Quote: Originally posted by dk168 on 29/8/2013I have a red collapsible bucket that I fill up with water and put in front of the tent by the kitchen.
DK
Quote: Originally posted by chappers2341 on 29/8/2013
Maybe safer than an open wood fire but, a butane gas stove is much less likely to produce carbon monoxide than a wood stove
That's where you're wrong. Any stove - gas, petrol, wood or coal - will produce carbon monoxide when operated in a confined space with a limited oxygen supply. Just because a gas stove is more clean burning when operated in the open air doesn't mean it's any safer in a tent or other small, enclosed space.
Unlike a woodburner with a flue, ALL of the fumes from the gas stove end up in your living space, so ANY CO produced will be breathed in by the occupants.
By comparison, the risk from a properly fitted stove is marginal and almost certainly the result of the stove being used improperly. Of course, it is possible to use it wrongly and poison yourself, but that's the case with any stove, regardless of fuel type.
The bottom line is, you're far safer with a stove with a proper flue. Not 100% safe (for the pedants out there) but safe enough.
If you want to continue believing that then carry on, the facts are that wood requires more oxygen to burn than butane and even more so than propane, also you are far more likely to have a larger volume of fuel burning at any one time with a wood burning stove. Wood burning stoves are themselves contained and restrict air flow leaving them more likely to be burning in low levels of oxygen.
You also make a point about clean burning which is actually relevant, but that is due to contaminants in wood, which themselves lead to the inherent production of CO.
Burning butane in open air will lead to no or neglible production of CO where as burning wood, under the same conditions will always lead to the production
of CO.
My original point was that just because you have a flue on your fire you shouldn't think you are immune to CO poisoning
Quote: Originally posted by chappers2341 on 30/8/2013
Burning butane in open air will lead to no or neglible production of CO where as burning wood, under the same conditions will always lead to the production
of CO.
That's true, but we weren't discussing the burning of either in open air. Instead, we were discussing burning them in the enclosed environment of a tent, where both can easily produce CO. In an enclosed space, burning gas is not necessarily safer than other fuels.
Quote:
My original point was that just because you have a flue on your fire you shouldn't think you are immune to CO poisoning
I don't. If the flue is cracked and leaking fumes back into the tent, that would be dangerous. But given that I check my equipment and have a sensitive CO detector, I think that's a negligible risk. YMMV.
Tentage, due to the extreme humidity levels found in tents/awnings CO monitors may not function properly. One thing I would be concerned about using a wood burning stove in a bell or similar tent is the way it's used. Unlike a gas cooker only being on when your cooking a wood burning stove may be used for cooking and heating a tent. If the flue is working fine all good.
However if it's not then any leakage of CO could be over a longer period thus increasing the danger of CO build up...?
I have cooked inside my tent for over 30 years and have never had a problem. My Mum did the same for 40 years.Until I joined ukcs it had neve entered my head not to.
It was a long time ago but perhaps still relevant today! Luckily the family seemed to be out for the day,but it looks like they lost everything,mind you,if they were out,how did the fire start??
Quote: Originally posted by mcguire6078 on 30/8/2013
Tentage, due to the extreme humidity levels found in tents/awnings CO monitors may not function properly. One thing I would be concerned about using a wood burning stove in a bell or similar tent is the way it's used. Unlike a gas cooker only being on when your cooking a wood burning stove may be used for cooking and heating a tent. If the flue is working fine all good.
However if it's not then any leakage of CO could be over a longer period thus increasing the danger of CO build up...?
You make an interesting point about the performance of electronics in adverse conditions. It's true that appliances designed for the home are not guaranteed to work properly in very humid or very cold spaces. However, I would expect my CO detector - and any other detector that uses an electrochemical cell - to be okay. The accuracy of these type of sensors is not affected by humidity, and the rest of the electronics can be tested at any time using the test button.
It's true that constant very high humidity can damage electronic equipment, but we're talking about occasional use here. If it were a major issue, all manner of electronic items would prove unreliable in tents, and that's evidently not the case.
One genuine issue here is that of freezing temperatures, which definitely would render an electrochemical CO sensor inoperative. I admit, it's not a scenario that I'd considered as I have no intention of camping in sub-zero conditions. For those very hardy souls who do though, it's something to bear in mind.
It might be worth just checking the instruction manual supplied with your detector. Even electrochemical cell CO monitors are affected by humidity.
As an example the one I have at home is a Honeywell SF45OEN which has an electrochemical cell. The operating manual states it has recommended operating humidity range of 30-90%. In all honesty your probably fine but just be aware the CO monitor may be affected by the conditions in the tent.
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