Fire extinguishers

[Bazza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Bazza]

I pulled into the driveway behind work this morning to find it blocked with a contractors work ute. Must have just happened as the driver was just getting out of it with a small extinguisher in his hand. He lifted the bonnett and attempted to put out a small fire ( battery leads ) but found that his extinguisher would'nt work. I wallked inside and grabed a large dry powder extinguisher and proceeded to put out his fire, and change the colour of his engine to white. I checked his small extinguisher and found that the dry powder inside had solidified and the presure was also way low.

This is a common problem, might be time for everyone to check their's, and give them a regular beating with a rubber hammer. I carry two extinguishers at all times, a 2k dry powder and a 2k CO2.
Bazza

[croozza Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close croozza]

Re: Fire extinguishers

Thats right, the talc inside the extinguisher will solidify (settle) with the vibrations from everyday driving, You need to give it a good shake/knock each week so that if your unfortunate enough to need it, it will work. Same goes for you household one, if it is a dry chem one, and it is mounted behind a cupboard door, the opening and closing of that door can make the talc settle, but the best type for your house is a Co2.

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

This might be an old thread but felt it was worth while bringing back to life.

Just a reminder to everyone to check their fire extinguishers for the correct pressure and to remove them from the vehicle and give it a turn upside down to loosen the powder. If this doesn't work then a hit on the bottom with a rubber mallet will loosen it all up.

[Palmer Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Palmer]

Reminds me to go through and check all of ours.

[craigm Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close craigm]

Nice work VK. I'm going out to the Prado now to give it a shake! (Some imaginary rep points coming your way!!!)

[Snoopy22 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Snoopy22]

I have mine mounted on its side in front of the front passenger seat. I rotate it half a turn when I fill up with fuel and this seems to work for me.

[VKPrado Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close VKPrado]

Once again a timely reminder.

This might be an old thread but felt it was worth while bringing back to life.

Just a reminder to everyone to check their fire extinguishers for the correct pressure and to remove them from the vehicle and give it a turn upside down to loosen the powder. If this doesn't work then a hit on the bottom with a rubber mallet will loosen it all up.

[fido666 Banned Find all posts View Profile Close fido666]

How can you tell if you've loosened the powder? I have 2 and both gauges read OK but I can't feel or hear anything when I tap them. On a recent 4WD course theory night we were advised to get an extinguisher with a hose rather than just a spout as you can get better reach into nooks and crannies. The trouble is I have yet to see one of this type in a smaller size suitable for vehicle mounting.

[OldGreyFart Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close OldGreyFart]

Reading this with interest. Mine is mounted on its side along the back drivers side door. Saw somewhere else that this position with constant back and forth motion should keep it all ok. Is this right?

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

Reading this with interest. Mine is mounted on its side along the back drivers side door. Saw somewhere else that this position with constant back and forth motion should keep it all ok. Is this right?

Terry,

NO.

What is usually does is settle the powder into a compacted mass if it is left for quite some time.. You need to pull it out of it's holder and rotate and shake it.

What I do is leave it upside down for a day, or on the other side if was level sideways, so that driving will dislodge any powder that may be compacted if you have not rotated the extinguisher for some time (just secure the extinguisher so it does not become a flying missile due to a sudden stop)

Dave.

[yowie Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close yowie]

How can you tell if you've loosened the powder? I have 2 and both gauges read OK but I can't feel or hear anything when I tap them. On a recent 4WD course theory night we were advised to get an extinguisher with a hose rather than just a spout as you can get better reach into nooks and crannies. The trouble is I have yet to see one of this type in a smaller size suitable for vehicle mounting.

Corinne,

You can still have pressure, but the powder is compacted and won't blow out on discharge. It is hard to feel the powder moving about when shaken, as it is very fine powder.

I have not seen the little types of extinguishers with the hose.

Have to keep in mind that some insurance companies will "write off" a car that has caught fire and been blasted with a powder extinguisher, as the powder spreads through everything, even in a small fire.

Dave.

[Ozpat Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ozpat]

Have to keep in mind that some insurance companies will "write off" a car that has caught fire and been blasted with a powder extinguisher, as the powder spreads through everything, even in a small fire.

Dave.

Can confirm that with the powder. We had a small house fire and the repairers couldn't remove all of the powder from an interior brick wall so had to paint over. Still if you have to put out a fire with a powder extinguisher and it's still drivable to get you back to civilisation it's better than being marooned even if it is a write-off.

Cheers Jim.

[Madkore Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Madkore]

I've read the powder is corrosive, which may explain why insurance companies write the vehicle off. Plus the whole fact the car has been set alight and is likely to have lots of gremlins...