TheSamba.com :: View topic - Up in smoke... Bus fires... don't let it happen to you!

Fri Jan 30, 2009 8:37 am

Every van, or indeed aircooled vehicle should run the following

A fuel cut off solenoid wired to a switched live. The solenoid is open when live, closed when ignition off

A fire extinguisher in the engine bay like the fireflex models available over here. If you can get one with a normaly closed contact breaker switch in the line, do so for the following reason.

Wire from ignition solenoid to normally closed contact breaker, wire from normally closed to fuel cut off solenoid, connect fuel cut off solenoid to earth.

The basis is that, if you have a fire in the engine bay, the automatic fire extinguisher cuts off the fuel supply as the contact breaker switches to open and simultaneously puts out the fire.

Secondly, if you are stupid enough to try to restart the vehicle, it'll turn over, but the fuel cut off solenoid will remain closed so it won't start.

Belt and braces there :D

A fuel cut off solenoid available over here is the Tecalemit TDA-47 produced by Greenfield Engineering as an OEM product.

Wed Feb 04, 2009 6:57 pm

Here is one site that has a few of the Halon-like type extinguishers, both auto and auto/manual.

http://www.go2marine.com/category.do?no=12117&mfrno=986

The lowest end one for 100 cubic ft is $274. This seems better then some high-end units that were also posted here. I am seriously considering this model and mounting in the engine bay.

What is everyones thoughts on this?

I guess the only drawback is that if it triggered due to a fire and you keep driving/engine running for a bit, incoming air will dilute out the gas and make it not as effective.

But I still feel that it would be better because 1) I would hear it discharge and be immediately alerted that there was a fire 2) That small burst if suppression would allow more time to pull over and get it under control with another extinguisher rather then already out of control for a small extinguisher.

Would anyone see a drawback to this approach?

-jeff

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:26 am

jpufnock wrote: Here is one site that has a few of the Halon-like type extinguishers, both auto and auto/manual.

http://www.go2marine.com/category.do?no=12117&mfrno=986

The lowest end one for 100 cubic ft is $274. This seems better then some high-end units that were also posted here. I am seriously considering this model and mounting in the engine bay.

What is everyones thoughts on this?

I guess the only drawback is that if it triggered due to a fire and you keep driving/engine running for a bit, incoming air will dilute out the gas and make it not as effective.

But I still feel that it would be better because 1) I would hear it discharge and be immediately alerted that there was a fire 2) That small burst if suppression would allow more time to pull over and get it under control with another extinguisher rather then already out of control for a small extinguisher.

Would anyone see a drawback to this approach?

-jeff

Provided it has a normally closed contact (automatic switch that opens when the gas goes off) you can connect it to a cut off or kill switch or something in the engine bay to kill the engine or fuel supply.

If it goes off, it puts the fire out AND stops the engine or fire fuel supply.

www.simoncnc.co.uk/Fireflex.pdf

they are available with pressure switches to cut out an electrical circuit

Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:29 am

jpufnock wrote: Here is one site that has a few of the Halon-like type extinguishers, both auto and auto/manual.

http://www.go2marine.com/category.do?no=12117&mfrno=986

The lowest end one for 100 cubic ft is $274. This seems better then some high-end units that were also posted here. I am seriously considering this model and mounting in the engine bay.

What is everyones thoughts on this?

I guess the only drawback is that if it triggered due to a fire and you keep driving/engine running for a bit, incoming air will dilute out the gas and make it not as effective.

But I still feel that it would be better because 1) I would hear it discharge and be immediately alerted that there was a fire 2) That small burst if suppression would allow more time to pull over and get it under control with another extinguisher rather then already out of control for a small extinguisher.

Would anyone see a drawback to this approach?

-jeff

This one would be more appropriate

http://www.go2marine.com/product.do?no=100420F

Fri Feb 20, 2009 8:58 pm

Activation of the Sea-fire stinger is said to be about 175F (when the tubing ruptures). Is that high enough to not rupture during normal running? I've found several other good products, but am unsure of the temperatures inside the engine compartment. Anyone knows how hot it gets in there? I know my engine temperatures and the ambient, but how much ends up in the compartment? Otherwise wouldn't it be better to just stick with a manual only system?

