AirKnight AK1000 9 in 1 Air Quality Monitor Review - Testing - Tear-Down - Comparison - Pros - Cons
HTML-код
- Опубликовано: 8 июл 2024
- AirKnight 9 in 1 Air Quality Monitor: No affiliate links here.
www.amazon.com/dp/B09LY1QBDM?...
Thank you for stopping by. This is another Air Quality video, demonstrating the capabilities of the AirKnight AK1000 9 in 1 monitor that several people have asked about. I am thankful to Jim Naaf from AirKnight for sending this monitor to me to review for them. Yes, this is the very first product that I have been blessed to have been sent free of charge. This video is all about honesty, and an un-biased review and opinion of this product. Thank you Jim for sending this out to me, with the express permission to speak my mind honestly and openly with no restrictions. I hope that the issues I have found with this monitor can and will be addressed, and look forward to a more refined product that will have the incredible opportunity to save lives.
If you like this type of video, please let me know in the comments about a subject you would like to discuss and I will do my best to create a video on that subject, or if you have a video idea for a DIY project, A review of a product or anything else, I will be happy to create that content as well.
Thanks for stopping by, and remember - find someone who needs to laugh, needs to smile, needs to cry, or just simply needs a friend - and make it happen ;).
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Contents of this video
00:00 - Introduction
04:30 - A look at the AirKnight Comparison
13:50 - Testing Oxygen depletion caused by CO2 Levels
17:48 - Testing Alarm db Levels Overview
18:05 - AirKnight Settings for Clock, Alarm, Temperature Mode
22:00 - Testing Alarm Decible Levels
25:51 - AirKnight Monitor Tear-Down
30:30 - Let's have a look at the Sensors in the AirKnight
35:14 - Re-Assemble the AirKnight Monitor
36:04 - A few issues with the AirKnight
40:18 - Final Thoughts
46:26 - Am I just being Picky?..
48:37 - A very special Shout-Out
53:54 - What is coming up?.
54:51 - Closing Thoughts
57:35 - Outro
Smart Sensor (Aliexpress) Store:
www.aliexpress.com/store/1101...
Music Used:
Outro Song Title: Outside Looking In - by: Elijah Webb
Visit Elijah Webb’s Playlist of Royalty Free Songs:
/ elijahwebb
Equipment used in the making of this video…
There are no affiliate links here.
* Feelworld Livepro L1:
www.feelworld.ltd/collections...
* Livepro Firmware Update:
www.feelworld.ltd/blogs/news/...
* XPOSE Software MAC:
cdn.shopifycdn.net/s/files/1/...
* XPOSE Software Windows:
www.dropbox.com/s/gvebqhhnbfk...
* XPOSE App for Android:
cdn.shopifycdn.net/s/files/1/...
* XPOSE User Manual L1V1:
cdn.shopifycdn.net/s/files/1/...
Recording/Sound Equipment:
* Pyle Pro PMXU46BT Mixer Board: (eBay search link)…
www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...
Microphones:
* BM-800 Condenser Microphone on eBay: (A search link)…
www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...
* V67G Large-Diaphragm Cardioid Condenser Microphone from B&H Photo:
www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...
Camera's I use in making videos:
1. Cannon Vixia HF R600 Camcorder: The following is a “Search” link for a Cannon Vixia HF R600 on eBay:
www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from...
2. Sony HDR-CX405: The following is a “Search” link for this camera on Amazon:
www.amazon.com/s?k=sony+hdr-c...
3. (3) Akaso-V50 Pro SE Action Cams:
www.akasotech.com/v50-pro-se 
Хобби
Thank you for your time. I appreciate your videos. Your answer a lot of questions that are hard to find the answers to.
Thanks Kev - much appreciated, and it is good to know when someone is helped 👍👍
Outstanding review! Thanks for posting.
Thanks for the comment and glad I could help.
Very interesting, thanks for your time and effort to show this!
You are welcome, and thanks for the comment.
When you pump CO2 into the test box it displaces the air that was there. That's why the O2 goes down. Also, the CO2 from the Sodastream is COLD which may affect the O2 sensor, which could also explain why the O2 goes back up slightly.
You make a good point Mike, and thanks for your insight of this. I need to do a test where I leave a slow constant flow of CO2 going to see if the O2 not only goes down but stays down. I would have to figure out how to accomplish this however, so that I could simulate a constant source of CO2 in a space (in scale) of an actual environment. If I could slow down the amount of CO2 coming out of the soda stream, there should be no cold from the stream that would cause a problem or a misreading.
Thank you for the in depth dive! It’s truly cleared up my understanding of these devices and made me a bit more of an informed buyer. I’m also happy that I’ve learned NOT to simultaneously cut both wires of a lithium polymer battery 😆
Yes, Chris, cutting both wires together would be.... Well.... not so good LOL. Thanks Chris for the comment, and am glad that this has helped.
Absolutely would like a louder alarm for this product
Jim from AirKnight contacted me last week, and they are taking the recommendations from the video to not only update the AirKnight in this video, but they are developing a new AirKnight with 11 sensors, and one being my favorite CO. so I am very excited about reviewing the Version 2 when they get it completed. I know Jim and I talked about the alarm, but I can not remember what Jim said about that, but Jim did say that they are updating the 9 in 1 with an alarm On notification.
Thank you , very good review. Say hi to Jim
Thank you N D, I will have to do that. Thanks also for the thumbs up - Have a Happy New Year 👍🤏
Thanks for the video! I ended up purchasing it after my request and prior to the video. My goal in purchasing a sensor was to get wide coverage of different air quality measures in one purchase with acceptable levels of inaccuracies for an entry level sensor. I was mostly concerned that it was overpriced amazon hype and was just a few sensors linked up with software to spit out different results, so I'm happy to see that all of the sensors are there and doing the job they were designed for, even if they aren't perfect. I think Airknight delivered on what I was looking for and I think a lot of other people will feel the same. Covid and wildfires are making people more conscious of air quality, and I think they are positioned well to meet the growing demand. There are of course numerous areas that could be improved upon, so here's my constructive criticism.
I also live in the east and my TVOCs have been wildly inconsistent, so its a relief to see other sensors doing the same thing at the same time. One incident It went over 2.000 for about half the day. Something felt off, and I later learned there was a nearby warehouse fire. I don't really have a point of comparison, but I would say most of the time I can find an explanation for why the readings are different, which has been eye opening and why I wanted a sensor.
I pretty much agreed with all of your points:
> Buttons are in need of debouncing or mechanical improvements. As you demonstrated, it's very difficult to set the time because unless you are very deliberate with your presses, you are likely to double press at least one of the three clicks needed to get to setting the clock and end up on the minutes. As a result, you usually need to repeat the cycle until you eventually don't get any double clicks and land properly on hours. Removing the clock entirely is also a valid solution, the clock is where most of the issue with the buttons comes from. The buttons are the main reason the product feels cheap.
> I agree on the visual indicator of the alarm. Without the indicator you basically have to induce the alarm to know if its actually on. Adding this seems pretty easily doable and a worthwhile improvement, especially given the inconsistency with the buttons.
> I love the idea of using 18650s in place of the LiPo battery, it might even be cheaper. If they really fit as easily as you demonstrated, I see no downside. It'll be heavier but most consumers would probably interpret that positively, the light weight makes it feel cheap even if the sensors are good. battery life is another plus. I'm sure there are reasons for using the LiPo batteries though.
Now my longer points...
> I agree the alarm is not worth relying on, both for the reduction in CO2 disabling it and the volume. However, I also completely believe that people still complain about it being too loud. It's difficult to balance from a product design standpoint. Personally I like the idea of controllable alarm volume. However nobody addressed the elephant in the room regarding the alarm. The sensor shuts off automatically after 11 hours. How can you rely on that for an alarm anyways? If I have to remember to turn something on every 11 hours, there's a 200% chance I'll forget within the first 2 days at least once. I feel like they chose a prime number to make sure this is the case. This is also something I don't really understand about alarms for these products in general. The smart sensor products are intended to basically be used on an as needed basis, as detectors, if I understand correctly. They aren't really meant to be plugged in and running 24/7. If that truly is the use case for most people, I don't really see the need for a super loud alarm because theoretically you'll be looking at the screen any time you're using it anyways. They are usually battery powered without a direct way to recharge them if I am not mistaken. Maybe people do use them as 24/7 sensors though, I'm not sure.
