yes it also checks for combustibles too. There is a backup 9 v battery but it won't last long

03-24-2009, 10:48 PM	#7
Celtic Blue Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Midwest Posts: 2,224 My Car: 2008 Prius Model: Package: #2 Thanks: 165 Thanked 129 Times in 100 Posts Friends: 0	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? Spent 20 minutes on hold with Kidde. The rep. said that their current line of plug-in CO monitors pulls 0.75 watts (both LED and non-display models, which I found a little suspect.) So I guess I'll just buy one and test it.

03-25-2009, 07:58 AM	#8
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? Oops I think mine was an anomaly after all. It quit on me. Maybe I didn't notice before, but when I walked by it this morning the green LED was out. It's cold too

03-25-2009, 04:06 PM	#9
icarus Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: earth Posts: 4,540 My Car: 2007 Prius Model: N/A Package: #7 Thanks: 456 Thanked 832 Times in 545 Posts Friends: 8	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? I've got several CO monitors that run on three AA batteries,, and they seem to run about a year between battery changes. Icarus

03-25-2009, 11:22 PM	#10
jayman Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Winnipeg Manitoba Posts: 13,430 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: B Thanks: 220 Thanked 581 Times in 449 Posts Friends: 16	Re: Lowest wattage plug in CO monitors? Yep, my fancy-schmancy combustion gas/CO monitor is Tango Uniform. Well, at least it didn't burst into flames while I was sleeping, and kill me That would have been ironic! Had better find that receipt and demand a replacement. Mumble mumble hunk of mumble grumble ....

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