Fire Extinguisher Choice and Mount Location, Most recomended type and area to mount Options

[Grngoat]

I bought one of the 2.5 lb chrome Halotron ones from Griot's. I swear it was $150 back when I bought it, but they're listed at $200 now. Summit is showing $158 right now for the 2.5 lb chrome one. $120 for red.

I mounted it with the included bracket directly to the driver's side long. It doesn't restrict the seat at all in normal use. I might have to tilt it back to slide it off the rails, but that's all. I occasionally kick it getting in or out, but no big deal. I like having it close.

[rjames]

bungee

Not a good spot if you take a hit on that door...

Or is that a race car only?

[jhadler]

I would prefer it to be closer to the driver. But it depends on what you plan on using it for.

For a track car, the general concept is the on-board extinguisher is there to give you enough time to GET THE HECK OUT OF THE CAR. But for any real fire, a little bottle isn't gonna do too much good. Secondly, you gotta be able to reach it quick. Mounted under the passenger seat is not exactly easy access in my opinion. Center tunnel, or driver side long.

For a street car? Well, anywhere that's not in jeopardy of getting accidentally discharged by an errant foot would be best. But make sure you anchor it well. That fire bottle can become a significant projectile in the event of an accident. Not that it's a pressurized gas bottle (it's not that high pressure), just that it's a big heavy hunk of metal that could clonk you one good if it breaks out of the mount.

I agree though, the dry chem are great for putting out all sorts of fires, but the chemical will wreak havoc with aluminum and electrical wiring on a car. Corrosive stuff that is. Halon, and other displacing gases, are great because they're clean. But they really only work in enclosed spaces. If there's even the slightest breeze, it'll blow the Halon away in no time. Halon (and others) only works when it can fully displace the oxygen, leaving none for the fire (or you - so get the heck out of there). It doesn't smother and cover like dry chem, and it doesn't cool like CO2.

So if it's just for a get-the-heck-out-of-the-car use, I might go Halon, and just take a deep breath before I pull that pin. Not gonna stop that fire altogether unless it's a pretty tiny one though. Dry chem will kill a small fire better, but it's a mess to clean up afterwards. Still, better than burning all the way to the ground any day...

I wonder if you can get cold fire bottles in regular fire bottle sizes... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)
That's the stuff CHAMP cars used to use before they were absorbed by IRL, great for A and B fires, but not for C (electrical). That would be my optimal choice I think. Relatively clean, effective, and non-corrosive.

-Josh2

[McMark]

I was under the impression that you needed a larger Halon to be equivalent to a dry chem extinguisher, and Josh confirmed it. When I worked in an auto parts store awhile back I would laugh to myself when people would come in and buy these cute little 0.5 lb chrome fire extinguishers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Bling Bling.

If my car catches fire, I'm not worried about saving the engine. I'm worried about saving the REST of the car. I'll deal with dry chem everywhere, rather than having a Halon that isn't enough protection.

I wonder if YouTube has any good Halon vs dry chem videos... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[jhadler]

When I worked in an auto parts store awhile back I would laugh to myself when people would come in and buy these cute little 0.5 lb chrome fire extinguishers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif) Bling Bling.

Yeah. If I have a fire bottle in my car, I want EVERYONE to know exactly what and where it is. 'Cause I might not be the one closest, or able to, reach it in time to do any good. Red, and in a highly visible, accessible location. I don't put one there for "cool! I'm a racer" looks. I put it there because there's a chance (perish forbid and all that) that I might actually need to use it someday.

If my car catches fire, I'm not worried about saving the engine. I'm worried about saving the REST of the car. I'll deal with dry chem everywhere, rather than having a Halon that isn't enough protection.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
But my first priority is my own arse. If I have to choose between me and the car, the car is gonna loose every time. Having had to put out car fires before (thankfully not my own - knock particle board), a little hand held fire bottle is NOT going to put out anything more than the tiniest, teeniest, smallest of car fires. But it is far more likely to give me an extra 2-4 seconds to get my own combustible self away from the flames.