> I believe the reason for the auto shut-off is to preserve the TVOC sensor. However that causes us to lose the other readings just to preserve the TVOC sensor. I think a good option might be to auto shut-down the TVOC sensor, but include one tap button press to turn it back on, and allow continuous runtime of the sensor. Similar to the alarm indicator, you could replace the space on the screen where the TVOC reading was with something indicating that it can be re-enabled, maybe an arrow to a button even. If these changes could be made, then I would be more in favor of making the alarm a priority, but without a continuous runtime, the alarm doesn't really serve much of a purpose, in my opinion at least. Either way, I would get rid of the alarm or improve upon it and find a way to make at least the CO2 sensor run continuously.
Lastly, I'm the first to get annoyed when I see a bluetooth app, but this is a product that could benefit from one in so many ways. You still have the issue of continuous runtime, but historical data via an app would be massively beneficial for a monitor. One time readings are like trying to understand a movie a single picture. You need a lot of readings to get the full picture. This could also assist with settings such as alarm volume, on/off scheduling especially for TVOC sensor, sensor trigger levels, setting the time, and you might even be able to leverage the user's phone in some ways to provide additional information if you're creative. It'd need to be a easy and reliable app though, similar to the buttons, a bad app is a bad look.
Thank you Justin for the in depth comment and personal review. It seems though that you are satisfied with the AirKnight which is a good thing.
As far as the TVOC sensors life as far as turning off automatically in 11 hours. It is curious that the TVOC sensor would be a concern for early failure since it is probably the least expensive sensor in a monitor or any monitor. Unfortunately however, in this device the TVOC would be a more expensive sensor in the AirKnight because it also encompasses the HCHO as well. I just wish the CO2 was a single sensor.
I would say that you are also right about the sensor readings being all over the place right now anyhow as to the smoke from the forest fires in Canada drifting down the east coast of the US.
Also happy to hear someone discussing the buttons and alarm situation as these do need a little work. It would also be good to see AirKnight incorporate 18650's in this device making it much safer to have on continuously. I asked Jim and he said that it can be power continuously via USB power, but I see your point about the sensors automatically cutting off after 11 hours of continuous use - I must have missed that in the manual LOL.
Thanks again Justin for your thorough breakdown and thoughts - much appreciated. If AirKnight can make this better with comments and suggestions such as yours and Joe's, and hopefully others'- I would be very happy to re-visit this device once upgraded.
Would be awesome if you did a bite size video on what you recommend every household have for air quality testing & filtration. I'd certainly take that advice, you seem much more knowledgeable than anyone I've come across on the topic. I just use a cheap filtrete for my home and I honestly couldn't tell you if it's actually doing anything.
Thanks for the comment and suggestion. That would be a great video, but I think I would need just a few more monitors for a video like that. Great Idea.
I sincerely appreciate your thoughtful review. That said, I am going to respectfully disagree with your stance on alarms. Ideally, we would have a volume control on the alarm. That way, you could get what you want, and I could get what I want. I don't want an alarm yelling at me; I want it to warn me without breaking my ears. Secondly, once the alarm has warned me that CO2 levels are elevated, and then the numbers start coming down, I would be happiest if the alarm shut down. At that point, I already know there is a problem, and I should be keeping my eyes on the meter to make sure that levels continue to come down to safe levels. Finally, I fully agree with you that there should be an indicator to show if the alarm is on or off--and I agree with you that Jim should get rid of the LiPo batteries. Thanks so very much! 🙂
Thank you Bianca for that great comment, and opinion - much appreciated. I do agree that an alarm that is meant to warn someone is nice to be able to be turned off after we have been alerted, and also being able to turn the volume up or down to our preference is for some essential - but definitely not for me.
I guess my thought is that if a person has a smoke alarm to be alerted of a situation that can take a life, it is not such a good idea to have the volume so low that it would not even be loud enough to wake a fly LOL. I wonder how many people throughout history had only wished they had not taken the battery out because they didn't like the noise, and was now having to live the rest of their life morning the loss of a child or loved one... ...And maybe that assessment was a bit much, but for me anyhow, when human lives are at stake, I would welcome an alarm that would literally drive me nuts so that I was able to safely remove everyone from danger, but just my humble opinion of course.
Jim likes the idea a LiIon batteries, and said he didn't even know about the true dangers of LiPo, so hopefully AirKnight will make that change, and it also sounds like for you - hope that AirKnight can also make it possible to adjust the volume to what each individual can handle, but for me, I would keep the volume all the way up... And anyone who has been through what I went through would absolutely do the same I am so sure.
Thanks again Bianca - all comments are welcome and appreciated, because after all - if we don't communicate - how can any change come about??... 👍
I agree with your suggestion to change out the lithium polymer battery and also to offer different sound levels for the alarm.
Thank you Valerie for your comment and thoughts, and the new update is supposed to have these corrected, but we will see right? 👍
Hi I’m new to all this. Been checking your videos out. I’m looking for a good meter for mold. I’m having an issue with different molds growing in an area of my home. Insurance company brought company in to do air test but the last 3 test are exactly the same as the first. So I was wondering if they even did the last two test or just used info from first one done almost a year ago. Any suggestions with be great! Thank you so much for your time. Love the videos
First of all, thanks for your comment, and I am happy the videos are helping.
As far as mold. The best thing to do is to go on Amazon and look for a mold testing kit. They are easy to use, and you simply follow the instructions, send it back to the company, and then they will send you a detailed report of your home and the possibility of mold.
There are no mold monitors currently produced. Keep an eye on your humidity levels, and make sure they are not getting too high. A good rule of thumb would be to keep your environment around no higher than 50% or so humidity. Mold spores thrive in an environment above 60% humidity.
If your humidity stays above 55% most of the time, you may be susceptible to mold. You could also be getting moisture inside your walls, which will also lead to mold forming inside the walls that you will not be able to see from inside the room. A mold test kit would be a good place to start if you are having issues.
I agree that the previous company could have just used numbers from an earlier test that skewed the results. If the humidity is high, you may think about getting a dehumidifier to get the humidity in check.
Hope this helps.
Alarm should have an indicator light that it is set and be loud enough to hear.
Thank you for your thoughts - I agree 100%
Thanks for staying unbiased even though it was sent to you by the company. Good points about the alarm.. would be nice to be able to set a custom level that the alarm will go off to as well. Good to know about lipo batteries, I'm thinking I'd rather remove the battery and leave it plugged in forever. Wouldn't have to worry about charging that way anyways.
Thanks Joe for your take on the alarm, it is good to hear others feel the same way as I. The custom level I think would be a great idea since a person could set the level they desire and leave the louder options to us that want the notification LOL. Not everyone sits at a computer all day like me with a monitor right next to them. I was thinking more for people that work in other rooms of the home from where the monitor may be. I agree that removing the battery and leaving plugged in would be a great idea, but I would have to ask Jim if that is possible. Some companies make their devices in such a way that without a battery they don't work - so not sure if that is possible, but definitely worth a try - why didn't I think of that LOL. Great Information Joe for sure, and thanks for the comment and suggestions, - always welcome.
Thanks for the solid review and comparison with other devices!!! Very informative - almost like a Project Farm video.
18650's please ... and even better is if they are user replaceable !!! Wouljd love to see Samsung 35E 18650 3500mAh non-soldered!
Thanks for the comparison with Project Farm - Love that guy... I agree YES 18650's please... I agree also with the user replaceable, that would be awesome. I agree again - Samsung would be a very nice battery to use.
In addition to a louder alarm, I would love to see the AQI indicator visually change when CO2 levels are out of range. Maybe the AQI background can turn RED.
I believe the AQI is affected only by the PM, HCHO, and TVOC. As long as they don't make the font change colors - that is the only thing I hate about the Hotkrem monitors. Thanks for the comment and insight WB.
I think I want to buy AirKnight when it is updated.
I know what you mean. I am so excited about having the opportunity to test and review it.
