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How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Scott Vernon wrote: Would several small ones, placed strategically around the boat, be better than one (or 2) big one? Depends on the boat. Where are people going to be when a fire breaks out? On Lady Kate, the two likely places for a fire outbreak are the motor/fuel store, and (tops) the galley. The four most likely places for people to be are the cockpit (which is small on Lady Kate), the galley, the forward saloon or the sleeping quarters below the cockpit. I carry two 2.5kg extinguishers: one is at the galley, easily accessible from the cockpit and by anyone fleeing up the companionway ladder out of the galley. It would not be reachable by someone in the forward saloon, so that's where the other unit is carried. Because i'm singlehanding usually, the stern sleeping quarters aren't regularly used: I should really have a small unit in there too. The motor is outboard and the fuel is in a free-draining well outside the watertight envelope: the galley extinguisher serves as first attack there too. Kay Cottee ('First Lady') carried four in a 37' 6'11" beam boat, but that was for six months round the world non-stop. Size isn't specified, the one visible in a photo in the book looks like a 2-2.5kg and I'd be surprised if they were only 1kg. Now, design your own. Does it make a difference if they are hung horizontally, as far as the caking? Not really, just cakes horizontally so it doesn't flow cleanly. And a really bad idea is to hang upside down, cos then it cakes and jams the nozzle/release! Scotty, the main problem with the 1kg weenies is they just don't squirt for very long, and there's a tendency in an emergency to anxiously hold the trigger open until it runs out. Then if there's a flareup, there's nothing left. (In a lot of respects, the old, forbidden BCF was a much better extinguisher for enclosed and semi-enclosed places, provided you remembered not to die of asphyxiation--fire it and shut the lid!) A 1kg will do for a small car provided it's not asked to do too much, but for a boat the size everyone here claims to have, especially for those who leave maked flames untended, no doubt under the deep frier Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... wrote: On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 08:53:32 +0930, Flying Tadpole wrote: This is a device that may be called upon to save your boat, your life, or the lives of others. If you need to hit it with a hammer, it is way past due for replacement, regardless of what the 3 cent gauge says, or what you hear flowing. A new extinguisher is about $20-$30. Jeez. Stick to insipid verse. You're extremely no good at this. BB You're an even bigger fool than your repartee would suggest, and you can't read either. What hammer? WHat hit? Throw away good extinguishers because the powder has caked slightly? My extinguishers come in at about $150 each, which is what you pay for size and ruggedness (say, $US70). You want to play with weeny toys and bet your life on them, go right ahead. I'm sure you could find some 1/4lb extinguishers on ebay, secondhand, for $5 if you looked hard enough. For other readers: 6 months is enough for the powder to cake significantly, even with a bit of a shake from time to time. The how-to given IN FULL in my original post is straight out of commercial (and professional) practice. -- SSO (ret'd) Flying Tadpole, BFSA(lapsed!) ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Flying Tadpole wrote in message ...
Dry chemical extinguishers are IMO the worst choice anyone can make to use. CO2 is the way to go. Dry make a god aweful mess and are not the most effective for different types of fires. Only thing I can think they are good for is an electrical fire, but be prepared to rip out everything the chemical touches. Purple K is by far the most destructive fire suppressent ever made. Joe 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB |
What If #4-Answer
Sorry about the delay - I've been away for a few days. BTW, I was 125 miles
from my berth - how far offshore was I? Comments interspersed ... "Donal" wrote in message ... "Jeff Morris" wrote in message ... "Donal" wrote "Jeff Morris" wrote Donal complains about your geography, but he considers the Portsmouth Harbour entrance, which is about 8 miles up the Solent, to be "offshore." You are hallucinating, Jeff. What on Earth makes you say that I think that Portsmouth Harbour entrance is "offshore"? I really think that you should consider withdrawing that silly remark. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! What are you going to do, turn me in to the "out of context cops"??? OK, if you insist, let's review: Peter said: Keep in mind that if Donal tried to go 30 miles offshore, he'd hit France. And you responded: Idiot!!! The last person who made that dumb mistake was Jax!!!!! Stick to English literature. You know nothing about geography. Cherebourg is my nearest French port, and it is 74 nautical miles from Portsmouth Harbour entrance. It sure seems to me that you were trying to claim that the measuring of "offshore" begins at your harbor entrance. Otherwise, why would you mention that point as opposed to any other point along the way? If not, you might have said Cherbourg is 56 miles off from St. Catherine's, your actual point of departure from the British coast. Nonsense! I don't go anywhere near St Cat's when I go to Cherbourg. OK, you would pass a few miles away from it as you go along the Isle of Wight coast. Big deal. I didn't really think you touch the light, since its on land. You probably pass close enough by to see it on a clear day. So how far offshore are you then? Actually, most measures of "offshore" start a ways out, perhaps 12 miles. But that starts looking pretty close to Peter's claim - not bad for someone 12,000 miles away. Really, Jeff! Is there no limit to the ignorance that you are willing to display in a public forum? There are *two* major flaws in your (very weak) argument. Flaws? Doubtful ... 