Downside to lower CO alarm?

Kayteg1 wrote:
CO poisoning is still not well explained to general public, but available knowledge is that it mix with most of the air, that is why sensor is recommended in mid-level.
I still think that it doesn't matter that much.
I am against combining the alarms as propane sensors work for long years (I tested 20 yo still working) when CO sensor has 10 years efficient life and should be replaced.
So if you keep the camper long, you will have dilemma in few years.
I also like the idea about 10 years batteries no matter what.
CO poisoning is "by absorption" what is another hard to figure out feature.
In my old house I had fireplace, that I was using heavy. At the time I had CO detector who would display value of 500, what is consider deadly, but for short time it lasted the detector did not start alarm.
Lastly I camped for almost 20 years before CO detectors become available and am still alive.
Just don't use range oven for comfort heating and make sure your furnace is in good condition.
Lot of owners use furnace heavily in cold climates, while never cleaning the burner.
For generator use, you suppose to have exhaust gas alarm, but those are still hard to get.

I have no clue what you mean by CO poisoning is "by absorption". It's inhaled, and as it accumulates in your blood it binds more readily to the hemoglobin than oxygen, so your cells slowly starve of oxygen. The phenomenon you describe with your CO detector sounds about right, a fairly high level of CO for a short time might not cause an alarm where a lower level for a long time might. I've never heard of an exhaust gas alarm specifically for generator use, and CO is the gas in generator exhaust that is most dangerous.