Help CO Method Questions

[GroundControl]

Hello! I hope everyone is doing as alright as they can, being on this site. I have a question regarding the math of the CO method (among other things) and would be grateful if someone could help out.

My vehicle is approximately 120.9 cu. ft. in volume. Would 1800 grams ( about 4 lbs) of charcoal be enough? I haven't yet been able to find a proper formula for calculating. I actually want more than enough to ensure maximum accumulation of CO. I plan to purchase a meter but the max reading I can find (within my price range) is 5000 PPM. Which, I figure, is already enough. I know 10000+ is the recommended amount, so if I do overkill (lol) with the charcoal, then that's pretty much guaranteed a quick sleep. Right?

Also, the back seat of my vehicle will be folded down. My seats have felt (I think that's what it is, it's fuzzier than felt) backings. I'm afraid of potential fire. Do you guys have any recommendations on how to mediate this? I thought about doing the charcoal outside with the back passenger open. Then once the coals were red and glowing, with the smoke point decreased, I'd put the chimney starters on a layer of bricks and shut the door. Then wait for the CO to build, watch the PPM through the windshield (I'd have it propped up on the dashboard), and voila. How does all of this sound?

I am sorry for the blocks of text. I just want to make sure I don't screw up. Any help is deeply appreciated.

 

[GroundControl]

Bumping this!

 

[DeathSweetDeath]

Idk, good question. I hope someone who knows will reply.

 

[GroundControl]

Idk, good question. I hope someone who knows will reply.

Hoping for the same. If not, I guess I'll have to just hope for the best?

 

[Groundhog_Day]

I don't know if it's correct, but i've seen it quoted that you want 0.135kg of charcoal per meter³. 120.9ft³ would be about 3.4235m³ which x0.135 = 0.462kg of charcoal. Therefore, the 1.8kg of charcoal you have sounds good, as you probably want a decent amount over the minimum required.

As for the risk of fire, see this post - https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/leaving-tonight.3163/post-44368. Zanexx succeeded in a tent, and waited 90 minutes for the charcoal to cool down, after tipping it out of the chimney starter. Also, the linked article in the above post, is about a couple who took a disposable bbq into their tent 5 hours after lighting it. They said the bbq was cool, but the lady still died and the man spent 2 weeks in intensive care.

I've just remembered this post - https://sanctioned-suicide.net/threads/failed-co-using-charcoal-and-car.215700/
He used 1.5kg in his car. He passed out for 7 hours, and survived. I don't understand how he did not succeed. I wonder if letting the charcoal cool down for a while, like Zanexx did, not only reduces heat and fire risk, but also optimizes CO production. The above poster said they would try again with 3kg of charcoal.