Regarding the idea of swapping out the lipo batteries with 18650 lithium ion .... make sure the charging voltage from the air night is compatible
with the 18650 batteries.
Yes, I do mention that in the video that I created showing how to replace the LiPo with an 18650, and as it turns out, the output of the AirKnight is perfect for the use of an 18650. ...And according to Jim at AirKnight, he just told me that they are looking to use 2 18650's in the updated version of the AirKnight, and that was from not only my suggestion in the video, but all those in the comments who requested that change, so it is great to hear that AirKnight is listening to the customer, and in turn creating a better, safer, and more enjoyable air quality monitor.
I'm sorry i missed that in your video.@@Outside-In.
@@melodicman3032 That is ok, I myself miss things all the time, and mostly at the worst times.... - when I am in the middle of creating a video lol 🤣
Permissible exposure decibels: 70 safe, 85 8hr, 88 4hr, 91 2hr, 94 1hr. So maybe fire alarm should be 70 and gradually increase to 85 (max) over 15 minutes.
Great idea. I have an alarm clock that gets louder until you turn it off, so a progressive alarm makes great sense. 👍 👍👍
Thank you for such a great video, will be great Christmas present for my parents and bought it. The amazon specs says it is using Li-Ion battery, has there been an update? Would rather not open it up just to be sure if possible. Thank you
That would be awesome. I am trying to get a hold of Jim at AirKnight to find out if they have updated it. Jim did send a message last week, and said that they were taking some of my recommendations, and making changes to the AirKnight, but he did not give me any specifics, - the only thing he said specific, was changing the way the buttons work so it is not as fiddly, but I am not sure if changing out the Lithium Polymer battery for a Li-Ion was one of those changes, - I do hope so though.
Thanks for the question, and I will update this response, when I hear back from Jim.
I just got off the phone with Jim from AirKnight, and he tells me that the AirKnight has the Lithium Polymer, and they have not upgraded it to a Lithium Ion 18650. Just thought I would pass that along. I do have a video on here that shows how to replace the LiPo with and 18650 LiIon battery.
@@Outside-In. that is great, thank you very much for your work
@@alestriska559 You are very welcome Aleš Tříska. Let me know if there is anything else I can help with 👍
Love your in depth reviews but I’m still stuck on which to buy, I guess it’s just a gamble but at least you narrowed it down a bit, you seem honest and real and I appreciate you, could you tell me which one to buy? Lol
I have a family 🙏🏻
Money is not a problem just want reliability
I am glad I was able to narrow it down a bit. I really do like the AirKnight as it has the best display of all the monitors I have tried. If you don't mind the alarm not being so loud, and the buttons being a little finicky, then I would definitely go with the AirKnight because the screen is just amazingly easy to see and read. It is quite accurate, and it is also nice having a clock on a device - just wish hey hadn't used that as one of the 9, but still very good for being a 8 in 1...
Does it have data export? Can you give me a recommendation for a device with both co2 and tvoc sensor which also have that option via app, program or directly to excel. Thank you for the great content by the way!
Thank you Silvia for the comment and question. The AirKnight does not have a data export option unfortunately. I have asked Jim if we could have the ability to do firmware updates using the USB port, but haven't heard back from him yet. That may be a good question to ask Jim if they can add data export to this device.
Knight Security Website: gasknight.com/
Phone: +1 224 477 5846
Jim told me that they are constantly trying to come up with better ways to make their product stand out from others' devices, so any help we could give with questions or things we would like to see would help in their endeavors.
Devices with Data Export can get quite expensive, so it would be great to see a company like AirKnight, create a product that does Data export at a reasonable cost.
Thank you so much for these videos! We recently discovered we have an air quality issue in our home and I’ve been researching like crazy to find ways to test the air after we had some work done to (in theory) correct it. We bought an aranet4 co2 monitor because so many people recommend it but I think the numbers are not very accurate. I ‘think’ it’s being impacted by vocs. Have you ever looked at this monitor?
I just went and looked at the Aranet4, and it is too expensive for sure. A person could get the AirKnight monitor that gives much more information for less money. Allot of Chinese companies are going nuts on their prices just to fool people that there's is the best one to get.
You say you just had some work done to (in theory) correct the discovery of an air quality issue in your home, but you find the numbers to possibly be inaccurate. In my testing, I have found that the CO2 is not effected (very much) by VOC's like the HCHO or CO would be. You did not say what your readings are that make you think the Aranet4 is inaccurate, so it is hard for me to speculate, and I really don't want to speculate without real data in your environment. If you had work recently done, it would cause TVOC, HCHO or CO readings to seem inaccurate because of different VOC's in building materials etc., messing with the readings. Freshly painted rooms (for instance) will cause TVOC, HCHO, and even CO readings to jump around.
If you could give me more information as to why you think the CO2 readings are not very accurate, it would help me to figure out what could be causing the inaccuracies, or if in fact, the monitor is fake. Like I am finding lately, - the Chinese are seriously raising prices on fake monitors to fool people, and I believe it is because of so many videos now showing these fake monitors, so just be careful purchasing monitors right now without doing a great deal of research. I sometimes research a product for a couple of weeks before making a decision to buy, and not just because of price, but to be sure I am not buying a fake device.
I hope this has helped a little in your search for the truth, and would like to be able to purchase the Aranet4, but I simply can't afford another monitor right now to test, and if the Aranet4 is a fake monitor, it is not likely the company would send one to someone like me for review - knowing how thorough I am in my testing and tear-down of a device, as it would reveal the truth. There are too many RUclipsrs that are just selling/pushing a device to make money, and not going the extra step of verifying the product before pushing it on others, which is unfortunate.
@@Outside-In. thanks for the reply! As soon as we turned it on, it seemed to vary greatly from one sample to the next. Going from 950 to 10 minutes later 1250 and the next 10 minutes down to 850. Maybe that’s normal? it’s showing no less than 658 -750 as a baseline standing outside in multiple locations around my city (a small town) It has an app so I can see trends over time which is where I really became suspicious. Overnight the peaks and valleys of the co2 reading (1050-1795) were very closely correlated with the temperature it also recorded. Warm room=very high co2 and vice versa. Maybe that just means when the ac runs it reduces the co2? I was thinking Vocs come into play bc it was sitting on a table when a plate of hot food quickly moved past it and it jumped from 950 to around 1500 almost instantly. I just can’t believe it’s accurate bc if it is then we just paid a lot of money on an ERV system for not much benefit. We had spray foam insulation done in our attic, after which I noticed I was having significant memory issues which prompted us to get an indoor air quality test which showed huge levels of formaldehyde and vocs. Co2 wasn’t tested but we thought it would be a good metric to have. We ordered other sensors (tvoc, formaldehyde, pm2.5 (temptop) and CO (the one u recommend)) that should be delivered this weekend so hopefully by end of day Sunday I will have a better picture of what’s really going on.
@@emorris358 First of all, when you first get a co2 monitor, you need to give it at least a day to settle to your environment, which could be why the difference from 950 to 1500 in 10 minutes and then 10 minutes later going back to 850. Normal readings in a home would be around 600-800 ppm. I will try to address each of your concerns as you brought them up...
1. it’s showing no less than 658 -750 as a baseline standing outside: Unless there are forest fires happening in your area, the outside co2 levels should be very close to 400 ppm, and more than not 410 ppm for outside.
2. Warm room=very high co2 and vice versa: High heat will cause CO2 levels to decrease - not increase, and high humidity will cause CO2 levels to increase.
3. Maybe that just means when the ac runs it reduces the co2?: AC will cause CO2 levels to increase because of reducing the oxygen in the room.
4. I was thinking Vocs come into play bc it was sitting on a table when a plate of hot food quickly moved past it and it jumped from 950 to around 1500 almost instantly.: The hot food will put off high levels of humidity due to steam, which will cause the CO2 levels to rise in the vicinity of the hot food i.e. going by the monitor sensor.
5. We had spray foam insulation done in our attic, after which I noticed I was having significant memory issues: Spray foam would put off VOC's which will put off gasses that could affect health, but is quickly dispersed with ventilation. Modern spray foam is not said to put off HCHO, so shouldn't be a problem with formaldehyde.
