Fire extinguishers
Fire extinguishers
Author
Discussion

Mr Freefall

Original Poster:

2,323 posts

287 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
2kg one or a 4 kg one. Not that I want to temp fate, but thought it might be a good precautionary measure.

These seemed to be the cheapest company inc delivery...

www.safelincs.co.uk/product.php?xProd=49&jssCart=ce441b9027e72ecb1ffd5fe11273766c

Mr F

davidn

1,028 posts

288 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
I've been meaning to get round to doing this myself, for me it's a compromise between one big enough to do the job but small enough to be mounted where I can get at it quick enough.
I bought a bit of a big boy for my old Griff and couldn't find anywhere to mount it in the cockpit so it ended up mounted in the boot which obviously is not ideal in an emergency.
They say the 4 Kg one has a discharge time of 12 seconds which doesn't sound long but I'm wondering how long I would attempt to tackle a fire before deciding to leg it.
So anywhere where would you be mounting it out of interest?
Cheers
David

budaholic

1,516 posts

264 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
I've always carried a 1kg one like this on the floor behind my passenger seat.... I might even fix it down one day,



Bud

purpleheadedcerb

1,143 posts

251 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
I would think either against the gearbox tunnel where it meets the floor on the passenger side or passenger side in front of the door against the wing. Should be easy enough to get in a rush.

GreenV8S

31,017 posts

313 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
The fire specialists recommend dry powder as the best way to put fires out, but the problem is if you discharge a dry powder extinguisher inside the car you pretty much destroy the interior because the powder get everywhere and you can never really clean it out. I prefer to use AFFF, but you need 2.5L or more if you're going to make any impact on a significant fire. Make sure you mount it somewhere you can reach from outside the car, but it needs to be secure so it can't possibly break loose in an accident.

Bodger Bedge

75 posts

259 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
Having already burnt a Cerb to the ground following an engine fire, I must say that you will have to be bloody quick to use an extinguisher. I kept mine in the boot.....yes I know now! If the fire hits the electrics then you have no electric release on the doors nor the boot - that may cause a problem getting it out of the boot! I have not yet found a tidy unobtrusive place to keep it in the main cabin especially when I have rear passengers. Any suggestions please...keep it clean!

GreenV8S

31,017 posts

313 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
Sideways under the driver's knees, bolted down to the floor with large washers to spread the load to prevent it pulling loose in an accident.

madbadger

11,752 posts

273 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
After seeing a newish Pug 206 merrily burning away in Derby I have been thinking about one of these too.

Presumably it is better to have powder to clear up rather than charring?

I'd have thought a 2kg would fit much better under the knees than a 4kg or is it it worth putting up with the extra bulk for the potential extra few seconds of use?

Cheers.

tvrgit

8,489 posts

281 months

Monday 27th March 2006
quotequote all
12 seconds doesn't sound like a long time but believe me, that's a pretty big fire, and not one you'd want to tackle yourself wearing a t-shirt and jeans!

I bought a 2kg dry powder from Costco last weekend - £12 or something (including a wee hammer / seat belt cutter) and haven't decided where to fit it - under the knees does seem like the best plan.

TT Tim

4,168 posts

276 months

Tuesday 28th March 2006
quotequote all
www.lifeline-fire.co.uk/fireextinguisher/electricalsystems.htm

About £100 for a plumbed in 2.25ltr system. But, if you put the bottle in the boot you'll need a londer run of 6mm tube and the 10ft pull T.

Tim

GreenV8S

31,017 posts

313 months

Tuesday 28th March 2006
quotequote all
Extinguishers suitable to be plumbed in cost several times more than ordinary hand-held ones. The difference is that the hand-held ones are only designed to work when upright. The lining doesn't continue all the way past the top seal; if you operate them on their side, there's a danger that the water will get behind the lining and pull it off as it discharges. But if you're only ever going to use it when it's upright, a hand held unit is all you need.

TT Tim

4,168 posts

276 months

Tuesday 28th March 2006
quotequote all
GreenV8S said:
Extinguishers suitable to be plumbed in cost several times more than ordinary hand-held ones. The difference is that the hand-held ones are only designed to work when upright. The lining doesn't continue all the way past the top seal; if you operate them on their side, there's a danger that the water will get behind the lining and pull it off as it discharges. But if you're only ever going to use it when it's upright, a hand held unit is all you need.


That's interesting - didn't know that - thanks.

Tim