1) If you sailed 30 miles offshore - how far from the shore would you be? That depends on the local geography. Are you claiming that if you sailed 30 miles down a river you would be 30 miles offshore? Are you claiming that if Booby went 30 mile NE from his berth he'd be 30 miles offshore? Sorry Donal, any child understands the fallacy of this argument. This has to be the stupidest thing you, or anyone else has claimed on this forum in a long time! I am sure that you are not stupid enough to persist in your lame assertion that I am actually 18 miles "Offshore" when I have sailed 30 miles out from the shore. I just tossed that out as a possibility - here in the US East Coast an "Inland" Master's License is good about 10 miles out. As I mentioned, there are a number of ways to measure "offshore," but starting 8 miles behind an island is not one of them. 2) I don't sail anywhere near St. Catherine's point when I go to Cherbourg! If you want to move my "shore" out to sea, then you could use Bembridge Ledge. That is still 64 miles from Cherbourg. Do you really think I give a rat's ass what route you take? Even from Bembridge you're going along the coast of the Isle of Wight for a number of miles. Are you claiming that's offshore? All you've done here is to admit that the Portsmouth Harbor entrance is not "offshore." But you wanted to play the pompous ass, so you had to use the larger measure. Nope! I made a factual statement. You tried to claim that the Portsmouth Harbor entrance was "offshore." You're either incompetent or a liar. Frankly, this casts serious doubt as to whether you have even sailed in the area! This is particularly egregious given that several posts back you scoffed at my comments about going 20 mile "up the coast" and I pointed out the I didn't begin to count the distance until I was in the open ocean. Now you're claiming that offshore is 8 miles behind the Isle of Wight. BTW, I'm much better at pomposity than you are! I bow to the master! But this seems to be your only talent. And being greedy, you picked the furthest distance and got burned. Sorry Donal - you got just what you deserve. I'll bet your petard is pretty sore right now! Jeff, you should take another look at the chart. Why? Are you still claiming the Portsmouth Harbor is "offshore"? Has it moved lately, or is it still tucked in behind the Isle of Wight? And why would you assume I even have a chart of your home waters? Frankly, I doubt that many of the readers here have any knowledge of your area. We depend on your honesty in describing your home waters - too bad you let us down. My route to Cherbourg involves a trip to Bembridge Ledge, followed by a beeline to Cherbourg. So? Do you have a point here? You're just admitting that the point you claimed was "offshore" is actually 8 miles inland of Bembridge. Peter said that I would hit France if I Went 30 miles offshore. You are a pair of idiots. And what do you call someone who doesn't understand the water he claims to sail in all the time? Surely "idiot" doesn't begin to measure the depth of your blunder here, Donal. |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Joe, the issue with CO2 is dispersion and the resultant loss of
any fire-retardant. Dry powder also has the virtue that an amateur can see where it's going and where it's been. For really enclosed spaces that you can flood, yes, nothing better (eg engine cavities/rooms with CO2 plumbed in). Dry powder is a mess once fired and yes, you ahve to get rid of it fast, but this is one reason why _CO2_ conventionally is recommended for electrical fires. BTW, foam is still the most effective agent for unenclosed liquid fires but I'm not suggesting carrying foam, CO2 and dry powder (+pressurised water from the pump) on a 30' boat so that one can tackle each fire with the best agent. Dry powder remains the best all-rounder but like all all-rounders is not necessarily the best at a specific job. Joe wrote: Flying Tadpole wrote in message ... Dry chemical extinguishers are IMO the worst choice anyone can make to use. CO2 is the way to go. Dry make a god aweful mess and are not the most effective for different types of fires. Only thing I can think they are good for is an electrical fire, but be prepared to rip out everything the chemical touches. Purple K is by far the most destructive fire suppressent ever made. Joe 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
What If #4-Answer
"Jeff Morris" wrote ... Sorry about the delay - I've been away for a few days. BTW, I was 125 miles from my berth - how far offshore was I? Not at all? |
What If #4-Answer
"Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message
... Well, how likely is it? An 8' standing wave isn't that big of a wave. The only part that's you're going to break through is the very top. How likely is it that you're going to be dumb enough to be sailing around with an open forward hatch? Even then, it wouldn't sink the boat, just slosh some water in. I suppose really dumb people get what they deserve. If you go into a standing wave with the current, it will be steep enough for some boats to go through, rather than over it. This is especially true if you're coming down the backside of the previous wave. In this case, an open forward hatch could certainly take in a lot of water. BTW, Plum Gut is one for the strongest currents on the East Coast - 5 to 6 knots is common. |
What If #4-Answer
Right, but the fix is simple. Don't sail with a forward hatch open.
-- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com "Jeff Morris" wrote in message ... "Jonathan Ganz" wrote in message ... Well, how likely is it? An 8' standing wave isn't that big of a wave. The only part that's you're going to break through is the very top. How likely is it that you're going to be dumb enough to be sailing around with an open forward hatch? Even then, it wouldn't sink the boat, just slosh some water in. I suppose really dumb people get what they deserve. If you go into a standing wave with the current, it will be steep enough for some boats to go through, rather than over it. This is especially true if you're coming down the backside of the previous wave. In this case, an open forward hatch could certainly take in a lot of water. BTW, Plum Gut is one for the strongest currents on the East Coast - 5 to 6 knots is common. |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
"Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Scotty, the main problem with the 1kg weenies Why do you assume that is what I have? is they just don't squirt for very long, Yeah, me too as I age. Scotty |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
I have a 2.5lb right inside the companionway, a 5lb on the mast support pole
, and a 2.5 on a shelf (will eventually go in the laz). Good thread. I just checked some of my home extinguishers. Some are caked. My two 17lb are not caked but a little low on pressure. I have 8 of the big water/air pressure ones in the barn and garage. Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Scott Vernon wrote: Would several small ones, placed strategically around the boat, be better than one (or 2) big one? Depends on the boat. Where are people going to be when a fire breaks out? On Lady Kate, the two likely places for a fire outbreak are the motor/fuel store, and (tops) the galley. The four most likely places for people to be are the cockpit (which is small on Lady Kate), the galley, the forward saloon or the sleeping quarters below the cockpit. I carry two 2.5kg extinguishers: one is at the galley, easily accessible from the cockpit and by anyone fleeing up the companionway ladder out of the galley. It would not be reachable by someone in the forward saloon, so that's where the other unit is carried. Because i'm singlehanding usually, the stern sleeping quarters aren't regularly used: I should really have a small unit in there too. The motor is outboard and the fuel is in a free-draining well outside the watertight envelope: the galley extinguisher serves as first attack there too. Kay Cottee ('First Lady') carried four in a 37' 6'11" beam boat, but that was for six months round the world non-stop. Size isn't specified, the one visible in a photo in the book looks like a 2-2.5kg and I'd be surprised if they were only 1kg. Now, design your own. Does it make a difference if they are hung horizontally, as far as the caking? Not really, just cakes horizontally so it doesn't flow cleanly. And a really bad idea is to hang upside down, cos then it cakes and jams the nozzle/release! Scotty, the main problem with the 1kg weenies is they just don't squirt for very long, and there's a tendency in an emergency to anxiously hold the trigger open until it runs out. Then if there's a flareup, there's nothing left. (In a lot of respects, the old, forbidden BCF was a much better extinguisher for enclosed and semi-enclosed places, provided you remembered not to die of asphyxiation--fire it and shut the lid!) A 1kg will do for a small car provided it's not asked to do too much, but for a boat the size everyone here claims to have, especially for those who leave maked flames untended, no doubt under the deep frier Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... wrote: On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 08:53:32 +0930, Flying Tadpole wrote: This is a device that may be called upon to save your boat, your life, or the lives of others. If you need to hit it with a hammer, it is way past due for replacement, regardless of what the 3 cent gauge says, or what you hear flowing. A new extinguisher is about $20-$30. Jeez. Stick to insipid verse. You're extremely no good at this. BB You're an even bigger fool than your repartee would suggest, and you can't read either. What hammer? WHat hit? Throw away good extinguishers because the powder has caked slightly? My extinguishers come in at about $150 each, which is what you pay for size and ruggedness (say, $US70). You want to play with weeny toys and bet your life on them, go right ahead. I'm sure you could find some 1/4lb extinguishers on ebay, secondhand, for $5 if you looked hard enough. For other readers: 6 months is enough for the powder to cake significantly, even with a bit of a shake from time to time. The how-to given IN FULL in my original post is straight out of commercial (and professional) practice. -- SSO (ret'd) Flying Tadpole, BFSA(lapsed!) ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
What If #4-Answer
"Jeff Morris" wrote in message ... Sorry about the delay - I've been away for a few days. BTW, I was 125 miles from my berth - how far offshore was I? Probably about a mile! Peter said: Keep in mind that if Donal tried to go 30 miles offshore, he'd hit France. And you responded: Idiot!!! The last person who made that dumb mistake was Jax!!!!! Stick to English literature. You know nothing about geography. Cherebourg is my nearest French port, and it is 74 nautical miles from Portsmouth Harbour entrance. It sure seems to me that you were trying to claim that the measuring of "offshore" begins at your harbor entrance. Otherwise, why would you mention that point as opposed to any other point along the way? If not, you might have said Cherbourg is 56 miles off from St. Catherine's, your actual point of departure from the British coast. Nonsense! I don't go anywhere near St Cat's when I go to Cherbourg. OK, you would pass a few miles away from it as you go along the Isle of Wight coast. Big deal. I didn't really think you touch the light, since its on land. You probably pass close enough by to see it on a clear day. So how far offshore are you then? About three to five miles (from Ventnor). Actually, most measures of "offshore" start a ways out, perhaps 12 miles. But that starts looking pretty close to Peter's claim - not bad for someone 12,000 miles away. Really, Jeff! Is there no limit to the ignorance that you are willing to display in a public forum? There are *two* major flaws in your (very weak) argument. Flaws? Doubtful ... There is no doubt at all. One mile offshore is one mile from the shore. That is completely different from "offshore sailing". 1) If you sailed 30 miles offshore - how far from the shore would you be? That depends on the local geography. Are you claiming that if you sailed 30 miles down a river you would be 30 miles offshore? Are you claiming that if Booby went 30 mile NE from his berth he'd be 30 miles offshore? No. I'm trying t I am sure that you are not stupid enough to persist in your lame assertion that I am actually 18 miles "Offshore" when I have sailed 30 miles out from the shore. I just tossed that out as a possibility - here in the US East Coast an "Inland" Master's License is good about 10 miles out. As I mentioned, there are a number of ways to measure "offshore," but starting 8 miles behind an island is not one of them. Why not start from the shoreline? I get the impression that you cannot distinguish between "offshore sailing" and "sailing x miles offshore". I can often sail three miles offshore, but that is nothing like offshore sailing. 