# CO Detector **URL:** \ **Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\ **Created:** [February 27, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190 "2008-02-27T02:31:53Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Greenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Greenwood](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Greenwood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/1 "2008-02-27T02:31:53Z")
In the Feb 21 column in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, T&R recommended a Carbon Monoxide Detector for a person who suspected CO leakage. They assured readers we could find one at the hardware store for around $20. All the hardware stores I have contacted have only CO alarms, and they are well over $20. What am I missing? ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:34am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/2 "2008-02-27T02:34:30Z")
CO is carbon monoxide. CO2 is carbon dioxide. Detector=alarm. Is your question about price? $40-50 is what I have seen around. What does this have to do with automobiles? ---
**Author:** ![Greenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Greenwood](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Greenwood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/3 "2008-02-27T02:37:59Z")
I’m talking about Carbon Monoxide. My question is about item–I can find CO Alarms for a lot of money, but not CO detectors for any price. The column implied the detector should give a CO level reading. But an alarm is made for a house, and does not give a reading; rather if buzzes if the CO level goes too high. ---
**Author:** ![Greenwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Greenwood](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Greenwood)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:39am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/4 "2008-02-27T02:39:38Z")
The cartalk column [http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels/352061\_talk22.html](http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/wheels/352061_talk22.html) advises the reader to use a CO detector to check for CO leaks in a car. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/5 "2008-02-27T02:40:35Z")
search the internet for “Carbon Monoxide Meter”, you will find lots of meters for several hundred dollars. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:41am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/6 "2008-02-27T02:41:53Z")
detector is the same as alarm, and they sell for about $50. If you want to actually measure the level, you need a CO meter, and they sell for $200-400. Tom and Ray are not experts on everything. A search of the internet will give you the numbers noted above. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 2:48am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/7 "2008-02-27T02:48:42Z")
correcting the above, a CO alarm is the $40-50 item that rings an alarm when to CO level goes above a preset limit. A CO meter is like a voltmeter and reads the actual level of CO. $200-400. The terms CO Detector and CO analyzer are a bit ambiguous and I have seen them applied to either type of instrument. ---
**Author:** ![92Subaru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/9/ac91a4/32.png) [@92Subaru](https://community.cartalk.com/u/92Subaru)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/8 "2008-02-27T03:14:54Z")
I bought a CO detector/meter some time back with an alarm and a digital meter on the front(ppm of CO). Seems that it was around $50. Nighthawk brand, division of Kidde Safety. Portable as it uses 3 AAA batteries. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Russell](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Bill\_Russell](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Bill_Russell)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2008, 3:15am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/co-detector/11190/9 "2008-02-27T03:15:49Z")
I stand corrected, didn’t know that was available…