Skip to main content

I have a Blaze Cut fire suppression system in my new Vintage Speedster. I also carry a Halon extinguisher in the rear seat.

I came across an Element fire extinguisher. Much smaller than the Halon unit, but with the same advantages. Jay Leno has a demo of it. Element also has a website.

Anyone tried them??

JIm Ruiz

Westchester,CA 90045

 

 

Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Yeah, Jim, I saw that same Leno demo. After doing some due diligence - including speaking with the Element people - I bought the smaller version for my Shpeedy and the larger one for my I/H Travelall. Disregarding the fact that the sticks are made in Italy , I was very impressed with their various mounting brackets - I chose the Magnetic Mount for both sticks and discovered perfect locations to affix them in both vehicles - as well as how they don't leave residual crap after use....like Halon. Anyway, everything I discovered sounded great, the company reps were very responsive and helpful, and I'm happy with the 2 installations. Thanks to the gods looking out for "old people and imbeciles" I haven't had to actually pop one open and use it....but they both sure look good. 

Thanks for your input. Pelican Parts had a 1 day sale and I got 3. Where did you mount yours on Shpeddy? I will keep 1 in the house and the other 2 in my cars. I like the extended spray time. 50 seconds is a long time.
Jim
On Saturday, March 7, 2020, 01:53:21 PM PST, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@crowdstack.com> wrote:


| == To reply by email, write above this line. == |
|
| |
| Hello, jprpdr: We're sending you this notification because you are either following the forum, the content, or the author listed below. New Reply To Topic
| Subject: Fire Extinguisher Reply By: Napa Paul In: Speedsters / General (Non-Technical) | |


Yeah, Jim, I saw that same Leno demo. After doing some due diligence - including speaking with the Element people - I bought the smaller version for my Shpeedy and the larger one for my I/H Travelall. Disregarding the fact that the sticks are made in Italy , I was very impressed with their various mounting brackets - I chose the Magnetic Mount for both sticks and discovered perfect locations to affix them in both vehicles - as well as how they don't leave residual crap after use....like Halon. Anyway, everything I discovered sounded great, the company reps were very responsive and helpful, and I'm happy with the 2 installations. Thanks to the gods looking out for "old people and imbeciles" I haven't had to actually pop one open and use it....but they both sure look good. 
  View This Reply SpeedsterOwners.com - 356 Speedsters, 550 Spyders, Replicas and more https://www.speedsterowners.com To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings. To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here. |
|
------------------- Speedsters For Sale -------------------
------- www.DrivenToys.com ------
|

|
DannyP posted:

Halon and it's replacement Halotron leave no residue behind after use. I believe that you meant dry extinguishers, which do leave a residue, Paul.

Nope. What I meant was that these Element sticks are supposed to leave NO residue (aka residual crap), just like my Halon extinguisher. It doesn't leave anything either.

jprpdr posted:
Thanks for your input. Pelican Parts had a 1 day sale and I got 3. Where did you mount yours on Shpeddy? I will keep 1 in the house and the other 2 in my cars. I like the extended spray time. 50 seconds is a long time.
Jim
On Saturday, March 7, 2020, 01:53:21 PM PST, SpeedsterOwners.com <alerts@crowdstack.com> wrote:


| == To reply by email, write above this line. == |
|
| |
| Hello, jprpdr: We're sending you this notification because you are either following the forum, the content, or the author listed below. New Reply To Topic
| Subject: Fire Extinguisher Reply By: Napa Paul In: Speedsters / General (Non-Technical) | |


Yeah, Jim, I saw that same Leno demo. After doing some due diligence - including speaking with the Element people - I bought the smaller version for my Shpeedy and the larger one for my I/H Travelall. Disregarding the fact that the sticks are made in Italy , I was very impressed with their various mounting brackets - I chose the Magnetic Mount for both sticks and discovered perfect locations to affix them in both vehicles - as well as how they don't leave residual crap after use....like Halon. Anyway, everything I discovered sounded great, the company reps were very responsive and helpful, and I'm happy with the 2 installations. Thanks to the gods looking out for "old people and imbeciles" I haven't had to actually pop one open and use it....but they both sure look good. 
  View This Reply SpeedsterOwners.com - 356 Speedsters, 550 Spyders, Replicas and more https://www.speedsterowners.com To adjust your email notifications for this site, please update your notification settings. To suspend ALL email notifications from this site, click here. |
|
------------------- Speedsters For Sale -------------------
------- www.DrivenToys.com ------
|

|

I mounted the smaller Element stick under the dash in front of the passenger seat. The magnet (which is very strong) grabbed onto enough metal to make the stick very easily accessible. Note, however, that all you need to do is SLIDE OUT the stick from the magnetic mount. Easy-peasy!

I always urge folks to buy and install fire extinguishers that are UL & National Fire Protection Association approved.  The testing and approval methods involve effectiveness, ease of use, and longevity testing.  If the units tested are adversely affected by moisture, cold air temps, and the passage of time, consumers need to know this.

Blazecut and Element each address the lack of regulatory approval in different ways.  Blazecut says their recommended use doesn't require approval, and Element suggests that the UL methodology is unduly restrictive.  Both are fair points, but misleading.

Fire extinguishers are analogous to car insurance.  Standard advice is to buy the coverage you need from a well-respected company, and hope you never need to file a claim.  What percentage of car fire extinguishers ever get used?  Far less than the number of claims for auto insurance.  

However, an ineffective fire extinguisher gives a false sense of security.  Is it better than nothing?  Maybe.  The gold standard hasn't changed, and neither has the advice: buy the best approved inert gas fixed-system you can afford and install it per directions.

Halon derivatives are the currently approved gasses for fixed systems.  As a young fireman 50 years ago, I went to dozens of car fires before I became proficient at extinguishment.  Before you make a purchasing choice, it helps to remember that you will be struck dumb at your first car fire.  Since it will likely be in the engine compartment, you will need to open the hood to attack the base of the flames with a portable extinguisher.  What could possibly go wrong, eh?

Jim, agreed. And if it's not completely automatic, make it a cable pull that snuffs the fire without having to open the engine compartment. That one step of opening the engine lid and introducing more free oxygen is the one step that got me to put in a Halon system. And once the lid is open, you'll probably get burned by the flames, so how the heck are you going to keep the lid open and extinguish the flames?

Automatic or cable pull is the way, a handheld extinguisher is pretty useless and too small for the job anyway.

Right, Danny.  I always encourage those who have portable extinguishers to role play an engine fire at least once a year.  With the engine running, pull to the side of the road, turn engine off, pull engine cover release, detach extinguisher from bracket, pull release pin on extinguisher, open deck lid, (pretend) depress extinguisher lever, aiming at base of fire.  

Once someone does the above, they will think about the mechanics of fire suppression for our (mostly) rear-engine cars, i.e., will the deck lid be too hot to handle with bare hands, how do I hold the deck lid up while I discharge the extinguisher?  When I had a rear-mounted engine, I kept a pair of gloves with my extinguisher.

If you do it a few times, you will see a decrease in how long it takes from pulling over to simulated release of extinguisher contents.  Training doesn't replace experience, but it helps the user become more familiar and more confident.

Post Content
×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×