2) I don't sail anywhere near St. Catherine's point when I go to Cherbourg! If you want to move my "shore" out to sea, then you could use Bembridge Ledge. That is still 64 miles from Cherbourg. Do you really think I give a rat's ass what route you take? Even from Bembridge you're going along the coast of the Isle of Wight for a number of miles. Not unless you have a very unusual tide. It is common to go near St Cats on the return journey, however it is very unusual to go near it on the outward leg. Are you claiming that's offshore? All you've done here is to admit that the Portsmouth Harbor entrance is not "offshore." Once again, you demonstrate a pedantic desire to demonstrate that I have claimed to have done "offshore sailing". I have never claimed to have done "offshore sailing". I only sail in the English Channel. But you wanted to play the pompous ass, so you had to use the larger measure. Nope! I made a factual statement. You tried to claim that the Portsmouth Harbor entrance was "offshore." You're either incompetent or a liar. Frankly, this casts serious doubt as to whether you have even sailed in the area! This is particularly egregious given that several posts back you scoffed at my comments about going 20 mile "up the coast" and I pointed out the I didn't begin to count the distance until I was in the open ocean. Now you're claiming that offshore is 8 miles behind the Isle of Wight. BTW, I'm much better at pomposity than you are! I bow to the master! But this seems to be your only talent. Correct! And being greedy, you picked the furthest distance and got burned. Sorry Donal - you got just what you deserve. I'll bet your petard is pretty sore right now! Jeff, you should take another look at the chart. Why? Are you still claiming the Portsmouth Harbor is "offshore"? Has it moved lately, or is it still tucked in behind the Isle of Wight? Jeff, if you sailed a mile out of Portsmouth Harbour, would you be a mile offshore? And why would you assume I even have a chart of your home waters? Frankly, I doubt that many of the readers here have any knowledge of your area. We depend on your honesty in describing your home waters - too bad you let us down. Tsk. Tsk. My route to Cherbourg involves a trip to Bembridge Ledge, followed by a beeline to Cherbourg. So? Do you have a point here? You're just admitting that the point you claimed was "offshore" is actually 8 miles inland of Bembridge. I think that I claimed that I couldn't hit France when I was 30 miles offshore. You have made strenuous efforts to prove me wrong. You are a complete idiot. So far, your argument is based upon your innacurate interpretation of some large scale maps of the Solent. Let us assume that you are correct when you (stupidly) think that I pass close to St Cats. How far is it from St Cats to Cherbourg? Is it less than 30 miles - or is it 55 miles? Peter said that I would hit France if I Went 30 miles offshore. You are a pair of idiots. And what do you call someone who doesn't understand the water he claims to sail in all the time? Surely "idiot" doesn't begin to measure the depth of your blunder here, Donal. 30 miles - or 55 miles, Jeff???? Regards Donal -- |
What If #4-Answer
Jeff,
I'm not taking side with you and Donal. This discussion of offshore was started by a statement that in the English Channel France was only 30 miles away. This is not a quote but a recap. Donal pointed out from his Moorage to the nearest French Port was ( I think) he said 76 miles. That sounded reasonable. The channel is a rather large body of water. How the discussion got turned into an Offshore debate, I don't know? Just wanted to say the channel is a large chunk off water. Doesn't have to take a back seat to Chesapeake, Long Island Sound, SF Bay or my beloved Puget Sound. "nuff said: Ole Thom |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Sounds about right. you're twice my displacement, I think...
Scott Vernon wrote: I have a 2.5lb right inside the companionway, a 5lb on the mast support pole , and a 2.5 on a shelf (will eventually go in the laz). Good thread. I just checked some of my home extinguishers. Some are caked. My two 17lb are not caked but a little low on pressure. I have 8 of the big water/air pressure ones in the barn and garage. Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Scott Vernon wrote: Would several small ones, placed strategically around the boat, be better than one (or 2) big one? Depends on the boat. Where are people going to be when a fire breaks out? On Lady Kate, the two likely places for a fire outbreak are the motor/fuel store, and (tops) the galley. The four most likely places for people to be are the cockpit (which is small on Lady Kate), the galley, the forward saloon or the sleeping quarters below the cockpit. I carry two 2.5kg extinguishers: one is at the galley, easily accessible from the cockpit and by anyone fleeing up the companionway ladder out of the galley. It would not be reachable by someone in the forward saloon, so that's where the other unit is carried. Because i'm singlehanding usually, the stern sleeping quarters aren't regularly used: I should really have a small unit in there too. The motor is outboard and the fuel is in a free-draining well outside the watertight envelope: the galley extinguisher serves as first attack there too. Kay Cottee ('First Lady') carried four in a 37' 6'11" beam boat, but that was for six months round the world non-stop. Size isn't specified, the one visible in a photo in the book looks like a 2-2.5kg and I'd be surprised if they were only 1kg. Now, design your own. Does it make a difference if they are hung horizontally, as far as the caking? Not really, just cakes horizontally so it doesn't flow cleanly. And a really bad idea is to hang upside down, cos then it cakes and jams the nozzle/release! Scotty, the main problem with the 1kg weenies is they just don't squirt for very long, and there's a tendency in an emergency to anxiously hold the trigger open until it runs out. Then if there's a flareup, there's nothing left. (In a lot of respects, the old, forbidden BCF was a much better extinguisher for enclosed and semi-enclosed places, provided you remembered not to die of asphyxiation--fire it and shut the lid!) A 1kg will do for a small car provided it's not asked to do too much, but for a boat the size everyone here claims to have, especially for those who leave maked flames untended, no doubt under the deep frier Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... wrote: On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 08:53:32 +0930, Flying Tadpole wrote: This is a device that may be called upon to save your boat, your life, or the lives of others. If you need to hit it with a hammer, it is way past due for replacement, regardless of what the 3 cent gauge says, or what you hear flowing. A new extinguisher is about $20-$30. Jeez. Stick to insipid verse. You're extremely no good at this. BB You're an even bigger fool than your repartee would suggest, and you can't read either. What hammer? WHat hit? Throw away good extinguishers because the powder has caked slightly? My extinguishers come in at about $150 each, which is what you pay for size and ruggedness (say, $US70). You want to play with weeny toys and bet your life on them, go right ahead. I'm sure you could find some 1/4lb extinguishers on ebay, secondhand, for $5 if you looked hard enough. For other readers: 6 months is enough for the powder to cake significantly, even with a bit of a shake from time to time. The how-to given IN FULL in my original post is straight out of commercial (and professional) practice. -- SSO (ret'd) Flying Tadpole, BFSA(lapsed!) ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
