Kansas-based Radiant Technology has enjoyed sizable success selling low-cost CO detectors for a variety of aircraft cockpits and it has been expanding its line of experimental avionics products with a focus on saving space, weight, and the budget. Experimental Aviator contributor Larry Anglisano talked with Radiant’s founder James Wiebe about some of the latest products.
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At those prices it’s no wonder the other companies and EAA.COM squawked about his informal presser. Very interesting and worthy of further investigation!
I have the CO detector and for the price it’s a nice little unit (though I hate that there is no auto shutoff) and now one would be crazy to rely on the paper dot detectors. My gripe on all of these is nobody seems to inform upfront that the detector is life limited (because of the sensor technology) nor whether the sensor can be replaced or you just toss the unit and buy another.
We asked Radiant about this and were told:
All of its CO detectors have a 3-year warranty and the functional life of the sensors are typically 3 to 5 years, with a recommended yearly function (bump) test. Electromechanical CO cells age faster with high temp and low humidity because of electrolyte drying. Solvents/vapors/silicone found in household cleaners should be avoided, plus high CO exposure will take a toll.
Thank you Larry! I appreciate articles like this one. Just to be sure I double checked my Radiant Geiger Pro manual (nice unit by the way) which says 10yr sensor life and no mention of environmental factors (sigh). Anyway, thanks for checking with them and now that I know I’ll quit leaving it in the hangar’s triple digit summer heat and single digit humidity.
Radiant says your unit indeed has a 10-year sensor.
That small USB C CO detector seems like the right product for me. I need something for my Volkswagen style heater core.