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Date:         Tue, 23 Dec 2003 03:17:41 -0600
Reply-To:     ccc1 <cc1@EMAIL.CZ>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         ccc1 <cc1@EMAIL.CZ>
Subject:      Re: Vanagon fire fighting techniques
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"

I don't know the composition, but I have noticed something about this type of extinguisher, which could give people a false sense of security. Most owners may only occasionally look at the pressure gauge, to see if the needle reads "OK" or "LOW", or press a "Test" button, as their preventive maintenance. I read an article somewhere, that advised shaking the extinguisher before use, for maximum effect. Apparently, the powder has a tendency to cake or clump together over a period of time, which can cause most of it to not be expelled with the compressed air, when the trigger is pressed. I believe that this problem may be even worse in extinguishers that are secured vertically in a vehicle (like the original ones mounted in Westys), due to the constant compression pounding the powder takes when the vehicle goes over bumps, etc. I have routinely shaken the (usually old) extinguishers in vans I have bought, and after hearing nothing moving inside of them, have had to violently agitate them or smack them hard with a rubber mallet several times while holding them upside down, before I could hear the powder move around. Although I have never actually tried using "unshaken" extinguishers as a test, I'm not going to wait for a fire, before I shake my extinguishers. This may be another good reason to consider Halon type extinguishers.

Cary

----- Original Message ----- From: Ken Lewis <kdlewis_wasting_time@ACCESS4LESS.NET> To: <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com> Sent: Sunday, December 21, 2003 9:38 AM Subject: Re: Vanagon fire fighting techniques

> I was told the powder is basically baking soda. True or false? > Ken Lewis > 86 Transporter Crew Cab > 60 356 T-5 Porsche > http://neksiwel.20m.com/ > Vanagon tech, pixs, O2 monitor gadget > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Edward Maglott" <emaglott@BUNCOMBE.MAIN.NC.US> > ..... I found that on that extinguisher you could actually unscrew the > valve off of > > it and shake out the rest of the powder on the nearest burning > item,....... > >


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