Fire extinguishers

[slngsht]

what type, what size, where is it mounted?

 

go

[slomove]

what type, what size, where is it mounted?

 

go

 

Good question, I would be interested in a good source....My extinguisher is probably 10 years old and while still showing "green" on the gage I think I should replace it sometimes. Also, the next Shelby Club track day requires a metal clamp and I have it strapped to the floor in front of the passenger seat with a tie-down belt only.

 

Otherwise the position is very good. Does not bother under the passenger knees and can be reached from the driver position.

 

Gert

[lowflyer]

Couple of quick thoughts...

 

First, the spot under the passenger's knees is my first choice too. Make sure that the mounting is secure. Remember in any kind of impact any item will attain several "g's", so if you're mounting it through the aluminum floor use high grade bolts/nuts with large flat washers under the floor to spread the load. I've seen them mounted on rollbars or the struts, but they're a little close to my head for my taste.

 

Metal bracket is a must. I also use a piece of racer tape on the latch to keep it from being opened by accident (pun intended) when someone climbs into the right seat. Also keeps it from vibrating open.

 

The gauge on the top will tell you the state of the charge inside the unit, but the gauges do stick sometimes. They should be recharged about every two or three years. The powder, assuming that you're carrying a dry chem unit will "clump" over time from being in one position. Take it out and shake it up occasionally.

 

Only extinguishers with metal "heads" can be recharged. The cheaper units use a plastic body that can't be recharged, so either buy a better one to start or simply buy a new one every couple of years. If you're going to replace or recharge the old one, try it out. Make sure you know how to use it, so you're not trying to read the instructions in the heat of the moment (pun intended, again).

 

I've carried fire extinguishers in my cars since I was a kid. My Dad was a city firefighter in Philly, so I guess it was ingrained into me. Anyway, I've used my extinguisher at least 5 times that I can think of, always on someone elses fire.

 

BTW, while on the subject be sure to have a decent sized unit in your garage and near the kitchen. They can help prevent a small problem from becoming a BIG problem. The last time I used mine it was on a fire in my neighbors condo. It beat the fire down and kept it from spreading while we waited for the professionals to show up.

[slngsht]

you guys use Holotron?

[bsimon]

Halon is still the best agent for fire fighting. Only the Europeans have fully banned haloalkanes in their never ending grasp of pathological "green" science. There are other alternative gasses such as FE-13. Much more expensive though.

 

Halon can save your life and your car. Regardless of one's opinion of the ozone depletion propaganda, preservation of life and property comes first. All the discharges of fire fighting agents in history amount to zilch in terms of environmental impact. Remember, they are only used in an emergency. Hopefully you'll never have to use yours. If you do, it can be refilled.

 

I use the Amerex halon 1211 hand held bottle in my car. It sits longitudinally in the victim's foot well. I tried mounting it laterally, but it would be hard to remove for use by the driver. Your larger chassis might have a bit more room allowing sideways mounting in front of the seat.

 

If you want a cheaper ( "greener" ) alternative, get a BC rated sodium bicarbonate extinguisher. This is the DOT recommended fire fighting agent for the trucking industry. Unlike the typical ABC rated monoammonium phosphate Walmart extinguisher, sodium bicarb doesn't dissolve aluminium and pot metal. Since there is no "A" rating it won't extinguish combustibles like wood and fabric. Not a huge problem in a Seven.

 

AFFF foam extinguishers are another possibility. Many plumbed in race car systems are using this now. Make sure you take the tank inside come winter as it will freeze and burst. IMHO,too much hassle for a street driver.

 

CO2 is not an acceptable alternative for automotive use.

 

Pegasus sells the Amerex Halon 1211 hand held extinguisher

 

I found this really good buy on Kidde BC extinguishers. I think this is the size you need. Better go to the Kidde web site for dimensions though. These are probably refillable, but at 26 clams I'd just bin it each year.

[pksurveyor]

It is a good idea to carry a fire extinguisher in a 7. I am the track day organizer for the Houston Lotus Club since 2004. I always have two fire extinguishers available for the just in case. Our last event in May was the first time we had to put them to use in four years. A Lotus Esprit had a small oil leak onto the exhaust manifold and a fire broke out. The BC extinguisher did its job and after a little clean up, the car was back on the track in the next session.