6. We ordered other sensors (tvoc, formaldehyde, pm2.5 (temptop) and CO (the one u recommend)) that should be delivered this weekend: That is good to know that you are taking steps to try and figure out what may be going on. From all that you have said, it is more than likely the recent work you have had done, and should pass pretty quickly with proper ventilation. Also, the humidity as of late has been higher than normal for most areas, and why allot of people are feeling less healthy than normal. If you start to feel strange while being in your home, just take a walk outside in fresh air, and when you start feeling better, go back inside the house (same location), and see how long it takes to start feeling strange again, and this will help in determining if there is a more serious issue, this technique you can try throughout your home in different areas to try and pin-point where a problem may be. Another things allot of people don't realize is that cleaning products can cause issues with health as well, - a lot of cleaning supplies are ammonia based, and ammonia is one of the most dangerous chemicals we can have in our home. Breathing in Ammonia will actually cause you to feel as though you are being suffocated, and why I had to get rid of ammonia based cleaning supplies, as I found it extremely hard to breath while using ammonia based products. Ammonia is very very potent.
The most important thing right now is to let things go as they are for a few days to see if conditions change - if so, then it was just probably the work you have recently had done, and high humidity and high heat. Even more important is to not let these things get you paranoid, which will also be a cause for feeling unhealthy, and that will cause you to believe there is a more serious problem when there would not be. Just take it one day at a time, and once you receive your other monitors, place them in each room for about an hour or so each, recording the results. Also before you perform these test's, make sure you calibrate your monitors by letting them sit in fresh air for approximately 3-6 hours to do a manual calibration, and then do a system calibration based on your manuals` specifications. Monitors direct from a factory, and the process also of shipping to you, there are allot of different levels of air quality that they go through and that are in the devices, and why they need to be calibrated before use, otherwise you will get false readings and cause undue stress.
I know this has been a bit long-winded, but when dealing with air quality, it is hard to say all that needs to be said in a couple sentences LOL. I hope that this has helped, and I wish you well as you figure out what (if at all) the problem may be. You are going to love the Smart Sensor CO meter, - it is fast to respond, so if you are having an issue with CO, you will know pretty quickly as you walk around your home from room to room.
Idk if I have a newer model, but if the co2 alarm is on, it shows a wifi symbol at the top left of the clock section.
Yes you must have the updated AirKnight. Jim told me that the updated AirKight has the ability to turn off the auto shutdown, and they activated the wifi signal icon to indicate the CO2 alarm status - when the alarm is on, the wifi signal is activated, when alarm is off, the wife indicator is deactivated.
Thanks for the comment - much appreciated.
@@Outside-In. Yep, I turned off the auto shutdown on mine.
@@jebbait1669 Yes, it is good to know that you can do that for sure - thanks for the clarification.
if the issue with some ppl saying it's too loud, they shouldn't make it low but instead they should make an option loud or low so ppl can chose whatever they want.
Thank you for your thoughts, and I agree. Jim just contacted me from AirKnight, and said that they are taking some of my recommendations and making changes to the AirKnight. He wasn't specific, but I am hoping he took one of my biggest recommendations, and that was to include a CO sensor inside - that would be incredible. The alarm volume option would also be a great change. Anyhow, I told Jim that I am looking forward to doing a review on the new and improved AirKight, - but we will see right?.
One note on safely doing a 18650 for LiPo swap. You'd have to check the max charging voltage (at cutoff) for the existing bms, as LiPos can charge to 4.2v - 4.35v, which may exceed the typical LiOn 4.2v max. An appropriately sized Schottky diode would get you back in business.
I have replaced LiPo's with 18650's and they work great. You have a point about charging an 18650 to 4.3 volts, and a diode is a great idea. Thanks for the comment and information - much appreciated.
I have thought of something about using a diode. If I use a diode to reduce the voltage then the monitor will not work - as diodes only allow voltage to go in one direction. If the diode is to lower the voltage going to the battery, there will be nothing coming back from the battery to power the monitor to make it work, or am I missing something?.
I have been doing loads of research on this subject, but have found no one that shows a diagram of such a setup.
The power going to the 18650 to charge it, must also be allowed to come back from the 18650 to power the unit and run it, and I don't see how a diode is going to accomplish that unless you put two diodes together in parallel in reverse directions (if that makes sense) so that the power can go both ways, but not sure I want to try that with an expensive device LOL...
I was getting ready to create a video showing how to replace the LiPo with 2 18650's in parallel, but was stopped when I ran into the issue of Diodes only allowing voltage to go in one direction, - unless there is another kind of Diode I don't know about...
@@Outside-In. Seconding the OP's concern about the very different max charging voltages btwn LiPo (LFP) and other Li chemistries (NMC, NCA...). Replacing LFP in an existing circuit with another Li chem may overstress it.
A proper diode on the feeding charging line would help. The rest of the circuit remains connected directly to the batt. This way only the Vcharge is dropped down. BUT this is just one aspect of the electrical characteristics btwn Li chems here. There are more to take into account for a safe application.
Many people watching these videos might be influenced by your electrical musings as they may have learned to trust your judgment. It would be sensible to ensure accurate and safe electrical info when suggesting EE mods.
@@raphofthehills4405 Thank you so much Raphofthehills for your thoughts - much appreciated. However, I have tested this board, and it is putting out the proper voltage to the battery to use an 18650. I have created a video showing how this is done. In the video, I explain that using a diode is up to the individual, but this circuit definitely does not need a diode, as the voltage going to the LiPo is 4.2 volts, which is exactly what an 18650 is to be charged too. I also mention in this video, that if anyone doesn't want the voltage going to the battery at 4.2 volts, it is advisable to use a diode to reduce the voltage to the battery. But the big problem with doing this is that this monitors circuit board not only charges the battery, but also is powered by that same battery from the very same line going to the battery, - which means that a person would have to use 2 diodes facing in opposite directions, so that the battery will be able to power the monitor as well as be charged by the monitor, and that will result in a very low voltage going back to the monitor, and will considerably reduce the amount of time the monitor can run without being powered from an external source.
I contacted Jim from AirKnight, and Jim told me that they love the idea of 18650's, and they are including 2 18650's in their next upgrade. So after AirKnight upgrades their monitor, there will be no need to replace a battery anyhow - accept for those who already have this one. But from what Jim tells me about the upgrade, I am sure people are definitely going to want to upgrade to the newest version. AirKnight has taken the recommendations, and suggestions from this video, and are not only implementing some of those in the upgrade in May of this year, but AirKnight is also developing a whole new monitor that incorporates my suggestions, plus one that I didn't mention to them, and the new edition will have 11 sensor readings, so that is pretty awesome. They are also implementing touch screen capability, and an alarm indication for the CO2 alarms on or off state.
Thank you for your comment - it is much appreciated, so please check out the video about changing the LiPo battery for an 18650. Have a Great New Year.
Totally agre with 18650 batteries. I would pay a bit more for them vs what is in there. Also alarm is too quiet, will test mine too (just got Feb 9th 2024). Totally agree there should be an icon to show if alarm is on or off, or AT LEAST have the CO2 number flash when alarm is active (they could do that with just a firmware mod, no hardware change). Also having abilty to set alarm trigger level (say LMH or 850, 1000 and 1150). Wish list: Having it broadcast to a smartphone app would also ber super nice, I REALLY wanted that, and say it did, I would get multiple devices (one for each of my three floors!) Having alexa skill so I could see reading on my FireTV or Alexa Show would be nice.
I have been talking with Jim, and they are taking my suggestions and recommendations, and getting ready to come out with an update to the 9 in 1 that has I believe two 18650's, and also will be able to turn off the auto-calibrate function.
I am trying real hard to get them to update the loudness of the alarm with settings, but Jim is still not convinced that is a go yet, but the more comments he can see like yours, the more likely they are to finally give people the option to change how loud they want the alarm to be. AirKnight is also fixing the issue with the buttons so they are not so fiddly.
Also Jim told me that they are adding an independent HCHO sensor and a independent VOC sensor per my recommendation, so that is great news as well.