30', 7800#
"Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Sounds about right. you're twice my displacement, I think... Scott Vernon wrote: I have a 2.5lb right inside the companionway, a 5lb on the mast support pole , and a 2.5 on a shelf (will eventually go in the laz). Good thread. I just checked some of my home extinguishers. Some are caked. My two 17lb are not caked but a little low on pressure. I have 8 of the big water/air pressure ones in the barn and garage. Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Scott Vernon wrote: Would several small ones, placed strategically around the boat, be better than one (or 2) big one? Depends on the boat. Where are people going to be when a fire breaks out? On Lady Kate, the two likely places for a fire outbreak are the motor/fuel store, and (tops) the galley. The four most likely places for people to be are the cockpit (which is small on Lady Kate), the galley, the forward saloon or the sleeping quarters below the cockpit. I carry two 2.5kg extinguishers: one is at the galley, easily accessible from the cockpit and by anyone fleeing up the companionway ladder out of the galley. It would not be reachable by someone in the forward saloon, so that's where the other unit is carried. Because i'm singlehanding usually, the stern sleeping quarters aren't regularly used: I should really have a small unit in there too. The motor is outboard and the fuel is in a free-draining well outside the watertight envelope: the galley extinguisher serves as first attack there too. Kay Cottee ('First Lady') carried four in a 37' 6'11" beam boat, but that was for six months round the world non-stop. Size isn't specified, the one visible in a photo in the book looks like a 2-2.5kg and I'd be surprised if they were only 1kg. Now, design your own. Does it make a difference if they are hung horizontally, as far as the caking? Not really, just cakes horizontally so it doesn't flow cleanly. And a really bad idea is to hang upside down, cos then it cakes and jams the nozzle/release! Scotty, the main problem with the 1kg weenies is they just don't squirt for very long, and there's a tendency in an emergency to anxiously hold the trigger open until it runs out. Then if there's a flareup, there's nothing left. (In a lot of respects, the old, forbidden BCF was a much better extinguisher for enclosed and semi-enclosed places, provided you remembered not to die of asphyxiation--fire it and shut the lid!) A 1kg will do for a small car provided it's not asked to do too much, but for a boat the size everyone here claims to have, especially for those who leave maked flames untended, no doubt under the deep frier Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... wrote: On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 08:53:32 +0930, Flying Tadpole wrote: This is a device that may be called upon to save your boat, your life, or the lives of others. If you need to hit it with a hammer, it is way past due for replacement, regardless of what the 3 cent gauge says, or what you hear flowing. A new extinguisher is about $20-$30. Jeez. Stick to insipid verse. You're extremely no good at this. BB You're an even bigger fool than your repartee would suggest, and you can't read either. What hammer? WHat hit? Throw away good extinguishers because the powder has caked slightly? My extinguishers come in at about $150 each, which is what you pay for size and ruggedness (say, $US70). You want to play with weeny toys and bet your life on them, go right ahead. I'm sure you could find some 1/4lb extinguishers on ebay, secondhand, for $5 if you looked hard enough. For other readers: 6 months is enough for the powder to cake significantly, even with a bit of a shake from time to time. The how-to given IN FULL in my original post is straight out of commercial (and professional) practice. -- SSO (ret'd) Flying Tadpole, BFSA(lapsed!) ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
What If #4-Answer
"Thom Stewart" wrote in message ... Jeff, I'm not taking side with you and Donal. This discussion of offshore was started by a statement that in the English Channel France was only 30 miles away. This is not a quote but a recap. Donal pointed out from his Moorage to the nearest French Port was ( I think) he said 76 miles. That sounded reasonable. The channel is a rather large body of water. How the discussion got turned into an Offshore debate, I don't know? Just wanted to say the channel is a large chunk off water. Doesn't have to take a back seat to Chesapeake, yes it does. |
What If #4-Answer
Its very simple Thom, we're not talking about the English Channel. We're
talking about the 10 to 15 miles of protected water Donal sails through before he gets there. Remember, just one or two posts earlier Donal had scoffed at my comment that I had done a number of open ocean trips last year, the shortest of which was twenty miles. I even mentioned that I didn't bother to count the distance until we were in open water, with 3000 miles of fetch to the east. And before that Donal insisted that it didn't count as sailing unless is was so rough you had seal up the boat. I agreed that Peter's estimate wasn't quite right, but pointed out that 30 miles offshore would put you closer to France than to England. Donal was being rather disingenuous first by presuming that everyone is fully aware of the details of his home waters, and then by using a point miles behind an island and a large breakwater as the beginning of "offshore." Let me put it another way: if RB claimed he was going 50 miles offshore, where would we start the measure? City Island? The Battery? Verrazanno? I think that anyone from the area would say Sandy Hook is where you'd have to start. "Thom Stewart" wrote in message ... Jeff, I'm not taking side with you and Donal. This discussion of offshore was started by a statement that in the English Channel France was only 30 miles away. This is not a quote but a recap. Donal pointed out from his Moorage to the nearest French Port was ( I think) he said 76 miles. That sounded reasonable. The channel is a rather large body of water. How the discussion got turned into an Offshore debate, I don't know? Just wanted to say the channel is a large chunk off water. Doesn't have to take a back seat to Chesapeake, Long Island Sound, SF Bay or my beloved Puget Sound. "nuff said: Ole Thom |
