LEL meter

[MMW]

Are all LEL meters good for checking diesel/fuel oil/hydraulic tanks? Is there a certain one to look for?

[Eric Carroll]

we have been demo-ing some 12,000 + gallon tanks that had gas,diesel,oil and whatever a oil company stores in them.We have been using a lel meter to check for explosive conditions before we cut,we have had no problems but I still dont trust them 100%.I have held the meter close to a gas tank and it goes off right away,but I held it over a full diesel tank and it didnt do any thing much.A few years ago I had to repair one of these tanks from the inside and wore a lel meter on me and it didnt do much. I wonder how much diesel vapors need to be present to be explosive?

[pipeliner]

I carry one on me too, you got to have one to stay alive, never believe the compnay grunts that says tank is clean. I never bother with chekcing hydralic oil tanks, and I haven't had had one pop on me yet. I check mine each time before using on gas tank just for personal resurrance

[aametalmaster]

We use Eagle meters in the refinery. http://www.mcmaster.com has some handheld meters...Bob

[MMW]

My question is are all LEL meters good for fuel tanks or are some LEL meters only good for certain other gases? I see them for sale from $80 on up. The info for all of them says it tests for explosive gases, does this mean all explosive gases? I just want to make sure before I get one & think I'm safe but then find out it's not the right one.

[trstek]

If I were you, I would call the mfg and see what they have to say, as well as get the spec sheet. Like you said, making an assumption about a particular meter could be harmfull to youre health.

Please post the meter you purchase, I would be interested in looking at it.
Tom

[Goulet!]

We use industrial scientific were I work. They have meters for all types of gases.

http://www.indsci.com/

[johnny_waz]

We use industrial scientific were I work. They have meters for all types of gases.

http://www.indsci.com/

Wow, I checked out their meters. They sure are nice!
But man are they expensive. The 4 gas meter is over $2000.00 from Airgas . I guess when your life is on the line money is no object right?

[burnie]

Wow, I checked out their meters. They sure are nice!
But man are they expensive. The 4 gas meter is over $2000.00 from Airgas . I guess when your life is on the line money is no object right?

If it helps, I use the M40 multi gas (also industrial scientific) with the sampling pump.($600 for monitor and $150 for pump)proven to be trustworthy with some common sense. Thats Canadian prices though.