Sensorcon battery life - informal test over 6 months

[Bolter]

I bought a new Sensorcon CO detector earlier, February of this year, and tossed the old one in my pickup truck.  I am not sure which day I actually put it in the truck, but it was at least May of 2024, if not April.  Let's say at least 7 months or more than 4500 hours.  Turned it on and left it on.  It is still going, and working.  I have no idea what the accumulated time was on the old one, but it was bought in 2017 after Dan arranged the discount for us.  In that 7 years, I flew about 600-700 hours.  Does that mean it has been on for over 5000 hours?  Most probably.

I used to berate myself everytime I forgot to turn it off after a flight.  I now realize it does not really matter if I forget it many times.

I plan to keep it on until it dies, and will update this thread then.

[Fly Boomer]

5 hours ago, Bolter said:

I plan to keep it on until it dies, and will update this thread then.

Excellent PIREP.  Thanks!

[Pinecone]

FYI, just because the battery is still good, does not mean that the sensor is still working properly.

 

[EricJ]

They use very little current, so they're supposed to last a long time even when on continuously.   A buddy of mine left his on all the time and it started complaining about being out of cal, so I think that's one of the downsides of leaving it on.    I turn mine off when not in use, and I'm on my original unit and battery from when many of us bought them right after Dan's accident.   It's still going fine and hasn't complained about anything.

 

[Bolter]

1 hour ago, Pinecone said:

FYI, just because the battery is still good, does not mean that the sensor is still working properly.

 

Specifcally, mine was in the calibration warning stage, and it was jsut easier to buy a new one.  This is definitely out of calibration, but it will read something occasionally, so I believe it works, even if not accurate to within factory standards.  I did actually find that I got a notable non-zero reading one day when leaves (Seattle, 4 seasons) had clogged the cabin air inlet of the pickup, so it was sucking air from somewhere else.  Values dropped back to zero after clearing the leaves out.  That was unexpected.

[flyboy0681]

I've had several Sensorcon's and around the two year mark (of leaving it constantly on) it flashes "EOL" for End of Life.

[Bolter]

3 minutes ago, flyboy0681 said:

I've had several Sensorcon's and around the two year mark (of leaving it constantly on) it flashes "EOL" for End of Life.

Based on mine, the calibration interval is longer than 2 years, so it is still good advice to turn it off during prolonged non-use.  But never a problem to forget, even for days at a time. 

[1964-M20E]

Replaced the battery in mine and now I can't get it to turn off.    I guess I will either buy a new one or send it in to be calibrated, needs it anyway.

[Marc_B]

I have a CO Experts PG-2017-5 CO detector and it's always on.  Typically replace the battery once a year at annual (actually I usually take out at annual as my shop says it usually alarms in the hangar if they're running any aircraft outside the door cause it goes down to 5PPM...I should have gotten the PG2017-10 for 10PPM lower alarm...

Reminds me I should reach out and see what their interval is.  I believe it's a 5 year service life/calibration life.

[201Steve]

I bought mine in 2018 never turned it off, the battery just died and the last time it was calibrated 2 years ago, it was in spec. 
 

I just sent it off last week for a recal. $50 plus shipping about $75 total. 
 

half the price of a new one. I almost wish I’d have just started over with a new one  lasted 6 years pretty good. 

[Bolter]

On 12/17/2024 at 9:51 PM, Bolter said:

I bought a new Sensorcon CO detector earlier, February of this year, and tossed the old one in my pickup truck.  I am not sure which day I actually put it in the truck, but it was at least May of 2024, if not April.  Let's say at least 7 months or more than 4500 hours.  Turned it on and left it on.  It is still going, and working.  I have no idea what the accumulated time was on the old one, but it was bought in 2017 after Dan arranged the discount for us.  In that 7 years, I flew about 600-700 hours.  Does that mean it has been on for over 5000 hours?  Most probably.

I used to berate myself everytime I forgot to turn it off after a flight.  I now realize it does not really matter if I forget it many times.

I plan to keep it on until it dies, and will update this thread then.

Time for an update on Sensorcon battery life.  Today, the battery low indicator came on.  This is 294 days or about 7000 hours since my last update.  I estimate the battery lasted at least 12,000 hours.  

Not a big deal, but takes some pressure off when forgetting to turn it off after a flight.   

-dan