Good Fire Extinguisher

[bliss]

Need to purchase a fire extinguisher for my Cobra.

Is a Class B the one to consider?

How big and what brand is best?

Thanks.

[patrickt]

I carry two. The one that is mounted between the seats, on the tunnel, and that doubles as a perfect arm rest, is a Halotron unit. It is a "clean" unit, and leaves no residue. The second unit is mounted in the trunk to the roll bar brace. It is an old fashioned ABC powder type extinguisher. If my car catches on fire, I will use the Halotron unit on it. If your car is on fire, I will use the old fashioned unit and then you'll have to use Q-Tips to clean up all the white residue, but at least the fire damage will have been lessened.

[Bernica]

Like these....

Halotron Fire Extinguishers - Garage Accessories - In Your Garage - Griot's Garage

[lippy]

I have a chrome 1 Lb halotron on the bulkhead centered between the rear seats, and a 2 Lb halotron mounted in the trunk near the gas tank fill tube.

[jwd]

Halotron and other "clean agent" extinguishers are basically useless for car fires. Get a good ABC rated extinguisher and have good insurance.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by jwd

Halotron and other "clean agent" extinguishers are basically useless for car fires. Get a good ABC rated extinguisher and have good insurance.

Hmmmm, well, in that case, I would use the extinguisher that works on my car, and I would use the one that doesn't work on someone else's car....

[bliss]

Originally Posted by patrickt

I carry two. The one that is mounted between the seats, on the tunnel, and that doubles as a perfect arm rest, is a Halotron unit. It is a "clean" unit, and leaves no residue. The second unit is mounted in the trunk to the roll bar brace. It is an old fashioned ABC powder type extinguisher. If my car catches on fire, I will use the Halotron unit on it. If your car is on fire, I will use the old fashioned unit and then you'll have to use Q-Tips to clean up all the white residue, but at least the fire damage will have been lessened.

What size is the one between the seats?

Would a small size - 1.4 lb do the job or is the 2.5 lb really needed?

[Tim7139]

The Superformance halon units with the billet brackets are not cheap but are quite nice. Firmly mounted and available by pulling a single pin.

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by bliss

What size is the one between the seats?

Would a small size - 1.4 lb do the job or is the 2.5 lb really needed?

I have the Amerex B385, in the shiny chrome version, and that's 2.5lb.

[Bernica]

I have often considered going the full suppression route with the piping and nozzles in engine compartment and trunk and a "Pull For Fire" switch in the cockpit. Mainly because of the time it can take to unbuckle and get out of the car when you may have only seconds and may also be injured.

That said, I am sure if I saw fire, I would be out of the car pretty damn quick!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

I have often considered going the full suppression route with the piping and nozzles in engine compartment and trunk and a "Pull For Fire" switch in the cockpit. Mainly because of the time it can take to unbuckle and get out of the car when you may have only seconds and may also be injured.

That said, I am sure if I saw fire, I would be out of the car pretty damn quick!

But, how would you know that it worked unless you tested it out once?

[Bernica]

Well, I would get something SFI certified for sure. But, how often have you tested out your Halotron? I certainly haven't. It just sits there, thank God!

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Bernica

But, how often have you tested out your Halotron?

But I carry a back up, as well. It would seem to me to be a bit imprudent to rely on a single system yet never test it... no?

[Bernica]

Well, I didn't say I would be getting rid of the Halotron extinguisher for backup!

[patrickt]

Isn't the underhood system rechargeable? I think I would tell the fire extinguisher installers that, once they were done, I wanted to pull the damn thing to make sure it worked, then they could just recharge it and I'd head home, after paying a slight premium for the recharge. Are you allowed to do that?

[Bernica]

Agreed Patrick. I would just pay for the extra bottle to see it in action. Just for piece of mind. As long as it was a clean system that didn't leave the car trashed. They are out there and not cheap.

[patrickt]

This Halon based set of units look reasonable: Vehicle Fire Suppression System | Bulldog Direct Protective Systems You know, a couple of years ago I was doing something on my fuel system. When I was finished, I got behind the wheel fired it up, revved it a bit, got out to look at my handiwork and saw fuel everywhere. It was boiling off the top of my manifold like a pot full of water. I had left one of the fuel fittings loose by mistake. That could have easily have gone very bad. And then, year before last, I had another one of my cars spew the supercharger oil all over the engine, which caught on fire while I was driving. I pulled in to a Sunoco station and the guys were kind enough to put the fire out -- car totaled. Yes, I was quite the sight pulling in to a gas station with a car on fire and flames coming out from under the hood. Everybody got the f*** out of my way that day.

[Dimis]

Originally Posted by patrickt

But, how would you know that it worked unless you tested it out once?

Seems ok with matches... No?
...and what of parachutes?

[CobraDan]

https://fireextinguisherdepot.com/ho...her-guide.html

[patrickt]

Originally Posted by Dimis

Seems ok with matches... No?
...and what of parachutes?

But would you stake your life, or car, on a match, the brand of which you had never even tried to light, even once? And would you forego a reserve chute and trust the single one that had been packed by who-knows-who?