What If #4-Answer
In article , Jeff Morris
wrote: Its very simple Thom, we're not talking about the English Channel. We're talking about the 10 to 15 miles of protected water Donal sails through before he gets there. Remember, just one or two posts earlier Donal had scoffed at my comment that I had done a number of open ocean trips last year, the shortest of which was twenty miles. I even mentioned that I didn't bother to count the distance until we were in open water, with 3000 miles of fetch to the east. And before that Donal insisted that it didn't count as sailing unless is was so rough you had seal up the boat. I agreed that Peter's estimate wasn't quite right, but pointed out that 30 miles offshore would put you closer to France than to England. Donal was being rather disingenuous first by presuming that everyone is fully aware of the details of his home waters, and then by using a point miles behind an island and a large breakwater as the beginning of "offshore." Let me put it another way: if RB claimed he was going 50 miles offshore, where would we start the measure? City Island? The Battery? Verrazanno? I think that anyone from the area would say Sandy Hook is where you'd have to start. "Thom Stewart" wrote in message ... Jeff, I'm not taking side with you and Donal. This discussion of offshore was started by a statement that in the English Channel France was only 30 miles away. This is not a quote but a recap. I overestimated the minimum distance. http://www.infoplease.com/ce6/world/A0817371.html Narrowest point is 34 km (21 statute miles). So 30 miles offshore would be to my thinking 33 nm off the coast unless you're in a bight in which case it might be more, drawing a line across the bight as an obviously arbitrary starting line. Call it 60 km. Shrug. Donal's home port is further from France than this, esp if you count all the distance from his boat's berth as offshore, as he has done. It's a daysail distance. A bit further than Hobart to Port Arthur. A lot less than Hobart to Port Davey or Macquarie Harbour. Donal pointed out from his Moorage to the nearest French Port was ( I think) he said 76 miles. That sounded reasonable. The channel is a rather large body of water. How the discussion got turned into an Offshore debate, I don't know? Just wanted to say the channel is a large chunk off water. Doesn't have to take a back seat to Chesapeake, Long Island Sound, SF Bay or my beloved Puget Sound. It's certainly full of ship traffic of all sizes. Distance-wise east-west, it's not very far to the other side - see above - which was the point that Donal took exception to. Torres Strait is 130 km wide, Bass Strait is 240 km wide, for example. 1308 nm from Hobart to Auckland. 380 nm from Darwin to Dili. 981 nm Darwin to Port Moresby. etc. PDW |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
OK,OK, so I'm carrying more weight than I realised at max. 3000kg
(29'6"). I did admit I should have a third unit in the stern cabin.... FT Scott Vernon wrote: 30', 7800# "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Sounds about right. you're twice my displacement, I think... Scott Vernon wrote: I have a 2.5lb right inside the companionway, a 5lb on the mast support pole , and a 2.5 on a shelf (will eventually go in the laz). Good thread. I just checked some of my home extinguishers. Some are caked. My two 17lb are not caked but a little low on pressure. I have 8 of the big water/air pressure ones in the barn and garage. Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... Scott Vernon wrote: Would several small ones, placed strategically around the boat, be better than one (or 2) big one? Depends on the boat. Where are people going to be when a fire breaks out? On Lady Kate, the two likely places for a fire outbreak are the motor/fuel store, and (tops) the galley. The four most likely places for people to be are the cockpit (which is small on Lady Kate), the galley, the forward saloon or the sleeping quarters below the cockpit. I carry two 2.5kg extinguishers: one is at the galley, easily accessible from the cockpit and by anyone fleeing up the companionway ladder out of the galley. It would not be reachable by someone in the forward saloon, so that's where the other unit is carried. Because i'm singlehanding usually, the stern sleeping quarters aren't regularly used: I should really have a small unit in there too. The motor is outboard and the fuel is in a free-draining well outside the watertight envelope: the galley extinguisher serves as first attack there too. Kay Cottee ('First Lady') carried four in a 37' 6'11" beam boat, but that was for six months round the world non-stop. Size isn't specified, the one visible in a photo in the book looks like a 2-2.5kg and I'd be surprised if they were only 1kg. Now, design your own. Does it make a difference if they are hung horizontally, as far as the caking? Not really, just cakes horizontally so it doesn't flow cleanly. And a really bad idea is to hang upside down, cos then it cakes and jams the nozzle/release! Scotty, the main problem with the 1kg weenies is they just don't squirt for very long, and there's a tendency in an emergency to anxiously hold the trigger open until it runs out. Then if there's a flareup, there's nothing left. (In a lot of respects, the old, forbidden BCF was a much better extinguisher for enclosed and semi-enclosed places, provided you remembered not to die of asphyxiation--fire it and shut the lid!) A 1kg will do for a small car provided it's not asked to do too much, but for a boat the size everyone here claims to have, especially for those who leave maked flames untended, no doubt under the deep frier Scotty "Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... wrote: On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 08:53:32 +0930, Flying Tadpole wrote: This is a device that may be called upon to save your boat, your life, or the lives of others. If you need to hit it with a hammer, it is way past due for replacement, regardless of what the 3 cent gauge says, or what you hear flowing. A new extinguisher is about $20-$30. Jeez. Stick to insipid verse. You're extremely no good at this. BB You're an even bigger fool than your repartee would suggest, and you can't read either. What hammer? WHat hit? Throw away good extinguishers because the powder has caked slightly? My extinguishers come in at about $150 each, which is what you pay for size and ruggedness (say, $US70). You want to play with weeny toys and bet your life on them, go right ahead. I'm sure you could find some 1/4lb extinguishers on ebay, secondhand, for $5 if you looked hard enough. For other readers: 6 months is enough for the powder to cake significantly, even with a bit of a shake from time to time. The how-to given IN FULL in my original post is straight out of commercial (and professional) practice. -- SSO (ret'd) Flying Tadpole, BFSA(lapsed!) ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
myboat is 29'6'' also. It's easier to say 30'er, when asked.