I am hoping that they will have the update out by March, and will send one to me for a review. I am still pushing the alarm issue, but need more people to contact Jim to let him know how important that is...
Phone: +1 224 477 5846 to talk directly to Jim Naaf. Jim told me he is getting allot of calls about Outside In, so they have asked me to collaborate with them in updating their device, and it has been incredible helping them with suggestions and recommendations, so I take any comments and suggestions from the viewers to help Jim understand that it is not just me that wants these changes.
Thanks for your comment and more importantly, thanks so much for being another viewer backing me up LOL, - much appreciated. 👍👍
Oops, Errol, forgot to mention that they are activating a wifi symbol option to alert when the alarm is on. Jim said right now that was the only option they had. The AirKnight does not have wifi, but there was the symbol on the screen used in the device, and found a way for that to show when the alarm was activated, so am sure that will be good enough for the time being. ...At least they are trying right????..
Any good detector for also mold spores? Assume need good pm10? What is your favorite monitor overall? Was hoping to have app to notify as well possibly.
There are no home monitoring systems that can detect mold spores directly. The best way to ward off mold, is to keep the moisture down in your home (attic, basement etc.), any place that would be susceptible to mold formation. If you suspect mold, you may want to invest in a de-humidifier to bring down the moisture in walls.
I did find a company that you can buy a test kit from to do tests around your home, send in the results, and they will send back information about possible mold problems: moldtestcompany.com/store/M441-DIY-Mold-Test-Kit-p189338196
There are also devices that you can purchase to test yourself the moisture in wood content that could lead to mold: www.amazon.com/mold-detector/s?k=mold+detector
Hope this information helps, and thanks for your question.
Sorry, forgot the answer your other question LOL... My favorite monitor so far is the AirKnight, and that is because of the screen is so easy to see and read from a distance, and the readings are close enough to accurate to make it a viable device to own.
My favorite meters overall are the Smart Sensor handheld meters for accurate and speedy response to CO and CO2.
Hope this answers the other question I forgot about in my first response.
Thank you for stopping by. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. Even though I failed to mention it in the video, I can recommend the AirKnight 9 in 1 Air Quality Monitor. However, just know that there are a few issues with this monitor. I have been talking with Jim Naaf from AirKnight, and he is eager to get some of the issues corrected with this device. Let's help AirKnight to grow as an American Company so they can help us with much needed Air Quality devices. Jim mentioned to me that they are in the process of creating other monitors as well. Thank you also Justin Hunter for your comments/question about the AirKnight (in another video) that was another reason for the creation of this video. If anyone who watches this video agrees with me in some of my points about the AirKnight, Please leave a comment, so Jim can see I am not alone in my feelings. Thanks again for stopping by, I hope this information is helpful to you even in a small way.
Thanks a lot for sharing! Super useful as I’m shopping around for a good air quality monitor. Are you interested in testing the Amazon’s own air quality monitor (Amazon Smart Air Quality Monitor) and Airthings 2960/2930? 🥹 looks like a big price gap in there and wondering any true difference
@@tinatian1940 Thank you for the comment and question. I would not review a product I would not use myself, and the Amazon Air Quality monitors need an app to get information. I do not need a device that requires another app on my phone to see the data. Also Amazon states the following: "It is not a substitute for a carbon monoxide alarm, and is not certified as a CO alarm or detector. This device does not measure Carbon Dioxide (CO2) or Radon." The best monitor to own (in my humble opinion of course) is a monitor with a display of all sensor readings that sits on your desk that has specific sensors to detect my 3 most recommended sensors, and also does not require you to have another app or an internet connection to work... CO (Carbon Monoxide), CO2 (Carbon Dioxide) and PM (Particulates) PM1.0, PM2.5 & PM10. If you need others, my recommendations are HCHO (Formaldehyde) and TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds).
As long as you have the following in a monitor, you have pretty much all the information a person would need:
The following 5 sensors to have (in order of importance) the first 3 being the most important that any monitor should have:
1. CO (Carbon Monoxide)
2. CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
3. PM (Particulate Matter) PM 1.0, PM 2.5, PM 10
4. HCHO (Formaldehyde)
5. TVOC (Total Volatile Organic Compounds) - You get most of your VOC's from the PM sensor, and the TVOC registers anything the PM will not detect.
6. AQI (Air Quality Index) The AQI is not a sensor but a calculation (or average) of the sensor readings given by a monitor, and depending on the number of sensors in a monitor, the AQI reading will differ from unit to unit.
Hope this information helps.
Inspirational final quotes and great job over all...Good job...Pm 1.0 "is by far the most abundant and dangerous" though according to various scientists and critical filtering manufacturers like Iso-Aire, Camfil, Simatek, etc...a $34 one in ali express sensor is much more likely "legit" than anything under $300...which Dylos might have the cheapest legit 1.0 meter (never seen anyone compare it to a lab but at least they sell lower prices models theyre upfront about)....one can rent lab quality meters in most major cities and online to test.... Best to you🤙
@@SmedleyButler1 Thanks Smedley Butler for the comment. I just received the Dylos DC 1100 Pro today for a review video, but I am so very confused by this device because it does not at all comply with the standard to measuring air quality. I researched safe levels of PM 0.5 today, and there are not even any information on safe levels of PM 1 because companies are saying that not enough data has been gathered to give safe numbers to the public, so no way anyone knows the safe levels of 0.5. At this point a monitor like the DC 1100 would just confuse people and cause un-due stress and paranoia as the numbers are so very high, and much higher than any other monitor I have tested and reviewed. The DC 1100 would even say that the IQ Air is wrong at nearly 600.00, so no way to test legitimacy of the DC 1100. I have written Dylos in hopes that they would give me information why they decided to go against the Air Quality testing standard of most all monitors today and create a device that is nothing like the others. There is no way that I could create a comparison video with the DC 1100 because it is saying that ALL my monitors I have are wrong, and that just can't be.
Çok güzel inceleme teşekkür ederim. Sayenizde evim için ihtiyacım olan hava kalitesi ölçüm cihazları hakkında çok çok detaylı derin bilgiye kalitelerini ölçmek sahte olup olmadıklarını inceleme fırsatı verdiğiniz için size minnettarım❤❤❤
Please post a review when they get the 10 in one product out !!
Yes, would love to do that if that ever happens.
13:30 you say the relative location (even only by a few inches) of each of the monitors on your test bench affects the readings. I suggest testing this by rearranging the monitors and observing the readings for changes that confirm or disprove your hypothesis.
Thanks for the comment and suggestion. The reason I make that statement is because I have tested that - which is what led me to that bit of information (not too mention it would be common sense). The point that I was trying to make is that when comparing one monitor against another (whether the same or different makes), and not being located correctly (in a way that one does not interfere with another), the readings will not agree. Also, (which also I have tested) two identical monitors will more than likely not have the exact same readings in the first place, as each sensor is not perfectly created, even though an identical sensor - and that is because we do not live in a perfect world, and even though two identical sensors are not perfectly the same, the readings should only be off by a point or so if they are not defective.
I watched a video where someone tested 3 identical monitors in their room, and complained to the company that they were each different in their readings, and that is what led me to test why that would or may happen.
That would be an interesting video to make of course, but unfortunately, I do not have multiples of the same monitor to test that "theory", but with some knowledge of basic physics, and some common sense, we can understand why there would be a difference from one device to another in an imperfect world. Hope this helps in understanding why I make that claim... 👍
Hello, I live in an apartment where cigarette odor keeps seeping in from the other residents and I'm looking to see if there are actually unhealthy levels of smoke, would you recommend this detector and which measurement would I be looking for?
Hello klutterkicker, and thank you for the question. It is hard to speculate as to levels because you did not say whether the residents live in the same apartment as you, or the residents are in another apartment other than yours... It also will depend on whether or not there are more than one person that is smoking, and also how much/often they smoke. If it is an adjacent apartment, the discomfort (more than likely) will only be the odor and not the smoke itself. This monitor would help in knowing if more than just the odor is reaching you - and effecting you.
Unhealthy levels of...
PM 2.5 would be 55 or higher
PM 10 would be 155 - 255
CO2 would be 1300 - 2000
HCHO would be 0.4 - 0.6
You must also consider (if you live on the east coast) that the Canada fires are causing allot of smoke (and will again next week) that will also cause these levels to rise.
