DanD Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 After reading about the firefighter that died from CO poisoning while ice fishing. http://www.fieldandstream.com/blogs/field-notes/minnesota-firefighter-dies-from-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-while-ice-fishing I've been looking for a CO detector for the fish hut, that I just built. The ones I've found at CTC or Home Depot are portable (Battery operated) but they're not meant to be used or left in the cold. Operating temperature range is 40° to 100° F. not much good for a fish hut? Does anyone know of a unit that won't break the bank and still be accurate for what I want it for? Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NANUK Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 If the heating appliance (propane) is not vented to the outside, the CO detector will be going off all the time. As for operating temperature, you can have a portable CO detector and only use it while you are in the hut, 40F is + 4C, That's if your hut gets to that temp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vance Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 I just fired off a message to a friend who is a fire alarm tech to see if there is one. vance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vance Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Apparently low temp alarms are difficult to find if available at all . My friend the alarm tech said just to take your detector home with you and turn it on when the shack warms up. vance Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkpie Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 We leave detectors in our hunt camp all winter. Just remove the battery when you leave the hut. We've been doing this for years now with no issues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Cliff Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Got to say that having one is one of the smartest ideas I have heard in a long time! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joeytier Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 If your hut isn't warmer than 40 while using it, it ain't much good Just take the detector with you when you're not using it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huzzsaba Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 So when we rent huts on Simcoe, they use propane stove as heater. Is this safe? The only time we went, we had it on the whole time . Now it has me thinking. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Bacon Posted January 27, 2016 Report Share Posted January 27, 2016 Operating temperature range is 40° to 100° F. not much good for a fish hut? Does anyone know of a unit that won't break the bank and still be accurate for what I want it for? Dan. The way I read that sentense is that it will only give accurate readings if the inside temperature is between 40 to 100 F. If that is the case then you should be fine. Your hut would most likely be in that range when you are fishing with the heater on. If it was 30 below the night before you arrive you may not get accurate reading for the first few minutes. But it shouldn't take a heater too long to get the temperate over 40 F. If the cold actually damages the unit; that is a different story. But I don't think that is the case. If it was, they would need to ship them in temperature controlled trucks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Ironmaker Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) A CO detector will only give you readings on post combustion emissions. If there is a propane leak it won't alarm. Just because a detector alarms doesn't mean you are in immediate danger. Most are set to alarm at 50PPM, parts per million. The MOL says a worker can safely work in 50PPM for 4 hours. 400PPM for periods of 15 minutes. 50 PPM and I'm out of there. The problem with CO alarms are the people that ignore them because an alarm may sound at only 50 PPM and seconds latter the atmosphere can skyrocket to deadly levels. The most hazardous conditions in a hut are the huts that burn wood and are air tight, then you are looking at an oxygen deficiency in that hut, even though the flame may die at less than 17% oxygen it may be too late. Any heater should be vented to the outside. These Buddy Heaters and cook stoves in a tight insulated hut are very dangerous. The evil thing about CO exposure is once you might realize Highly unlikely)that you are being gassed it may be too late because no matter how hard you try the muscles and brain stop working and you can't walk. Learn the signs of CO poisoning. Go to the Ont. Occupational H&S act for Mines and Mining plants to get the best skinny on exposure levels for CO. I've been gassed, not a good experience. Edited January 28, 2016 by Old Ironmaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Open a window, or vent your heat. Simple as that. No shelter should be without a window or two, or a vent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Old Ironmaker Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Open a window, or vent your heat. Simple as that. No shelter should be without a window or two, or a vent That would be too logical Rick. Guys want R-2000 huts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.brock Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 I don't know, there's thousands of man hours spent in heated huts every year and very few incidents. I would guess CO is only a concern if you plan on sleeping in your hut or if you plan on getting so loaded that you wouldn't notice the onset of poisoning. I know of 2 guys that died from CO in a hut, they were sleeping over night in the hut and likely were really loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 (edited) I don't know, there's thousands of man hours spent in heated huts every year and very few incidents. I would guess CO is only a concern if you plan on sleeping in your hut or if you plan on getting so loaded that you wouldn't notice the onset of poisoning. I know of 2 guys that died from CO in a hut, they were sleeping over night in the hut and likely were really loaded. I know my heater shuts itself off. That being said i only use it in pop ups. For the shack its a fixed propane heater and exhaust. Youde have to be insanely loaded not to know because it gets to +20 in about 20 minutes lol Its like burning ash in a 12x10 hahaha Edited January 28, 2016 by manitoubass2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.brock Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 It just seems like a shame to build a well insulated, masterpiece like that, and then have to open a window. How do these ice bungalow outfitters do it? You don't hear about problems with CO for them and there's likely lots of guys loaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chris.brock Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Maybe go with a set up like mine. A clean burning, engineering genius, Hahahaha Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manitoubass2 Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 It just seems like a shame to build a well insulated, masterpiece like that, and then have to open a window. How do these ice bungalow outfitters do it? You don't hear about problems with CO for them and there's likely lots of guys loaded. Just leave a crack in it is all. Its plenty warm enough. Im sure the hut rentals are just well ventilated. Really thats all thats needed. No different then burning wood at the cabin really Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wormdunker Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Chris Brock must be a redneck. (Jeff Foxworthy). Awesome heater! How were you able to cut an opening in a propane tank without explosion? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanD Posted January 28, 2016 Author Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 Thanks for all the replies people. The heater/furnace I installed is a proper RV furnace. It takes air from the outside for combustion, it has a heat exchange box (lack of a better word) and a fan that recirculates the inside air. I took the furnace all apart before installing it, so I could inspect the heat exchanger for burn through or cracks and it all looks good. When the furnace is running the exhaust is clear, with no sooting on the exhaust port. As for the heat produced, I set the thermostat at 80° closed the hut up and let it run. After 10 minutes the furnace shut off; I thought what the hell went wrong? Nothing was wrong it was up to temp already. I'm not anticipating a CO problem, just piece of mind knowing we're OK in there. So I'll do as some have suggested and it'll be part of the ritual to bring it with me every time we go out. I'll keep it in the munchies bag; I would never forget that. LOL Thanks again. Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
can u fish Posted January 28, 2016 Report Share Posted January 28, 2016 That is pretty slick Chris Red neck style or what. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now