Check your fire extinguisher!

[KD5NRH]

Luckily it was a routine check, and not the hard way.

My car's fire extinguisher is dead empty. I know it was fine a couple of months ago, but apparently the heat got to it. That got me started looking through Kidde and First Alert's sites for something suitable for car use in Texas. Everything I've found has instructions not to mount it where temperatures exceed 120F. That may be realistic for Minnesota, but anybody who's ever left a thermometer in a car here knows that the inside of a car can easily exceed 130F on a sunny day. I've measured 136F with the windows half open in a silver car with light colored upholstery.

I've got a product inquiry in with Kidde, and I may try to call First Alert later since they don't have an email address listed, but it seems pretty silly that they don't seem to make a product rated for a condition that's so typical here.

[AEA]

I have a HALON extinguisher that is designed for Helicopters in the trunk of my Mustang. Never had any problem with it loosing the propellant.

The instructions say that it is suitable for use from -65 to 120 degrees, but nothing about storage temps. It is a AMEREX model 344 and made in USA. It was not cheap, but it is a good one. It is 1.25lb of Halon and I think you can get them up to 9lb also, depending on how much you want to spend.

Here's 2 links to sites you can buy them from, but there are other sites and I actually bought mine off eBay.

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http://halonmarketing.com/mall/prod01.php

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http://www.northstarmotorsports.com/products/sfID1/32/sfID2/32/manufacturerID/100/productID/2060

Possibly you should consider putting it in your trunk like me? You can get to it just as fast as long as the fire is not in the trunk area.......but I guess you could say that about any area, including where you have it now.....

[Rex B]

Halon extinguishers are by far the best. They smother a fire and make no mess. You can even use it on food, if your grill gets a little frisky.
But the supply is limited, so it is expensive and getting more so. It's an ozone-depleter, so the enviro-nazis have banned manufacture of it.
Get it while you can, it's worth it.

[KD5NRH]

Possibly you should consider putting it in your trunk like me?

Problem is, with an infant firmly strapped into the back seat, suppressing a fire ASAP becomes a top priority. The time it takes to get out, run around the car, open the door and get the kid out is long enough for things to get really bad inside. Even before the baby, I preferred to keep the extinguisher within reach of the driver's seat in case I get trapped.

[AEA]

It was just a suggestion.

Good luck in your quest for a suitable extinguisher for your purpose.

[jimlongley]

This old fire horse would like to point out that Halon, when it comes into contact with extremely hot metals, can decompose into toxic gasses, including phosgene.

The instructions say that it is suitable for use from -65 to 120 degrees, but nothing about storage temps.

I hope you were kidding, those temps are the storage temps, it's a rare fire indeed that burns as low as 120F.

Most fire extinguishers these days are pre-pressurized and those all will suffer from some sort of overpressure effects if exposed to temperatures outside of their rated range.

[AEA]

Jim,

Did you look at the picture of the label on the extinguisher that I posted. The part where is clearly states "suitable for use at temperatures from -65 to 120 degrees"?

Of course fires are greater temps than 120 degrees........
I can only assume by their wording on the extinguisher that the operating temperature (ambient) for adequate flow of the gas is between -65 to 120 (not the temperature of the fire you are fighting).

[KD5NRH]

This old fire horse would like to point out that Halon, when it comes into contact with extremely hot metals, can decompose into toxic gasses, including phosgene.

CO2 starts out pretty toxic in confined spaces. Good old water ain't all that great to breathe either, for that matter. On the other hand, people decompose rather quickly when exposed to fire. I'd rather take my chances with dry chem or CO2 in the passenger compartment, and Halon or CO2 under the hood.

[stevie_d_64]

I have always wondered why I volunteer to go into perfectly good burning structures myself...

But, I would think that those Halon extinguishers would be a good alternative to some portables that apparently do not hold up long to storage in vehicles...

We check ours on the apparatus on a fairly frequent basis though...

I keep a couple of portables that were cast off from the department I run with...I have a friend that recharges them for a decent and reasonable fee...An annual check would be a good thing for your extinguishers you have...Those commercially available units are great for normal use, but I believe thay are not much for recharging...

Just my opinion...

[TexasVet]

I have a friend that recharges them for a decent and reasonable fee...An annual check would be a good thing for your extinguishers you have...Those commercially available units are great for normal use, but I believe thay are not much for recharging...

Where are places that re-charge and what are the costs ?
Thanks

[jimlongley]

Jim,

Did you look at the picture of the label on the extinguisher that I posted. The part where is clearly states "suitable for use at temperatures from -65 to 120 degrees"?

Of course fires are greater temps than 120 degrees........
I can only assume by their wording on the extinguisher that the operating temperature (ambient) for adequate flow of the gas is between -65 to 120 (not the temperature of the fire you are fighting).

I would expect storage at over 120 would be included in the restriction.

[stevie_d_64]

I have a friend that recharges them for a decent and reasonable fee...An annual check would be a good thing for your extinguishers you have...Those commercially available units are great for normal use, but I believe thay are not much for recharging...

Where are places that re-charge and what are the costs ?
Thanks

Sending you a PM with real names and location...