anthonym Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 just replaced mine, which was dated 1999 (interesting, in a 2000 car). So I just had to test it. It worked fine and now I know what that feels like. It doesn't last very long, though longer than mere seconds. If I was dousing a burning person would it be enough? Kinda feel like adding a second one. What experiences do we have of this? Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon Crofts Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 What size is it? You could always go for a larger capacity & therefore longer 'run' time. Is it plumbed in? If so 2 exit ports, 1 on fuel rail & 1 on drivers feet/legs. Porsche GT3 RS Orange R300 Superlight Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 18, 2009 Author Share Posted July 18, 2009 not plumbed in, size looks the same as I usually see in 7s, I'll have to report back on that. edit: set me thinking, bigger size. Why not indeed. Good idea. Edited by - anthonym on 18 Jul 2009 17:30:43 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 I've had a short course at the local fire-station paid for by work as I'm a fire marshal. And yep, the length of use you get out of anything you can comfortably lift is very short. Interestingly, the fireman who gave us the course and let us practice with the various fire-extinguisher types said that he does *not* keep an extinguisher at his home (he does have a fire-blanket though). Broadly-speaking, the basic message was that unless you witness the fire breaking out, by the time you find out about it through heat/smoke/smell, there's a jolly-good chance that your average domestic extinguisher will be totally useless - just get out. I think that's pretty-much the same position for car extinguishers - the advantage there is that you will almost certainly witness the start of the fire and all the extinguisher is really going to do is buy you a couple of seconds to get the hell out of Dodge (or Ford, or Bristol, or erm - I'm running out of car makers that I can think of that share names with places... ) Lanchester! There's another one. 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Ecosse™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin J Posted July 18, 2009 Share Posted July 18, 2009 Vauxhall Who do you think will win the tour Myles. Suprise package for me is our Bradley! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 fire blanket is a good idea... where to keep one.. hmm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 It is possible to put out rather large fires with even a very small extinguisher but you need to know what you're doing! The more times you try the better you'll get - as with almost everything else. Practise .... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
myothercarsa2cv Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Martin and Myles You missed the bleeding obvious! Caterham Now, slightly o/t, and sorry Anthony for the little hijack - I know that you cannot put a price on saving your pride and joy, yourself and possibly a passenger from the effects of fire. But how come you get these handheld ones from Halfords for £20, when a motorsport one costs ten times that? Does anyone put their faith in the cheapy ones? John _________________________ Bugsy: '82 2cv6 (Back on the road!!! 😬) Talloulah: '08 1.6K Classic (Grubby ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 no worries, good point :-) and I did not know about the price differences, I think mine comes from the ferry in the MOndeo and the one in the 7 from Machine Mart the other day in Maidstone. So I am very interested in your question's answer; occurs to me whether it is the contents that are different. I'm going to look see whether a slightly larger unit will fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h_____ Posted July 20, 2009 Share Posted July 20, 2009 Plumbed in usually has 3 exits, fuel rail, drivers feet and over the fuel tank, by fuel filter in the back. If all linked up and pulled at correct point, can save the car. I crashed as Spa and the car caught fire, whether the FE put it out, or it was a simply a flash fire is paddock debate, but I didnt think twice about pulling it! Also, have FE in the garage, as I am likely to be around at the start of a fire (probably being the cause!! 😳 ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted July 20, 2009 Author Share Posted July 20, 2009 that's an interesting thought, in my case for garage read trailer, possibly fit something a bit larger too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 where can I (at least) read about how to use a fire extinguisher with a "know what I am doing" attempt? Anthony Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 I have also recently bought a fire blanket, thinking I would take it with me in the Seven, however it never got further than the kitchen where it now lives near the cooker... best laid plans of mice and men etc I was going to use it as an instant passenger footwell cooling device - trouble is I now have a head full of chip pan fire images (or whatever reason). The thing is if someone is on fire, a blanket is the thing, not a fire extinguisher of the size we have (or if larger I know not - I recall track marshalls carry LARGE fire extinguishers when I see them on TV). What do we do when the fire extinguisher runs out? A fire blanket doe snot run out and doesn't burn itself either unlike coats and so forth. Of course big difference if person is in or out, of the car. My mind clearly in a bit of a tailspin about this one. Anthony (jogged back to this thread by the My Top Tips thread) here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Roger Ford Posted August 19, 2009 Share Posted August 19, 2009 So I just had to test it What sort was it? Powder, foam or halon? Didn't it make rather a mess? Beware of the powder, if you try to wash it off it turns into a sticky corrosive mess. But they don't usually use that for in-car extinguishers as the powder tends to pack down into a solid cake. Foam's probably not too bad. Halon's clean but just wrecks the ozone layer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted August 19, 2009 Author Share Posted August 19, 2009 halon's a gas that removes oxygen isn't it? Wasn't that, I'm still here to tell the tale. It was white stuff, seemed to blow away off the grass.. so my guess is it was powder.. or foam 😳 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h_____ Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Mine was a gas (halon), my foot got a little wet too, assumably from condensation drips at the nozzle. No mess to clean up on the car, (although it wouldnt have been issue anyway.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shn7 Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 Thought Halon was banned some years ago for it's nasty effects. Steve. Sussex (West) AR Not forgetting Percy the Polar Bear who recommends Puddle Pet Care Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
virden Posted August 20, 2009 Share Posted August 20, 2009 The main thing when faced with a fire is not to panic. Always switch off any fuel pump, distance yourself from immediate harm, then assess the situation. Flames are dramatic, but they mostly consist of vapours caused by heat evaporation, and not the fabric of your pride and joy. Use your extinguisher to go to the base of the flame, and you will be surprised how quickly you will put the fire out. Dry powder is by far the best extinguishent, hence it is used by all fire marshals for "knock down" to put out the flames. They may then follow up with foam to cool/seal the fire source. I had a fire at 80mph when the nut came loose on my front Weber. I switched off, braked sensibly and then used my standard issue CC extinguisher. Result? burnt/ deformed bonnet and some serious scorching of the loom, but I was able to drive home. Yes the powder was a pig to wash off, but at least I still have a car to clean. My advice after 20+ years as a track marshal, fit a plumbed-in system if you are racing or have a super high pressure injection system, otherwise a good 1kg dry powder extinguisher from Halfords will sort most problems. And what about your raod car? Of the seven people who stopped to gape/help me, none carried an extinguisher in their "sensible" cars! I went to Santa Pod and my world changed forever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
anthonym Posted August 20, 2009 Author Share Posted August 20, 2009 my road car has one the same - it's now on the list. (edit, that last is about a "list" is a different thread) Edited by - anthonym on 20 Aug 2009 09:46:51 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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