Cigarette smoking has a very strong odor that can fool someone into thinking their also breathing bad air when they are not. If you can afford to do so, I would recommend getting the Levoit Core 300s air purifier, as it has a carbon filter to eliminate odors, and also is equipped with a light that changes color depending on the air quality in your space. The reason I say the Levoit Core 300s is because I use one myself (for the past 7 months) and know it works great.
The AirKnight will give you numbers depending on the level of air quality in your apartment, which will help in knowing more accurately whether the levels are safe for you.
It would be irresponsible of me to speculate levels without being there knowing your situation. If it is just a single smoker living in an apartment next door, it is more than likely just the odor that is discomforting to you, and then again it would depend on if they are a chain smoker.
It would be wrong of me or anyone to give specific advice when not knowing your specific environments conditions. I can only recommend the steps to take to ensure that you know your environment.
I do hope this information helps.
@@Outside-In. Hi, thanks so much for your detailed response. I was delayed here due to getting sick suddenly. I don't know how many people in my building smoke, though it has disappeared recently - maybe they're doing it outside now that the weather is warm. I also do have an air purifier with a carbon filter, but it doesn't seem to help much. Maybe it has just been an odor and not actually harmful. I'll look into getting an air quality detector.
@@klutterkicker Sorry to hear about your getting sick, and hope you get better soon. The size of the purifier has allot to do with how quickly odors are taken away or if at all due to being too small. You may be correct that most of the smokers have started smoking outside due to warm weather, but it could also be that they have all opened their windows to bring in fresh air since it has warmed up.
If you are concerned (and it seems you are) about your air quality due to the smokers, you will want a monitor that registers Formaldehyde (HCHO), and for that I would recommend the AirKnight as it gives many more readings including CO2. There are other monitors like the TemTop M10 that register HCHO, although it does not register CO2 if that is important. Also what I don't like about the M10 is that you have to switch between readings one by one, and the AirKnight has everything on one large easy-to-read screen. There are a few issues with the AirKnight (as in the video) but the readings are accurate and that really is the most important part about any monitor.
Let us know how you are doing, and what you discover about your situation. Your journey to discovery may help allot of people that are going through similar circumstances as you.
Thanks for your videos.
What do you recommend between:
- AirKnight (9 in 1)
- HOTKREM A4 (8 in 1)
The Hotkrem A4 is really a 7 in 1...
CO2
PM 2.5
PM 10
PM 1.0
Temp
Humidity
AQI
In order to see the PM 10 & PM 1.0, you have to switch to a special screen (which I don't like - as much as I like Hotkrem, I believe they really messed that up).
Also, I really do not like that Hotkrem uses different colored fonts, and that really reduces the visibility of the readings. I wish they would change that, also I wish they would put the PM 10 and PM 1.0 on the main screen with the other readings.
The Airknight is really a 8 in 1
CO2
PM 2.5
PM 10
HCHO
TVOC
AQI
Temp
Humidity
(Time is considered the 9th) - I do not consider time to be a proper reading for an air quality monitor. I believe they do it to make it sound better.
So with all that I said above... I really like the Hotkrem, but can't recommend over the AirKnight because of the issues explained above.
There are also issues with the AirKnight, and I have spoken to the company about the issues, but after they saw this video, they have unfortunately broke off communication, so another reason I can't completely recommend AirKnight either. If AirKnight and Hotkrem would fix the issues - there would be great competition between them for sure, because they both have great products, but need to iron out a few issues. It seems allot of these companies think they know best, and don't like criticism from us the customer - which to me does not make sense at all - After all.... We are the ones using them hmmmm.
Thanks for the question, and I hope I was able to help. But if I had only these two monitors to choose from, I would definitely go with the AirKnight simply because the screen is absolutely incredible to read, and gives more information than the Hotkrem.
@@Outside-In.Thanks for the comprehensive reply. I'll probably get the AirKnight.
If it's not AirKnight what would you consider the best device so far from all you've tested?
@@webdevnoob Well, when you put it like that, I would have to say that after all I have tested, I would have to go with the AirKnight because of the easy-to-read display, and all the information is on one screen, plus it is nice to have a clock on the display as well. Hope this helps.
@@Outside-In.Thanks again. Subbed +1
@@webdevnoob Thank you for the question, and am glad it helped in making a decision. Thanks for the sub - much appreciated. 👍
Question: I have been researching a counter-top ice maker, and all videos I have watched leave out detailed info, and was thinking of doing a review of a table-top ice maker with more detailed info... Would that be something that would interest you? It is hard to come up with ideas for videos as they have been done so much, and why I get ideas from videos that have very little information or testing.
Nowadays would you recommed the Temtop M10 or the HOTKREM? about purchasing the HOTKREM I'm worried than more and more copies and "cousins" are on the market.
Thanks powerMi for the question. It depends on what information that you are looking for. The M10 gives more information than the Hotkrem. The link to the Hotkrem is to the real Hotkrem and not a copy, and Hotkrem also has other models with more information, and they even have a model with CO2. The AirKnight has the best display if you don't mind the alarm issues. I hope this has helped. Thanks again for your comments.
Thanks a lot. Would be nice to know why Memtop has problems metering some particles in some models. They are supposed to be the cream of the crop.
@@powermi2804 I agree.
What are your options on consumer units, such as airthings view pro?
Thank you Steve for your question. The only Airthings I would be interested in looking at would be the Airthings View Plus. I don't see an Airthings View Pro. I am really not into these monitors because they require and app to use correctly. The last thing I need is another app on my phone to view information that I feel should be an all-in-one device.
The AirKnight will give you all the information that you would need - except for CO, which in my opinion is the other reading a person desperately needs in their home, and the AirKnight also has a beautiful large easy-to-read screen. I talked with AirKnight, and they said that to include CO into their monitor would be too expensive to implement as there is a lot of paperwork involved in the implementation of CO (or that was the way I interpreted it anyhow.
The Airthings also only gives CO2, PM2.5 and VOC - Plus Radon (if Radon is a thing for you, then that might be a determining factor), but I would choose the Airthings Plus because it has a display so you don't have to use the app unless you wanted too.
I just don't like the thought of needing another app on my phone to view data that should be included on-screen.
I appreciate your question Steve, and hope that this "opinion" helps...
@@Outside-In. Thank you for your input! I love gather multiple options to help me (and hopefully other) form a more holistic view of the concern.
I definitely understand the annoyance and concern with the Internet of things. App and phones can get invasive. On the other hand I do see an application to being able to monitor your home air quality away from home. So the Internet connectivity doesn't bother me as much. And radon was a deciding factor for me. I've only recently become aware of it, and because I'm soon going to be in the housing Market I believe it's something I'll be more concerned with now.
A few other questions. I noticed that the airKnight measures both formaldehyde and VOCs. If I'm not mistaken formaldehyde is a VOC. Do both of those values have a direct correlation with your data collected from the airknight? In otherworlds would it be redundant to have a formaldehyde sensor?
@@stevealapatt9499 No it would not be redundant, but that is only my opinion based on much research, and I do not pretend to speak for other more enlightened or professional individuals... Formaldehyde is something more than just a part of VOC's. Formaldehyde is in everything that we buy, in all of the materials that we use to build. Formaldehyde is a part of the earth, it's in the air, it's in the trees, and it surrounds us every where we go, so there is no getting away from it - just as we can't get away from CO2 as it also is part of the earth.
The reason I make a deal out of Formaldehyde, is because a lot of people are starting to get paranoid about Formaldehyde, and mostly it is unwarranted... I say this because up-tick in Formaldehyde numbers usually come back down pretty quickly, such as - if you go to WalMart and buy a coffee table, cabinet, or some furniture that has to be assembled out of box. The materials used in making those things, is filled with Formaldehyde, and while putting them together, will cause the Formaldehyde to re-constitute (if you will), and start floating around your space, and in turn, cause your levels to rise, but most all of the time, it is just briefly that the numbers go up.
