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FIRE...YELP....

Posted By : Ian Thomas, 10-Jun-2004, 10:22am

Car full of smoke!!!...When fitting new electrical items to your dash DO NOT FEEL AROUND BLINDLY BEHIND YOUR DASH!!!YOU MAY SET YOUR CAR ON FIRE AS I FOUND TO MY HORROR!!!I caused a dead short and almost payed the price!
Questions....
1.what is best fire extinguisher for electrical fires?
2.anyone fitted a battery isolator to their herald...sure anyone using a vitesse for motor sports has,so where did you mount it?
3.am i right in that the 13/60 only has 1 inline fuse,or am i being stupid again.
May i add that i have been the member of lots of classic car clubs and this realy is the best yet...WELL DONE TSSC

Followups :

FIRE...YELP....

Posted By : David Styles, 10-Jun-2004, 10:54am

I've got one of those little red fire extinguishers from Halfords..

I *think* its powder...

I'm sure it says whats its suitable for on it... and I'm sure I chose it because it said electrical and fuel were ok.

Problem is all fire extinguishers have to be red now... so you can't just say "one of those blue ones" or "one of those black ones" anymore...

but it says on em...

sorry I can't help on the other two points.
- FIRE...YELP....
  
  Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 10-Jun-2004, 11:38am
  
  *Trying to remember fire training*
  
  You shouldn't use water or foam extinguishers on electrical fires - I think Co2 is the best for cars as it is okay on all the fires you are likely to encounter.
  
  I expect Halford's will stock the right stuff.
  - FIRE...YELP....
    
    Posted By : Michael Davis, 10-Jun-2004, 02:09pm
    
    car extinguishers from Halfords et. al. are dry powder I believe. Racecars however use AFFF which is different, probably more expensive and doesn't make such a mess on the track.
    
    I think that CO2 isn't used on cars because it doesnt stick to things like a dry powder does. So it might put a fire out but if you still have a fuel spillage for example, the fire may just start up again when you let go the extinguisher.
    
    only guessing though.
    - FIRE...YELP....
      
      Posted By : Chris Wilson, 10-Jun-2004, 10:57pm
      
      One of the disadvantages of dry powder is that it doesn't have the cooling properties that AFFF has. As there is no real danger of being electrocuted by using AFFF in a car it will ensure that any fire(s) will also be cooled as well as hopefully extinguished and prevented from re-igniting. CO2 is mainly effective on electrical fires but can also be dangerous if used in a confined space or comes into contact with bare skin! Dry powder is also very messy and a bugger to clean off but then again - if it saves life and/or more expensive damage then its done its job!
      
      Regards
FIRE...YELP....

Posted By : James Carruthers, 10-Jun-2004, 11:32am

I think the extinguisher should be dry powder - at least my one is...

Regarding battery isolators... I just bought one from here:

http://www.fuelsystem.co.uk/electrical.htm

It's worth noting that there are 2 types - the cheap and the expensive.

The cheap one just disconnects the battery - however if you use it while your engine in running you will kill your alternator.

The expensive sort cut off the ignition at the same time - thus saving your alternator from frying itself.

It is a bit more difficult to wire up though...

I bought the more expensive one myself - because I figured the difference in cost is less than a new alternator - and I know I can use it any time I like...

James
FIRE...YELP....

Posted By : David Boswell, 14-Jun-2004, 04:23pm

couldn't see it on any of the other posts, so yes my 13/60 has only 1 inline fuse.

Dave
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- FIRE...YELP....
  
  Posted By : Ian Thomas, 14-Jun-2004, 05:54pm
  
  Thanks Dave i,m sure we are both right..no fuse box to speak of..ian