"Flying Tadpole" wrote in message ... OK,OK, so I'm carrying more weight than I realised at max. 3000kg (29'6"). I did admit I should have a third unit in the stern cabin.... don't put it off. Do it this week! |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Scotty wrote...
my boat is woth $29 dollars. It's easier to say 30 bucks, when asked. |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
And a large vaccuum cleaner for those small fires.
Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Flying Tadpole wrote: Now, of course, all that's way behind me, and these days I only have to worry about minor things like hazard and risk assessments for crude oil fires. Still, it's simpler than sorting out radioactive waste disposal, for which I give thanks. Now I understand where your prose comes from! Cheers |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Nav wrote: Flying Tadpole wrote: Now, of course, all that's way behind me, and these days I only have to worry about minor things like hazard and risk assessments for crude oil fires. Still, it's simpler than sorting out radioactive waste disposal, for which I give thanks. Now I understand where your prose comes from! Cheers Radiant and glowing, while at the same time smooth and dark, both crude and refined. -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Heh. four years ago we had to clean up 8kg of loose stuff that
got dropped in the shed. COuld hardly use it for servicing extinguishers once it had collected the spiders, small nail, stones and other things on shed floors. Damn stuff's like quickselver (when it's not caked). What impressed me was how much went straight through the vacuum and out again.... Nav wrote: And a large vaccuum cleaner for those small fires. Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more
refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: Heh. four years ago we had to clean up 8kg of loose stuff that got dropped in the shed. COuld hardly use it for servicing extinguishers once it had collected the spiders, small nail, stones and other things on shed floors. Damn stuff's like quickselver (when it's not caked). What impressed me was how much went straight through the vacuum and out again.... Nav wrote: And a large vaccuum cleaner for those small fires. Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB |
What If #4-Answer
"Peter Wiley" wrote in message . .. Shrug. Donal's home port is further from France than this, esp if you count all the distance from his boat's berth as offshore, as he has done. Well, well well! Peter reveals that he is a complete idiot! I have not claimed that my berth is offshore. In fact, I suspect that offshore berths are a rarity. The distance between my home port and France is definitely *not* affected by "offshore" status. The distance is 74 miles. Why do you need to question this? What's your problem? Regards Donal -- |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
supposed to be. Still a lot of the old stuff out there.
Scotty OzOne wrote in message ... On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:19:07 +1200, Nav scribbled thusly: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Cheers Aren't the new refrigerants far more environmentally friendly that Halon? Oz1...of the 3 twins. I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you. |
What If #4-Answer
So you both agree that Donut is right and bob**** is wrong. Good.
Cool pic. Scotty OzOne wrote in message ... On Mon, 28 Jun 2004 15:42:26 -0700, "Jonathan Ganz" scribbled thusly: Right, but the fix is simple. Don't sail with a forward hatch open. These guys are glad they closed the hatches. http://www.oceanpix.co.uk/sailing-ppl2.htm Oz1...of the 3 twins. I welcome you to crackerbox palace,We've been expecting you. |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
AFAIK there's an exemption for ships. We still have halon for engine
room fires. Just as well too. PDW In article , Nav wrote: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: Heh. four years ago we had to clean up 8kg of loose stuff that got dropped in the shed. COuld hardly use it for servicing extinguishers once it had collected the spiders, small nail, stones and other things on shed floors. Damn stuff's like quickselver (when it's not caked). What impressed me was how much went straight through the vacuum and out again.... Nav wrote: And a large vaccuum cleaner for those small fires. Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Nav wrote: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Also was the most effective for car fires too--squirt under the bonnet--slam shut---wait. Nav, halon extinguishers were an easy target for the ozone layer protection punchup. Carbon tet through to all the br/cl/F/C combinations reacts with ozone spectacularly, and as most don't really think of have experience with fires and fire extinguishers, a soft option was to outlaw halon extinguishers. Hardly a murmu. Instant outlawing of fridges and old car a/c's...wow, wht a noise that would be. The ozone hole still amuses me, though. I suspect it always was, and always will be....but then I have professional cause to mistrust save-the-world-stay-green propaganda, spouted by the masters of moral violence, and the resultant cynicism and mistrust can get in the way. -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
OzOne wrote: On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:19:07 +1200, Nav scribbled thusly: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Cheers Aren't the new refrigerants far more environmentally friendly that Halon? It's all relative. Is a 50% better refridgerant a suitable replacement? Cheers |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Fine be damned -they'll have to find mine first!
