Fire Extinguishers

[Argess]

Over all the years I've had my Cobra, I've never installed a fire extinguisher. I've had a few carb leaks as well; guess I am lucky nothing ever caught fire.

On location, I take it the normal spot is between the seats on top of the transmission tunnel, and with the nozzle pointed forward so the latching mechansim is easy to get to. Although if it went off accidently, the cockpit would fill up possibly causing lack of visibility while driving. Hmmmm...not that likely I suppose, unless left out in the sun for an extended period.

But what size and type to run? I suppose ABC is good, but a 5 lb unit looks a little large, although better too much than too little I suppose.

For those of you that have installed a Fire Extinguisher, what type, size, location and orientation did you settle on?

[Silverback51]

You may want to consider a Halon system with nozzles in the cockpit and under the hood.

If you do a search you will find a number of threads with pictures that may help you out.

I believe that will be one of my Winter projects this year.

[undy]

That's exactly what I installed.. six discharge nozzles under the hood, under the dash for the electrics/electronics and a nozzle in the driver's footwell..



Dave

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Argess

For those of you that have installed a Fire Extinguisher, what type, size, location and orientation did you settle on?

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.

[Ron61]

I had a chrome 2 pound one mounted between the seats and it has a quick release mounting bracket and also a pin to keep the handle from being squeezed accidentally. Took about 10 seconds to get it out and ready to use. I know this because they timed me once. But I would never have liked to had to have used it. Really more for looks than practical use.

Ron

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Ron61

Really more for looks than practical use.

That one statement describes my entire car.

[Ron61]

Patrickt,

I think it pretty much describes most of these cars. I guess the Coupe would be ok to drive in the rain except for the traction problem. It has a full fire suppression system in it to pass inspection at the tracks. But it is not a practical car by any means. Just fun.

Ron

[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.

[Argess]

Well....a very diversified plethera of replies. Thank-you.

10 seconds? I can see that for me....1 second to free the extinguisher and 9 seconds to get out of the car while holding it.....not to mention getting the hood open. But most engne fires start out small, at least the ones I've had (not in the Cobra). The idea is to get to them before they spread.

Some of the brackets are really wall brackets and wouldn't hold a bottle terribly securely. Have to look into what's available.

Halon. Dopey military put them in our submarines. That's nice if the system goes off. Probably asphyxiate everyone on-board. I hear it isn't good to breathe in, nor is it popular with the ozone-saving public, although hopefully one would never use it, so the ozone layer (and me) would remain safe.

Manaul vs plumbed system. From the number of fire extinguisher training courses Ive done, it certainly is apparent that where you aim the extinguisher has an awful lot to do with getting the fire out succesfully, so manual is fine for me.

As far as having one, I wasn't conerned about it being a cosmetic addition. I read in another post how the youngsters figure it's a NOS bottle. Now how could they get that confused?????

I see I have a 2.5 lb unit in my kitchen which looks a decent size. A similiar one, probably ABC might be a good idea. Now red, orange or blue?

Thank-you for your replies. Time to visit the hardware store and see what they have.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Argess

10 seconds? I can see that for me.....

There are damn few things I can do in 10 seconds (now I know RodKnock is going to bust my balls with a straight line like that) but I think if my car was on fire I could get out and touch off one of the extinguishers in that amount of time.

BTW, that's a nice shot of Evan (REAL1) in my car up above in my first post. Yes, he dropped by and wanted to sit behind the wheel of a mechanically superior, albeit fake, Cobra and I just couldn't say "no."

[Argess]

Originally Posted by patrickt

BTW, that's a nice shot of Evan (REAL1) in my car up above in my first post. Yes, he dropped by and wanted to sit behind the wheel of a mechanically superior, albeit fake, Cobra and I just couldn't say "no."

Regarding the picture, do you suppose he's saying, in the words of Jacques Cousteau, "I am aghast...."

Poor Evan. I like him. I'm sure he is as proud of his car as I am of mine. I wonder what he uses for a fire extinguisher?

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Argess

Poor Evan. I like him. I'm sure he is as proud of his car as I am of mine.

I like him too -- and I would probably hire him as well. I have no doubt that if I told him to march in to a meat grinder he would salute smartly and head right in there. That's the type of work ethic I look for.

[mdross1]

That was one piece of equipment I installed right from the getgo.Mine is mounted behind the shifter and instantly available in or out of the car.

[CCX 33239]

I drove my car for a number of years w/o an extinguisher. Two weeks after I installed a 2 1/2 # Halatron between the seats, I had a fire. I know I had the Halon going within 10-20 seconds, but a lot can even in that time. Luckily, the under side of the hood and scoop are polished aluminum and it saved the paint. It took the wires and fuel lines and made it mess. But, it did clean up.

Don't leave home without one!!!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by CCX 33239

I drove my car for a number of years w/o an extinguisher. Two weeks after I installed a 2 1/2 # Halatron between the seats, I had a fire.

What was the cause of your fire?