Has anyone fitted an engine bay fire extinguisher?
Im thinking about fitting one into my fibreglass Morgan replica and would be interested in peoples thoughts on the idea,
Extinguisher?
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I've been trying to find a BCF type bottle but they seem impossible to get now.
I'm intending to fit an electrically actuated type so I can link it to an automatic firewire activation as well as having a selectable extinguish switch. If you're just covering the bay for peace of mind, you don't need a large bottle like mandated for racing.
I'm intending to fit an electrically actuated type so I can link it to an automatic firewire activation as well as having a selectable extinguish switch. If you're just covering the bay for peace of mind, you don't need a large bottle like mandated for racing.
No substitute for cubic inches
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kev_the_mole
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ian.stewart
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Any form of Extinguisher is a good Idea, and a Electrical system is probably the better system for a GRP car, You must make sure the activation swith is well out of the way and Isolatable, I have seen a few set off by people geting into their race cars and hit or lean on the switch.
But I have my reservations about fixed systems, I have a Have held Dry Powder Extingusher attached to my cage, its only a cheap one, [7.99] from Wickes, and has saved me once, and my mate once as well, The big problem with fixed systems is just that, they are fixed, and any other fire will burn without control, Your car is I take it GRP, If so is unlikely to be fire resistant, and as such will burn merrily,The most common cause of fire in a car is Electrical, I am allways very cautious in my electrical instalations and how I run them, Double earths and generally a wire above the rating advised, A good electrical kill system is a MUST, What you must not do is switch off the engine by this method unless in an emergency as you will kill the alternator, unless you use a FIA style switch with the bypass,
A common Misconception in the cause of Fluid fire is not normally Petrol, its Mineral Brake fluid, its far easier to set alight than petrol without a direct source of ignition,
One thing about Dry powder and petrol is they are not good together, OK the dry powder will put out the fire, but it MUST be cleaned up corectly as the powder mixed with Petrol when dry will form a very hard substance, and can cause all sorts of problems , I remember there was a F1 driver, [David Purley I think] who was killed testing his car shortly a engine fire, The accident was directly put down to the dry powder causing the throttle to stick open.
just as an afterthought, There was a extinguisher system that used Dried Cows blood as part of its make up, cant remember what it was, but you can be certain its banned now due to the BSE problems, I wonder if it was BCF??
But I have my reservations about fixed systems, I have a Have held Dry Powder Extingusher attached to my cage, its only a cheap one, [7.99] from Wickes, and has saved me once, and my mate once as well, The big problem with fixed systems is just that, they are fixed, and any other fire will burn without control, Your car is I take it GRP, If so is unlikely to be fire resistant, and as such will burn merrily,The most common cause of fire in a car is Electrical, I am allways very cautious in my electrical instalations and how I run them, Double earths and generally a wire above the rating advised, A good electrical kill system is a MUST, What you must not do is switch off the engine by this method unless in an emergency as you will kill the alternator, unless you use a FIA style switch with the bypass,
A common Misconception in the cause of Fluid fire is not normally Petrol, its Mineral Brake fluid, its far easier to set alight than petrol without a direct source of ignition,
One thing about Dry powder and petrol is they are not good together, OK the dry powder will put out the fire, but it MUST be cleaned up corectly as the powder mixed with Petrol when dry will form a very hard substance, and can cause all sorts of problems , I remember there was a F1 driver, [David Purley I think] who was killed testing his car shortly a engine fire, The accident was directly put down to the dry powder causing the throttle to stick open.
just as an afterthought, There was a extinguisher system that used Dried Cows blood as part of its make up, cant remember what it was, but you can be certain its banned now due to the BSE problems, I wonder if it was BCF??
THE SMOKING GNU
12.604 with an old boiler of a RV8 and no gas
WHY are there so many IANS on this site???????
12.604 with an old boiler of a RV8 and no gas
WHY are there so many IANS on this site???????
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plastic orange
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BCF (Bromochlorodifluoromethane) is banned (manufacture and purchase of) due to the PC brigade and the depletion of the ozone layer (If I remember correctly it was the Montreal agreement - worked extremely well, but was toxic in confined areas). Dried blood used to be a constituent of low expansion foam - now moved on to synthetic equivalent.
Dry Powder is messy, but works very well (possibly the best all rounder), but you have to make sure the extinguisher is kept in a dry environment (otherwise it clogs).
I have a large BCF extinguisher in my Minor, a BCF and large CO2 in my garage, plus if welding a ready supply of water handy.
You don't really get a second chance with fire.
Pete
Dry Powder is messy, but works very well (possibly the best all rounder), but you have to make sure the extinguisher is kept in a dry environment (otherwise it clogs).
I have a large BCF extinguisher in my Minor, a BCF and large CO2 in my garage, plus if welding a ready supply of water handy.
You don't really get a second chance with fire.
Pete