[slngsht]

Halon is still the best agent for fire fighting. Only the Europeans have fully banned haloalkanes in their never ending grasp of pathological "green" science. There are other alternative gasses such as FE-13. Much more expensive though.

 

Halon can save your life and your car. Regardless of one's opinion of the ozone depletion propaganda, preservation of life and property comes first. All the discharges of fire fighting agents in history amount to zilch in terms of environmental impact. Remember, they are only used in an emergency. Hopefully you'll never have to use yours. If you do, it can be refilled.

 

I use the Amerex halon 1211 hand held bottle in my car. It sits longitudinally in the victim's foot well. I tried mounting it laterally, but it would be hard to remove for use by the driver. Your larger chassis might have a bit more room allowing sideways mounting in front of the seat.

 

If you want a cheaper ( "greener" ) alternative, get a BC rated sodium bicarbonate extinguisher. This is the DOT recommended fire fighting agent for the trucking industry. Unlike the typical ABC rated monoammonium phosphate Walmart extinguisher, sodium bicarb doesn't dissolve aluminium and pot metal. Since there is no "A" rating it won't extinguish combustibles like wood and fabric. Not a huge problem in a Seven.

 

AFFF foam extinguishers are another possibility. Many plumbed in race car systems are using this now. Make sure you take the tank inside come winter as it will freeze and burst. IMHO,too much hassle for a street driver.

 

CO2 is not an acceptable alternative for automotive use.

 

Pegasus sells the Amerex Halon 1211 hand held extinguisher

 

I found this really good buy on Kidde BC extinguishers. I think this is the size you need. Better go to the Kidde web site for dimensions though. These are probably refillable, but at 26 clams I'd just bin it each year.

 

Bob, what do you think is the right size for a seven?

[bsimon]

Bob, what do you think is the right size for a seven?

 

A 1000lb. extinguisher will seem inadequate when you see your pride and joy begin to ignite.:cry:

 

I figure 2.5lbs. should handle a Seven fire and still be small enough to stow. I use 5lbs. in a tin top. Your mileage may vary...

 

As a guideline, most sanctioning bodies that allow(require) hand held extinguishers require 2.5lb.

 

 

edited to add:

 

When you go to track days and autotests, have your own 10lb. BC available in your paddock area. That's were many fires start or get noticed.

 

 

 

 

[slngsht]

I was wondering if 2.5 lbs will be big enough. I'll go with it. Thanks.

[JohnCh]

I have a Safecraft 2.5lb halon fire extinguisher and had to use it once. The fact that I had an extinguisher in the car saved me from certain disaster, and the thanks to the halon, there was no additional damage to anything else under the bonnet.

 

As for mounting location, I initially mounted it to a bracket attached to the front of the passenger seat, but SWMBO didn’t like it there because it made it harder to get in/out of the car. I then moved it to the rear bulkhead between the seats. One of these days I need to replace the stock flimsy mounting bracket with a billet unit that is more up to the task of keeping it in place in an accident.

 

-John

 

[DB6]

2.5 pounds should put out up to a size 11 shoe size.

[slngsht]

2.5 pounds should put out up to a size 11 shoe size.

 

[Alaskossie]

I am mounting two Safecraft 2.5 lb. Halon extinguishers cross-wise in front of the Tillets in my Caterham Seven Classic. They are the only extinguishers I could find that were short enough to fit cross-wise in the Seven.

 

I am fabricating aluminum angled mounts to position the extinguishers in front of the seats. They will move as the seats are adjusted forward and back. The mounts will fasten under the front bolts of the Tillets, where the plastic spaces usually go.

 

The Safecraft mount has a quick-release pin.

 

Tom Meacham

Alaskossie

[solder_guy]

I bought my 2.5 pound extinguisher at NAPA ..

 

previous extinguisher thread ...

 

Rob

 

[Mike Rohaley]

I have a Halguard Halon extinguisher mounted under the scuttle, it required a fabricated bracket to turn the fuse block 90 degrees (drawing available if you request). The only other modification is a slight roll to the triangular Lamiplate piece that covers the lower windscreen stanchion bolts (this gives the nozzle a bit more room for quick removal).

 

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1664351927_Fire extinguisher.jpg

 

It fits nicely and doesn't cause any isssues with ingress or egress and is still "right there" should it be needed. Summit carries it, here is a link: http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=HTR%2DHG100R&N=700+115&autoview=sku