Back in the day, the big reason for a person to buy a Formaldehyde detector, was to (nothing more than) be able to prove to a landlord that there were neighbors that smoked in the apartment complex causing them issues, but now, Formaldehyde is a paranoia to people because companies that produce monitors say it is bad for your health, causing fear that will ultimately lead to paranoia buying... Don't misunderstand, Formaldehyde is bad for us (not good for our health), but in large quantities for a substantial amount of time. The space (air) in the world or our home, office, church etc., is vast in size compared to the small Formaldehyde particle, so why it is so quickly and easily dispersed once let out...
You can also think of a drop of food coloring as Formaldehyde in the air, and you say huh? what is he talking about... If you take a 5 gallon bucket and fill it with water, and then get a bottle of food coloring, and place a single drop of food coloring into the water, the first thing you will notice is the color will be very distinct and noticeable right?, now just give it a minute and that noticeable dot of color will quickly start to disperse throughout the water, and within a few moments disappear in the mass volume of the water (space) that it is in, and that is why Formaldehyde levels rise, and then very quickly drop back down to a normal level in your space.
Formaldehyde should only be a concern if the numbers go up, and stay up for an hour or more - then you know something is wrong and needs to be looked into. A formaldehyde detector is a great tool for anyone wanting to know if someone is smoking, as smoking is one of the biggest things that will cause Formaldehyde levels in your space to rise to high levels, but will come back down in a short period of time, and an air purifier will help greatly to bring the numbers down even faster.
If I may go further... You may open a window in your home, and soon after, your Formaldehyde levels rise, the first thing you want to consider or look for is, if there is a new house being built across the street, or someone is doing renovations on their home. These projects will cause Formaldehyde levels to rise because of the building materials used in the construction. You will also sometimes see a rise in levels if you simply make the bed, change your clothes, move furniture around in your room where the detector is located. Everything that we touch basically has a certain amount of Formaldehyde in it or on it, and it is easily dispersed into the surrounding air, but like I have mentioned, the levels will most all of the time, come back down very quickly, so should not be of concern - unless the numbers of course go up and stay up.
As far as monitors that use an app.... I personally don't want a monitor that uses an app, but in no way means that I don't think others should use one. Those types of monitors can be a great thing for reviewing history of air quality, but it just is not something that I personally would use on a regular basis. Anyone wanting such a device is great, and I recommend them, but I don't buy them for review or testing, because mostly I simply can't afford them ;). If a company contacted me to send one for a test and review that would be a fun project, and I would be happy to do so, but until that happens, I will have to pass on something that can easily be so expensive.
I do thank you Steve for your questions, and concerns, and hope that I have been able to help in some small way.
Steven, i just found out about your air quality review, so genuine and unique. Do you mind reviewing the Awair (they raises $10M) vs Airgradient (open source kit). Really curious how the funded and open-source air quality performance be like. Thank you for the consideration.
Thank you Tiyo for your comment and question.
I just looked at the Awair, and they have 2 monitors - the Awair Element, and Awair Omni - both are 209.00 (from their website). I would love to get this to test, review, and tear down, but unfortunately I can't afford to take on such a feat at the moment. They both look to be very interesting and unique devices, but obviously can't recommend anything that I haven't tested personally. Maybe God will allow me to do it some day, but for now, He has not made that possible, so sorry about that.
About the AirGradient... I have done extensive research into this DIY project a while back, and I can tell you that I would not waste my money (if I had any) on this concept, and that is because it is WAY too expensive for what it is (unless of course, you just like building things for fun).
Don't be fooled by the "SenseAir" sensors they offer with their Kits, as they are nothing more than what you would find in a monitor you find on Amazon.
During my earlier research into the AirGradient DIY project, I went to the SenseAir website to learn about that sensor and how it was made, and read that (they themselves state), the SenseAir sensor is a (for home use ONLY) sensor, and decided to create a Logo to go on it (which most other companies do not do with their sensors). I am guessing that SenseAir decided to go that route (with the Logo), as it would make their sensor stand out from all others, and they were right, as there are a lot of misconceptions going around about the "SenseAir" sensor being the best and ONLY sensor to have in a monitor, and that is just simply NOT the truth. The thing that I really do not like about this misconception, is that it is hurting companies who DO have a legitimate and accurate sensor in their devices, but are getting looked over, simply because they do not have a fancy logo on the sensors that they manufacture.
I hope that I have been able to give information that has helped. I would love to do a test of the Awair Device/s, but just do not have the finance to do that at this time.
@@Outside-In.thanks for the response and input regarding senseair sensor. i wish more company look at your reviews and see how you genuinely review the product (even build a custom aquarium to test various air qualities) and support you with their products.
Micro influencer is the future sir!
@@tiyotriyanto Thank you for your vote of confidence - much appreciated. I guess my problem is that I research too much sometimes. It is just that I like to be able to verify specifics, so that I can pass along correct information to anyone deciding to make a purchase, after all - when dealing with AirQuality, correct information is vital.
I would love to do a review, comparison and tear down of the IQ Air, but they have not gotten back to me after taking my name and number, so not sure what is going to happen there.
Doesn't Co2 simply displace the oxygen?
Thanks for the question, and yes CO2 displaces oxygen. CO2 is denser than air and can collect in high concentrations in open pits, low-lying areas and confined spaces where it can displace oxygen creating a serious health hazard.
I am not sure exactly the point of the question, but hopefully the info I provided will suffice. Let me know if you had another reason for the question. Thanks
You should set up a page to help fund your videos. I find them very helpful. But they are expensive to make and have a limited audience
Thank you for the suggestion. I have a PayPal link. I can't afford expensive with limited audience...
@@Outside-In. have a look into buy me a coffee and promote it at the start of the video
Yes would definitely prefer to have 18650s.
For sure
Is the CO2 sensor NDIR?
I do believe it is, I have taken it apart, and the sensor appears to be a NDIR, and I am positive that it is, but I am not sure. I am trying to get a hold of Jim, but he hasn't returned my call yet. Thanks for the question, and wish I could be more precise with my answer. I will update this answer as soon as I hear from Jim at AirKnight.
Hello Anonanon. I just got off the phone with Jim from AirKnight, and he said that Yes, the CO2 sensor is a Non-Dispersive Infrared sensor NDIR. Thanks for the question, I hope this helps.
@@Outside-In. Thank you SO MUCH for following up on this. I really wanted to know about the sensor as well. Have you compared this to the Aranet4? Both have NDIR, I'd love to know how they compare. I'm extremely torn right now which one to buy.
@@dragonfalcon8474 I have been in contact with the maker of Aranet4, and am waiting to hear from them. AirKnight is coming out with an update to their monitor in May of this year, so I definitely would wait on AirKnight. I know that doesn't help much, but right now AirKnight is probably not a good choice.
AA batteries would be perfect or direct AC power. I wouldn't buy it for anything rechargeable. 11 hrs? SRSLY?
AA batteries would not last long at all. What do you mean by 11 hrs? SRSLY??. If you mean the auto shutdown, AirKnight is fixing that in their update.
@@Outside-In. "Powerful 3000 mAh rechargeable Lithium Polymer battery that lasts ~11 hours."--According to their description.
@@Scottyman99 Ok, thanks for the clarification. I am not sure, but it does last at least 10 hours, not sure about the 11. Also I don't like the LiPo battery, and replaced mine with an 18650 which is much safer.
Just noticed .. please get a leap chair V2 save your back. You can get them used. That chair is no bueno.
Wow... The price of that thing. I just checked, and even used ones are very expensive. I really do not see one of these in my future, but you never know right?.
Just to let you know Randy, my chair finally busted broke lol. I went on Amazon and found a very nice looking and much more comfortable office chair, and just placed an order, so hopefully I will be in a way better chair soon... Thanks for you concern though, as you were right, this chair has just been getting worse and worse over time, but thank God it finally broke, and now it looks like I found a much better one, and it was you that got me to thinking of getting something more suited to an office chair - thanks. 👍
CO2 in the air doesn't affect O2 directly. CO2 is generally an indicator of how much the air has been respirated by humans and animals. O2 is lower in air that has been breathed out since we absorb that in our lungs. So when you displace the air in the box with your breath that is higher in CO2 and lower in O2, there will be lower O2 in the box. It's correlation, not causation between the two gases. Exception to this correlation would be using a CO2 tank to increase CO2 in a room for plants to grow faster, the O2 and CO2 would both be high since the plants release O2 into the air. I believe even in a normal O2 environment having high CO2 can cause symptoms in humans maybe by CO2 outcompeting with O2 for absorption by the lungs when CO2 is very high, but I haven't looked it up yet.
