Fire extinguisher: Halon, Fireade, Kidde

rnln · 07-12-2006, 12:41 AM

ONe night I was browsing the net and saw a Fire Exinguisher for darn cheap, so I thought maybe put one on my car just in case. Then I raise up a question on that particular brand.

wsp8 recommended Fireade since it will not leave residue, no mess, no rust on the car. He personally experience it. This is a good one, price also considered.

2 days ago, I went to Home Depot to get some miscellaneous. Walking by the fire extinguisher, I stopped and look. They only carry Kidde brand.

Tonight, I shile brwsing, again, I did a search on "kidde" and Fireade and found that FireAde has extremely effective for Class A, B and D fires, NOT effective on Class C fires while Kidde does have effect on class C but NOT type A. Also, I can't find anything on corrosion and residue.

Anyone has any experience on Kidde Extinguisher?

David · David's Garage

The problem with most Kidde extinguisers is the plastic internals. They can break from vibration without you knowing it, then when you need it, it won't work.

charleskieffner · 07-12-2006, 07:33 AM

NEVER BUY A PLASTIC FIRE EXT.!!!!! they are junk! saw many boats go up in smoke in the coast guard because gauge arrow was on the green indicator and the material had solidified in bottle. always buy a metal ext. pick your flavor as all will leave a mess. some are easier to clean up. also BUY 2 that way if one fails you have a back up. ask me how i know!!! during coast guard fire training we had an oily rag fire started in front of us. had (10) extinguishers to pick from(pick one). some old some new some shiney some not so shiney. well me being the brilliant person i am...........i picked the shiney one! guess what ??? when i advanced on fire to spray the base..............NOT A DAMN THING CAME OUT! HUGE LESSON TO ALL OF US STANDING THERE! ALWAYS HAVE A BACK UP!

i have installed a SPA fire system and have a HALON backup mounted to rollbar.

Gene Wilkes · 07-12-2006, 07:52 AM

I just picked up a Halon this week for my car. Guy who services our regular extinguishers had one (fresh charge) on his truck w/mount for $50.00.

Zeke · 07-12-2006, 08:00 AM

There is no reason to be concerned about a lack of effectiveness on a class C fire. As explained on the Fireaide site, a class C fire is an electrical fire that is still energized. As a water base fire suppressant, they don't want you to shoot your bottle on a hot elec panel in your shop or home. You could come in contact with the voltage yourself. Not likely, but you could, especially if you're standing in the watery mess on the floor. So, they have to say this.

When the elec fire is deenergized, say you think to pull the main breaker, the fire becomes a class A (?) or B, can't remember. (Just the same as a pile of plastic). On your car, the voltage won't hurt you even if you forget the key. Get the Fireaide if you like what they have to say otherwise. I do.

RLJ · RLJ's Garage

Call around to a couple of wrecking yards and ask them if they happen to have any burned out cars that had powder shot into them. Go look at one then decide if you really want to do that to your car. In its day dry powder Purple "C" was the best for car fires, then came Halon. Go buy a Halon, spend the few extra buck up front because you will kick your own butt cleaning up that mess if you ever have to use it on your Porsche.

After using a Halon system in a computer vault fire no more dry powder for me.

Randy Jones
1971 911 "Iris"

rnln · 07-12-2006, 08:38 AM

RLJ,
Thanks for sharing. You might want to read this thread: What do you think about this fire extinguisher?

Yes, from here I have heard all good thing about Halon. Searching the net, they are all more than $100. Well, I don't want to repeat the thread above again. You might want to read it.

safe · safe's Garage

Halon is banned in Europe. It makes a hole in the ozone layer you know.
What type would be second best, powder, CO2?

defcon65 · 07-12-2006, 11:03 AM

Your local fire extinguisher shop will have the biggest selection and knowledge of types for auto applications. Another good resource would be a visit to your local Fire Department and ask them what they use - extinguishing vehicle fires is a regular task for most fire companies. Some fire departments even have vouchers or coupons for purchasing the correct equipment. And yes, stay away from the cheap fire extinguishers at the home centers - a rechargeable, professional grade extinguisher is what you want. They ought to come with every vehicle, Porsche or not.

Zeke · 07-12-2006, 11:57 AM

Once again, Halon is useless outdoors in the wind. We all can't have just an engine fire or a fire up under the dash. You might want it for another kind of fire, say like a small brush fire your car started when you pulled off the road with trouble. And, Fireaide cools the parts on fire as well. I hate to sound like a commercial, but I'm sold on the stuff. Especially at the price.

So, speaking of fire departments, they don't go around with 2.5 lb. extinguishers, eh? Fireaide prices would allow one to actually have enough for a real fire.

I fought an engine fire I came upon out on the street. Actaully, a couple. But, this one was a goer under the hood. One medium bottle of the power (not the little one we tend to buy) was not enough to do anything except to get me the "nice try" award, which was better than anyone else at the scene since no one out of several cars had an extinguisher. I carry 2 now, one Halon and one powder. That's gonna change.

Once, while sitting in traffic on the Hollywood fwy, I came upon the reason, another fire in the fast lane. This time I was on the opposite side and traffic was moving, albiet slowly. I jumped out, handed my extinguisher to supposedly the owner along with a business card and got back in my car and drove off (we don't have inside emergency lanes on most of the CA freeways). Of course, I never heard a word. That's OK. I felt better than I would have if I kept going knowing I had a bottle.

defcon65 · 07-12-2006, 12:59 PM

My F.D. carries the 10 lb bottles of foam for vehicle fires. I picked up a recharged unit for $45 at the local shop. Maybe not blingy enough for the racecar crowd, but it will put out most fires. Those little 2.5 lb chromed halon units many put in their Pcars are pretty useless, you might as well hit it with a Binaca blast or beat down the flames with your hat.

Zeke · 07-12-2006, 02:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by defcon65
My F.D. carries the 10 lb bottles of foam for vehicle fires. I picked up a recharged unit for $45 at the local shop. Maybe not blingy enough for the racecar crowd, but it will put out most fires. Those little 2.5 lb chromed halon units many put in their Pcars are pretty useless, you might as well hit it with a Binaca blast or beat down the flames with your hat.

LOL. Really.

An SFI 2 layer suit gives you 15 seconds and the hand held Halon might help with the timing and escape. I notice most drivers are more intersested in getting out before anything else. Shoot a Halon in a closed area and it will kill a fire the same way most compounds do, eliminating O2. It just does it with a colorless gas instead of a big mess.

anthony · 07-12-2006, 03:13 PM

Fireade sounds good but the size of their extinguisher seems small (16oz.). My PCA region requires at least a 2.5lb extinguisher.

RLJ · RLJ's Garage

I called FireAde Source today. They make a light "foam" product maybe better than the AFFF. It is ph balanced, and seems to me a good product. At one time I was a fire fighter in my small town, I will buy some of their products to put in my car and in my home. Seems that they have put a light foam into a bottle, good deal!

Randy Jones
1971 911 "Iris"