How low can the oxygen level go before Eccles lamps go out?

17-16 % if the lamp goes out get out rule then kicks in but the other lads carry 4gas so then get a back up reading to confirm levels

The ones I worry about are the people who venture into a mine using a flame safety lamp, electronic device, magic crystals, candle, whatever ... stating 'it's never let me down yet', get it wrong and then someone else is expected to go in and drag their lifeless pelt out.

This scenario of dragging lifeless bodies out of mines happens all the time then does it? (nop can't think of any).
Shurely it's better to take something in than nothing at all ffs! :thumbup:

As you were chaps! 😉

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Good to have a high- and low- warning that doesn't depend on batteries.

The oil lamp extinguishing at 15% is about what you'd be breathing on your average commercial flight, but then you're doing nothing more energetic than sipping coffee and admiring the flight attendant's embonpoint.

The butane-lighter test at 10%ish is equivalent to an altitude of about 16000ft, Time of Useful Consciousness given as about 30 minutes, but that's quoted for military personnel engaged in flying activities, not clambering over collapsed stope debris. Survivable but not thrivable!

Physiology plays a big part in O2 susceptibility, big No-No's are smoking, obesity and alcohol; fit and young people generally fare much better than old couch potatoes! And a hangover will do you no favours at all, whatever your body type!

The body can acclimatise over time (ie weeks) to reduced O2 levels by increasing production of red blood cells, so a really good time to go underground is right after coming back from a month in Kathmandu.

Observational comments only, no endorsement of respiratory edgeplay!!!

MARK

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Digging this thread up again, I've just picked up a Crowcon Tetra 3 off fleabay cheap, but it looks like the oxygen sensor is shot (or I've used up most of the oxygen in my garage and somehow not died!)

Can anyone suggest a repair/calibration place that's reasonably priced and reliable?

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Crowcon fell out of favour a few years back due to their perceived fragility and dodgy aftersales backup based on a network of "supporting partners" rather than dealing with Crowcon themselves. We still have a couple but the O2 sensors are so expensive bought new that they are not worth replacing. Hence why it was on eBay I guess. That is also true of most detectors to be fair but others seem to be better built and so the expensive bits are better protected and less susceptible to water and dust ingress which seems to be the reason for 9 out of 10 failures. You may be able to get a good, used sensor out of a machine that has been scrapped for another reason.

This is who we use:

http://www.csts.co.uk 

They are the cheapest "reputable" company that we know of although when it comes to second hand parts you may need to labour the point that it is to be used for recreational use, not professional use etc ;)

Good luck!

Phil.

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There is also Phoenix Safety Services, (ex CSTS), Mark Cooper, Leacroft road, Warrington is address I think

Thanks chaps, I'll make enquiries and see what costs are like. If it's too high I'll chuck it back on Ebay but without the pelicase it came in, and see if I can get an MSA Altair at a decent price.

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Thanks chaps, I'll make enquiries and see what costs are like. If it's too high I'll chuck it back on Ebay but without the pelicase it came in, and see if I can get an MSA Altair at a decent price.

MSA Altair 4 is the better detector by a long way regarding features and build quality. The point about the expensive sensors is common to all makes though. Ho hum.

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