Great Information Joe, and always happy to learn something new. I have so much information in my head from the past few months - I told Jim if feels like my head is going to explode ;). I actually did use tank CO2 for this test. I only used my breath to get the alarm to go off because the noise from the tank expulsion was interfering with the db levels. I just thought it was a good scientific test to do to try to learn something new, but you did even better than that, and I am grateful Joe for your insight.
@Outside-In-4-U I must not have been paying attention when you used the CO2 tank this time and just assumed it was how you did it in a previous video.. sorry about that! Either way, the same should apply that if there is pure CO2 flowing in then some of the original air must be flowing out, thus lowering the % of O2 in the air
@@joebourgoin6554 I was wondering if that was what had happened. That's ok though, no harm. I also started thinking about it, and logic told me that if I used the same scenario, but left a constant flow of CO2 entering the area, the oxygen levels would not just come down, but also - would not go back up because the CO2 would be (in a sense) taking the place of the oxygen, or maybe the CO2 pushes it out of the way to make room for itself - kinda like a bully... Anyhow it makes for a pretty cool science experiment. I think I will have to do some more testing with this theory LOL. Thanks for the reply though, as I love having these discussions, after all, it is the best way to learn right?
18650 please
yes, I agree, an 18650 would do nicely.
Yes!!! 18650's would be a much safer option.
Now that comment definitely deserves a like and love for sure. Thanks Heather for agreeing... 👍
@@Outside-In.I’ve purchased the airKnight and hope there will updates that will improve the alarm (louder) and a move to replace the LiPo battery. Hopefully, Jim will have a replacement battery for those that would like to do it themselves.
@@heatherphilips9227 Thank you Heather for your thoughts. I am sure you will be happy with the AirKnight - it is my favorite monitor simply because it has the best screen of any I own. I love the large numbers, making it super easy to read across the room, and the black background with white numbers is the best. It is just unfortunate about the alarm being so quiet, the buttons being a little fidgety, and the LiPo battery, so hopefully AirKnight will make those changes.
@@Outside-In.Thanks.. I just got it, and so far it’s a mixed bag. Right now as I write this, room temperature readings, my unit is off by 2*F, and sometimes 3*F.
The humidity reading is also inaccurate by 8-9%, compared to my other environment measuring devices. I have one desktop device which is saying 47%, and the airKnight is saying 55%. My wall unit is saying 46% as well.
I have turned off the airKnight, and turned it back on, but the readings return back to inaccurate measurements.
With those readings being off so much, I now wonder if the CO2. / PM 2.5 / etc. are even accurate.
I have the HOTKREM PM detector ( same one you have )coming today, and I will now have 3 units to compare temperature and humidity against the airKnight with. If the readings from the HOTKREM match my other temperature units,I will be forced to return the airknight sadly.
@@heatherphilips9227 Thanks Heather for the update. Here is the thing. No one should ever buy an air quality monitor for Temp & Humidity. I wish they wouldn't even include those two things and that would make room for more important information. What you need to focus on is what you bought it for and that is Air Quality. The AirKnight pretty much agrees with every other monitor that I have including and industrial CO2 meter. I don't even pay attention to Temp or Humidity on any of my monitors. I have dedicated monitors for Temp & Humidity. I have found that most Air Quality monitors never agree with one another for The Temp & Humid readings, so another reason they should never be included.
With any monitor that is new out of the box, should be left to sit out for a few days so that they are cleaned out from inside (manual calibration). I don't believe there is a calibration for the AirKnight, but don't discount it just because of the Temp & Humidity readings as we shouldn't even pay attention to those anyhow. Like I said, I use a dedicated device for that, and you yourself say you have a few of those as well, so just use those for that information and use the AirKnight for the Air Quality.
Give it a few days to settle down before making a decision to return. I wish these companies would do a better job with Temp & Humidity. I just received a 300.00 monitor that I am getting ready to review and tear-down, and it also is off when it comes to Temp & Humidity, so please don't send it back simply because of that, as that is not what these monitors are for.
Hope this helps, and I also hope that it will settle in after a few days, but don't give up on it so quickly...
You are not talking too fast lol. I usually watch long videos with 1.5x speed since i dont wanna spend an hour or so. 4:40
🤣🤣... I have never tried that, but maybe I should for fun...
I just realize that when i hear u at 1,5x speed sumtimes i can not absord the information maximally.
I think its because i have so much interest n curiousity bout this topic so im afraid to miss the details.
Unlike when im watching espn sport news or movie recap.
So what im trying to say is, im thankful that u share with us the knowledge that u got from all the research, watching, practicing, dissecting, etc.
Really appreciate your hard work for our safety.
Terima kasih, may god bless you for this kindness
@oscarfamily527 Thank you Oscar for your kind words - much appreciated. Getting ready to create a video on comparing 2 knife sharpeners. Going to be fun, and looking forward to doing it.
alarm is a joke... louder
right again. I wish they would have left the alarm alone and not made it quieter.
I bought 2 of these and each has different readings in the same room and in the same table. I am not comfortable with these monitors. I AM SENDING THEM BACK. I DO NOT TRUST THESE.
It does not matter what monitor you buy, they will always have different readings inside sitting next to each other. The only way they will read the same is on the outside in wide open spaces with nothing around them.
How different and which readings?
@@shobuddy All readings, and how different depends on the quality of the sensors, and your environment. The only time the readings should be the same, is on the outside.
@@Outside-In. The response was meant for Brenda. Like you said, readings will never be identical even with identical units sitting next to each other. I wanted to know how different the readings were and for which metric(s).
@shobuddy The comment was meant for anyone who would have multiple monitors sitting next to each other, AND the environment in which they are sitting. It is going to be hard to try and explain this, but let me try...
There are particulates flying through the air all the time,and within those particulates, groups of particulates some larger, some smaller (less or more dense) as they travel along. So one monitor (within it's location), will pick up one group of particulates, and the other monitor (because it is sitting in a different location) will pick up a different number of particulates, causing the readings to be different even though they are exactly the same type of monitor, just like there would be say 100 people walking through a town, and there were 2 people watching it happen (Joe and Eric). Within the 100 people walking, there are groups of say 5 people, and in another group 22, and yet another group 15 and so on. The number of people that Joe would see at one time would differ from how many Eric would see at the same time because they are sitting in different spaces/locations and view of the people.
Two monitors that are sitting next to each other (even though the same make and model) are sitting in (and picking up) more or less particulates than the other, because they each will be picking up the number of particulates that happen to be passing by "in their space" at the exact same moment.
That is why, if you want to test the accuracy of multiple monitors, you would take them outside where the air is much richer and mixed together in the wide open spaces with no obstacles breaking up the particulates, because inside you have paper, books, shelves, pens, clocks, flashlights, speakers on a desk etc., etc., sitting next to or near the monitors. All of these objects put off different gases, particulates, and will also have different magnetic attractions/static electricity's based on their construction materials, that will add too or take away particulates as they pass by, which will cause readings to fluctuate, and some times drastically.
The percentage is impossible to say because each room, each home is different, each monitor produced has different qualities, and each sensor (even though the same make) will have different qualities because that is life and nothing is perfect (even two in a row will be different in some even small way), so it would be irresponsible for me or anyone to speculate a percentage based on one scenario, and use that as a rule across the board - because simply - it would be inaccurate and not true.
Wow, I feel like this is turning into a book, but I hope that I have convinced someone that it is impossible to answer some questions with results that would be universal and across the board.
One persons difference might be 1% between two monitors sitting next to each other, and yet another person who has the exact same monitors in their home, may have a 10% difference. The person with a 10% difference would be quite angry with me if I said that 1% difference is all you should see, or the one with a 10% difference would think they had received defective units which would not be true, and it would at that time be my fault for that misguided assumption.