Plumbed-in Extinguishers

[944 man]

I would be grateful if anyone who has a plumbed-in extinguisher would share a few details with me.

Manufacturer?

Size in litres?

Extinguishant?

Do you carry further hand-helds and if so, quantity and size?

Dual or single chamber?

Alloy or steel cylinder?

How many nozzles and in which areas?

Where are the nozzles located exactly?

Whereabouts in the car have you fitted the cylinder; and what orientation?

How its activated doesnt really matter, although Id be curious to know why anyone has an electric system if they do.


I have an mechanical SPA-Design 4 litre, AFFF, dual chambered alloy bottle for starters. Im thinking about re-fitting, pipe and cable routing, nozzle locations whats really for the best: considering that I dont have any scrutes to satisfy...


Simon

 

[homesea]

I had one in my old rally golf, it was good for the log book.

Can't remember the make think it was 'fire fighter'
4 litres
Foam
Hand held in passanger footwell
Single chamber
Alloy cylinder
2 nozzles over the engine
On the front strut brace pointing forward/down over the engine
Cylinder was bolted to the floor in the middle longways behind the front seats ( like in the middle of the rear sets, pointing forward if I had rear seats)
Activated by a wire pull on the dash and outside on the bulkhead

Have some photos if any good?

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Think Mark K has one fitted to his race car?

 

[944 man]

Thats the point exactly Tom; theyre good for the log book: but I think that without the constraint of scrutineering, that I can make the installation work too. Id be particularly interested to see pictures. Ive always installed the cylinder lengthways down the car too, although Ive seen some cross cars fitments recently.

Im hoping to see Neils and Marks Paul...[]

 

[Neil Haughey]

ISTR Kev fits them length ways, presumably for neater pipe runs. I want to ask him about mounting across such that if a passenger seat is fitted the bottle sits flush in front although I guess this may cause other problems. Mine is yet to be done although I believe we have 2 holes in the firewall left over specifically for running the pipes into the engine bay. Also nice of course that on the 44 the nearside adjusting block under the windscreen is a perfect mount for the external cable pulls. Never seen an electric system in one of these cars bta this isn't something I have been looking out for as mechanical release is sufficient.

 

[homesea]

Here is a couple of photos:

 

[JamesO]

I work in the fire suppression trade but engine test cells and the like.
An electrical release would require a solenoid valve or a Protractor/Squib (Small explosive charge). I would always go for mechanical as the battery may not be working in the car that's on fire and a back-up battery is extra weight/complexity.
Although having said that a capacitor will fire a protractor, so that's an option.

Oh and it shouldn't matter which way round you mount a cylinder as long as it has a flexible dip tube, which you need to mount it flat anyway.

 

[homesea]

A couple more:

You can just make out the dash switch and hand-held.

 

[Pete917]

I was thinking about getting a system for my old 911. I assume there is a sell by date for these. How long before you have to replace or have them re-filled.

 

[Hilux]

ISTR Kev fits them length ways, presumably for neater pipe runs.

They are restrained better laterally as the bands will hold, in line with the car they can slide forward or break free []

Also ensure they are VERY securely mounted or they become a huge weapon in the cockpit if they break free from the floor etc if held with self tappers. Always use nuts and bolts and spreader plates on thin sheet metal []