Using a Field piece co detector (scm4) that I borrowed from work, after getting furnace done I was checking my house and I noticed around light switches it would light up and beep really fast & registering around 100ppm then quickly return to 0ppm just like a voltage detector would do. Could anyone explain what's happening. Thanks.
Carbon monoxide detector
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Not sure what you are seeing, but receptacles and switch boxes are subject to air pressures that either bring air into the room or exhaust air out. The pressures are either normal stack effect (SE) or the result of fans somewhere. If we look at just the SE during cold weather the direction is in at the lower areas and out at the upper. There are exceptions we won't get into here.
Now, the air inside those walls can be coming from your basement as the overall direction is up.
Does this reading repeat later on?
Is there any pattern to where you see this, high or low?
Bud
Now, the air inside those walls can be coming from your basement as the overall direction is up.
Does this reading repeat later on?
Is there any pattern to where you see this, high or low?
Bud
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Maybe it is picking up Ozone?
Electronic air cleaners can produce ozone and a electric switch is carrying current and maybe produces a tiny amount of ozone?
We don't know what technology Fieldpiece uses to read Oxygen molecules and maybe it gets confused.
I would e-mail them and see if their tech support or engineers can help you.
If you want to test the unit then put it near your car exhaust pipe.
Electronic air cleaners can produce ozone and a electric switch is carrying current and maybe produces a tiny amount of ozone?
We don't know what technology Fieldpiece uses to read Oxygen molecules and maybe it gets confused.
I would e-mail them and see if their tech support or engineers can help you.
If you want to test the unit then put it near your car exhaust pipe.
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10,841 Posts
Did you power it up and allow it to self calibrate per the manual? It says it takes about 10 seconds to warm up and should be allowed to self calibrate in 'nominal air such as outdoors' and that it is intended to measure it still ambient air. Normal pressure differentials at outlets, etc. as mentioned might not be considered still air.
They (and others) caution not to do that as it will probably wreck the sensor. Seeing as it is borrowed from work, the boss might not be pleased.
They (and others) caution not to do that as it will probably wreck the sensor. Seeing as it is borrowed from work, the boss might not be pleased.
Thank you guys, the detector was calibrated and nothe areas in the show's any readings not even in the basement near the furnace only at light switches and that's only for a second then it quickly returns to 0ppm. Ps. My house is over a 100years old don't know if that matters or not thanks
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