I wonder if YouTube has any good Halon vs dry chem videos... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

That would be neat to see. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)

-Josh2

[iamchappy]

I wouldn't carry anything less than a 2.5 lb extinguisher. That in itself will only buy you some time unless your lucky and catch it real quick and the fire isn't still being fed combustible fuel.
Fuel, electrical shut off ASAP!

[dw914er]

i have an old one underneath the glove box


its way too old, and so its gonna get replaced soon (as in next time i drive it) (now that i think about, its probably been there since the 70's)

thanks for a good thread

reminds everyone about simple insurance for ones own rear end


and the abc's work well, even for old cars. I had a 55 tbrid catch fire on me, and it put it out, and was easy to clean everything with some water after the fire was out

[scotty]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Have any of you Canadians spent your almighty dollars on this? Any good?

Hartindo AF11E (or similar)

--scroll to the bottom to see video.

[1970 Neun vierzehn]

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/unsure.gif) Have any of you Canadians spent your almighty dollars on this? Any good?

Hartindo AF11E (or similar)

--scroll to the bottom to see video.

That's interesting.......

"Fire in the hole?", no problem, pop engine lid, throw fire suppression into engine compartment, close lid, "Voila, fire out"!

OK, whose first to test this with their 914? All joking aside (and 914 fires are not funny), this seems to be an interesting concept. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Maybe that system and a hand held Halon.

Paul

[Allan]

Here's mine. 5 lb. ABC

[96740]

These look cool. Don't see that they come with any mounting hardware though. PCA-SBR gets another 15% off. Not sure if it's all regions or just SBR. http://www.automotion.com/productpage.aspx...d=1&sid=224

[dinomium]

since I was listed as Dino Davis, FIREMAN in the last issue of Rondel BMW mag, I say 2.5lb minium, and RED LOL
In confrence racing, we carry them not for our own saftey so much as to aid another driver in crisis! A good friend is alive today after his rx7 caught fire after a horrible looking shunt. The other drivers were able to reach him, bottles in hand faster than the cornerworkers...
Be sure to check them often, nothing would be sadder than having no pressure to spray the goo... My Lancia learned that sad one...

Frankenstien was RIGHT, FIRE BADDDDDDDDdddd

[TeenerTim]

Bump to the top for Pete's sake.
Jegs
Summit Racing
OG Racing
Paragon Products
CDOC
How a fire extinguisher works

[nsr-jamie]

Hello, any updates on this post? Sorry, I know its an old post, but I am looking for a cool way to mount a fire extinguisher in my car as well in case of a fire after hearing so many stories.

That holder from Griot's is 139.99, sweet but so expensive...more than the extinguisher.

How are others installing them, please post your pictures? Do you drill holes into the floors or is there some part I am missing maybe from a shop like Performance parts or AA?

Thank you
Jamie

[Cano]

I made a bracket that mounts to the stock seat rails on both sides. Got the idea from the 911 mounts performance products makes. My driver's seat has a broken adjustment handle (still adjusts fine), so this mount may get in the way of a stock handle. Have not had a problem hitting it with a foot either driving, entering or exiting.

[underthetire]

Hold it. I'm meeting with a company next week to go over a low cost system for the 914's. The engineer has them on his speedster and 356, so he is a Porsche guy. We are going to fit and mount one on my POS 914 and get a club price for these units. You will have the option of automatic, manual, or both. Fuel pump cut-off switch during discharge will be another option. We are shooting for somewhere in the 300 dollar range for a complete 2 head system, so if you can wait a week, it might be worth it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[iamchappy]

I ended up making my own bracket for the front seat mount and went one step further and installed on onboard fire system.

[campbellcj]

Here's what I did in my previous 914. It worked out well. Current 914 has a plumbed-in foam system with the bottle between the seats in a similar location.

In a 911 the seat is significantly higher off the floor so the brackets that mount behind the driver's shins are a decent option.