Cheers Peter Wiley wrote: AFAIK there's an exemption for ships. We still have halon for engine room fires. Just as well too. PDW In article , Nav wrote: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: Heh. four years ago we had to clean up 8kg of loose stuff that got dropped in the shed. COuld hardly use it for servicing extinguishers once it had collected the spiders, small nail, stones and other things on shed floors. Damn stuff's like quickselver (when it's not caked). What impressed me was how much went straight through the vacuum and out again.... Nav wrote: And a large vaccuum cleaner for those small fires. Cheers Flying Tadpole wrote: 1. Inspect pressure gauge (where fitted). If it's out of the green, get it professionally serviced anyway (or if a cheapie, buy a new one). If it's dribbling powder, ditto. 2. Alongside your ear, tilt the extinguished gently. If the powder is properly free, you should both hear it and feel the transfer of weight as it literally flows from one end of the extinguisher to the other. 3. if 2. doesn't work at all, or not much, grab a rubber tyre mallet or other padded mallet (but NOT a sledgehammer, or anything that will give a really sharp blow). 4. With the mallet, tap the base of the extinguisher gently until the dry powder flows as in 2. If it's badly caked, this may take a lot of taps. AVoid the temptation to beat the sh*t out of it after the fifteenth tap. 5. Regularly (eg each time you're down at the boat) give it both a shake and turn upside down lsitening to the powder flow. if it doesn't, reservice. 6. throw out those teeny extinguishers and get at least a 1.5kg, in multiples. wrote: This is exactly why you should have multiple ABC extinquishers, placed strategically around the boat. The C.G. minimums are woefully inadequate. Buy bigger, and more. Here's a little tip to make sure they are working when you need them: When routinely safety checking your boat, remove each extinguisher from it's bracket and shake the hell out of it. The main reason for failure in these extinguishers, besides leakdown, is caking of the powder. BB |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
In article , Flying Tadpole
wrote: Nav wrote: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! Also was the most effective for car fires too--squirt under the bonnet--slam shut---wait. Nav, halon extinguishers were an easy target for the ozone layer protection punchup. Carbon tet through to all the br/cl/F/C combinations reacts with ozone spectacularly, and as most don't really think of have experience with fires and fire extinguishers, a soft option was to outlaw halon extinguishers. Hardly a murmu. Instant outlawing of fridges and old car a/c's...wow, wht a noise that would be. The ozone hole still amuses me, though. I suspect it always was, and always will be....but then I have professional cause to mistrust save-the-world-stay-green propaganda, spouted by the masters of moral violence, and the resultant cynicism and mistrust can get in the way. Talking about Greenpeace again? One of my fav memories of those idiots is from a video they shot down south trying to get in the way of a Japanese whaler. They violated pretty much every ColReg there is and had the audacity to claim it was all the Japanese vessel's fault. They were damn lucky the Japanese skipper didn't just tromp them under and sink them; must have crossed his mind. What they deserved for such stupidity. We had some whale observers aboard one of our vessels on one cruise, one was Greenpeace & showed us the video thinking we'd approve of their actions. She got ripped to pieces. Why they don't get prosecuted and the officers have their tickets pulled is a mystery to me. None of us think highly of whaling, BTW. It was the lies, reckless endangerment of human life in a hostile environment and the sheer contempt for other peoples' rights that got to us. I give them and their Green Left fellow idiots nothing except my opinion. PDW |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:19:07 +1200, Nav wrote
this crap: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! I once asked some environmental asshole why we couldn't use nitrogen fire suppression systems in a computer room, instead of halon. N2 is safe, cheap, easy to handle, and environmentally safe. What could be better? This dumbass answered with a long crappy speech about nitrous oxides. I exlplained that only a small amout would be generated, less than from a diesel engine. He said that any amount is too much. I saw him as a small person. Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now! |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
Horvath wrote: snip I once asked some environmental asshole why we couldn't use nitrogen fire suppression systems in a computer room, instead of halon. N2 is safe, cheap, easy to handle, and environmentally safe. What could be better? This dumbass answered with a long crappy speech about nitrous oxides. I exlplained that only a small amout would be generated, less than from a diesel engine. He said that any amount is too much. I saw him as a small person. The "any is too much" argument, I fear, is so entrenched there's no getting rid of it in the foreseeable future. SA Government spokesman, in the newspaper two days ago: (approx.quote) "We all know that a litre of oil can toally pollute a million litres of water". Sigh. -- Flying Tadpole ------------------------- Break Away, Sail Away and putz away now at http://music.download.com/internetopera |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
I guess you don't know why halon works so well.
Cheers Horvath wrote: On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:19:07 +1200, Nav wrote this crap: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! I once asked some environmental asshole why we couldn't use nitrogen fire suppression systems in a computer room, instead of halon. N2 is safe, cheap, easy to handle, and environmentally safe. What could be better? This dumbass answered with a long crappy speech about nitrous oxides. I exlplained that only a small amout would be generated, less than from a diesel engine. He said that any amount is too much. I saw him as a small person. Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now! |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
"Peter Wiley" wrote in message . .. AFAIK there's an exemption for ships. We still have halon for engine room fires. Just as well too. Halon is no longer available for pleasure craft over here. Regards Donal -- |
How to service and keep in service a dry powder extinguisher
I don't know who you talked to, but I would agree that he's full of it.
These days, one must be willing to make a trade off. There are a lot worse things than what would be released from Halon. -- "j" ganz @@ www.sailnow.com "Horvath" wrote in message ... On Wed, 30 Jun 2004 10:19:07 +1200, Nav wrote this crap: What I don't understand is the objection to Halon when cars lose more refrigerant every day than is used in controlling boat fires. lets face facts, a fire a sea is a huge threat to life and a few Kg of Halon will put out a fire much better than powder -especially a fuel fire in a bilge! I once asked some environmental asshole why we couldn't use nitrogen fire suppression systems in a computer room, instead of halon. N2 is safe, cheap, easy to handle, and environmentally safe. What could be better? This dumbass answered with a long crappy speech about nitrous oxides. I exlplained that only a small amout would be generated, less than from a diesel engine. He said that any amount is too much. I saw him as a small person. Pathetic Earthlings! No one can save you now! |
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