Fire Extinguishers

[jwd]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I carry two, both are chrome, and both are about 1.5lbs I think. The one behind the shifter, between the seats, is a fancy Halotron unit in case the fire is in my car. Supposedly it makes no mess; just don't breathe it. It also makes for an absolutely perfect elbow rest while driving The second one in the trunk is a regular ABC powder unit that makes a terrible mess if you use it. That one is in case the fire is in someone else's car.

I carry 1 of each type as well, but for different reasons. The Halon, Halotron or Halguard type extinguisher is the one to use first. However, there are many circumstances where they won't be effective so you want a dry chem. as a back-up.
The pre-plumbed systems look cool but their purpose is to only control the fire long enough to allow the driver to get out so he can get a good view of the car burning to the ground. I would take 2 hand held extinguishers over the best pre-plumbed system on the market.

Jim

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by jwd

I carry 1 of each type as well, but for different reasons. The Halon, Halotron or Halguard type extinguisher is the one to use first. However, there are many circumstances where they won't be effective so you want a dry chem. as a back-up.
The pre-plumbed systems look cool but their purpose is to only control the fire long enough to allow the driver to get out so he can get a good view of the car burning to the ground. I would take 2 hand held extinguishers over the best pre-plumbed system on the market.

Jim

I'm curious about the statement regarding plumbed systems. While I agree a plumbed system cannot be aimed, they are used on a lot of race cars and seem to function there. And specifically on the NHRA Funny Cars with their systems.

Am I'm missing something Jim?

[Stentor]

I have a Safecraft halon extinguisher in my car.

http://www.safecraft.com/product_pag...ductSubCatID=7

[jwd]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

I'm curious about the statement regarding plumbed systems. While I agree a plumbed system cannot be aimed, they are used on a lot of race cars and seem to function there. And specifically on the NHRA Funny Cars with their systems.

Am I'm missing something Jim?

Hi John,

Fixed systems in race cars are designed only to protect the driver. They really don't protect the car. Total discharge time on those sytems is typically only a few seconds (and that's with a large bottle and very few nozzles). That knocks the fire down long enough to get the car stopped and to get out. The only funny cars I've seen that didn't burn to the ground were blower explosions which typically blow themselves out. Any kind of an oil leak/fire, kiss the car goodbye.
On a street driven car, there are several instances where a fixed system would be useless. The above mentioned oil leak fire, a gas fed fire, a brake fire, an electrical fire and any fire where there isn't a nozzle. All the systems I've seen are a "deluge system" where once activated, all nozzles discharge. That means your bottle will empty immediately, since nozzles away from the fire discharge as well.
If you want the "race car" look, install one of those systems (and have good insurance) but if you really want to protect your car, get a Halon type AND a dry chemical extinguisher and know how to use them.

Jim

[Argess]

Originally Posted by Silverback51

I'm curious about the statement regarding plumbed systems. While I agree a plumbed system cannot be aimed, they are used on a lot of race cars and seem to function there. And specifically on the NHRA Funny Cars with their systems.

Am I'm missing something Jim?

I would imagine "shear volume". Big enough bottle and it will extinguish everything. Don't want a great big bottle in my car.

Also, in an accident, it goes off, possibly saving the driver's life. Most of what we've been are talking about here is related to saving the car in the event of a malfuntion such as a fuel leak. It wasn't meant to address saving the driver in the event of an accident, although it would be a nice "plus" for a plumbed system.

EDIT: Shoot, JWD got his post out whiel i was typing, so I covered old territory

[Silverback51]

Originally Posted by Argess

I would imagine "shear volume". Big enough bottle and it will extinguish everything. Don't want a great big bottle in my car.

Also, in an accident, it goes off, possibly saving the driver's life. Most of what we've been are talking about here is related to saving the car in the event of a malfuntion such as a fuel leak. It wasn't meant to address saving the driver in the event of an accident, although it would be a nice "plus" for a plumbed system.

EDIT: Shoot, JWD got his post out whiel i was typing, so I covered old territory

And thank you to both you and Jim for your replies.

Maybe I will scratch the plumbed system off my list of Winter projects.