How about this?
http://www.interlinksolutions.com/firefoe.htm
or
http://www.interlinksolutions.com/statxt.htm
http://www.interlinksolutions.com/statx.htm

Thanks,

Thu Mar 26, 2009 7:35 am

1st bus i owned 1973 with 78 fuel injection 79 trans did the conversion myself and got it smoged in socal (got a referee smog sticker)
had a bad oil leak
not sure if it was oil or the infamous fuel lines
burned in front of my friends house when we were out for dinner we came back to no bus and a charbroiled street,bushes,power lines melted,
rookie firefighters put water on motor that must have been quite a site

Thu Mar 26, 2009 9:22 pm

Has anyone thought of drilling an extinguisher nozzle size hole in the engine cover door behind the license plate. That way if you have a fire, pull up on the license plate, insert extinguisher nozzle and fire away. This would keep the oxygen off the fire and your hands and face away from the flames. What your thoughts?

Sat Mar 28, 2009 9:47 am

I dont think a gaseous agent fire extinguisher will do a very good job in a engine compartment that well ventilated, Excpecially if your driving down the road at 55MPH! Liquid "AFFF" or something of this nature is whats needed.

Having a kill switch hooked up to the engine and extinguisher is a bad idea also, Its unsafe... use your imagination on what could happen with that. I think the best route is a discharged light on the dash.

There are extinguisher geared for VWs... check this out.
http://forum.earlybay.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=12667

This guy is a USA dealer:

Ron Biberstine
International POD, LLC
Cold Fire Super Systems
web: www.coldfiresupersystems.com
web: www.intpod.com
e-mail: ronbib@intpod.com
e-mail: ronbib@aol.com
e-mail: ronbib@gmail.com
e-mail: ronbib@me.com
cell: 845-641-7285
fax: 845-750-6669

Thu Apr 02, 2009 9:41 am

that there is proof that newer is not always better! buddies golf burnt to the ground and it started right beside my bus!!! S.O.B tryin to take her out, so we pushed it back and watched the show 8)

Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:09 am

MOX wrote: that there is proof that newer is not always better! buddies golf burnt to the ground and it started right beside my bus!!! S.O.B tryin to take her out, so we pushed it back and watched the show 8)

Such a jealous little Wasser-Boxer. :)

Sun Apr 05, 2009 6:18 am

Oh, I also meant to compliment that nice looking Bay Bro! Cheers to not letting it burn to ground! There gettin harder to find these days. :vw:

Sat Apr 11, 2009 9:33 am

Just to reiterate the importance of checking your fuel lines on a regular basis. I have a 1700 with dual Solex's. I replaced my fuel lines last summer and then I stored the bus over the winter. I started her for the second time since the winter storage and was letting her run for a while in the driveway. I decided to adjust the chokes and luckily I spotted fuel leaking from where the hose connects to the right carb! I thought I used good hoses (braided style) but perhaps it was old stock because when I removed it I could see that it was cracking on the ends. Scary. Replaced it of course with what I hope is better hose but I will be keeping and eye on it for sure. :shock:

Mon May 04, 2009 7:59 pm

I am replacing my fuel lines tomorrow and want to get a fire extinguisher to mount on the steering column. I am wondering... where does one buy a fire extinguisher? Never had to do that before...

Mon May 04, 2009 8:24 pm

We used to have places in the country called hardware stores that sold all kinds of wonderful stuff including fire extinquishers. Now we have Wal-Mart. You can also buy fire extinguishers through many auto parts and maybe even through your local fire department.

Wed May 06, 2009 7:18 am

Wildthings wrote: We used to have places in the country called hardware stores that sold all kinds of wonderful stuff including fire extinquishers. Now we have Wal-Mart. You can also buy fire extinguishers through many auto parts and maybe even through your local fire department.

Man I hate Wal-Mart. I went in there the other night for the first time in probably 3 years to buy oil. If I would have bought all the oil I bought last time at the auto parts store (Case @ $5?.00 dollars) I would have saved over $20 on the same stuff. We still have a hardware store in my hometown to my knowledge (I am visiting home right now)... I will check there first.

Tue May 12, 2009 10:14 am

I once had a fire in my 67 bug, a trucker and another passerby hit it with extingwisher. It had no effect. If I was to have a fuel cut off switch, then the fire would have been out.I am thinking of installing a electric fuel pump so as to move the fuel lines away from the distributer, and some sort of fuel cut off to keep from feeding fuel to a fire.

Tue May 12, 2009 7:42 pm

This all just makes a man want to not drive his bus and sit in the garage in a chair with a beer and just look at it...not...

...Had my bus up on a lift a month or so ago and noticed that the braid on my fuel line coming from the tank ('74) to the pump was slightly frayed. I left it intentionally :oops: and poked around and wouldn't ya know it 10 minutes later the damn thing starts leaking. I replaced everything up in there right then.

...About two months ago I (over) filled the tank and while rounding the front of the bus after paying I saw about a pint of gas under my battery tray on the ground and a steady stream running out of the tray. I look in the engine bay and the gas was coming from where the vent (?) tubes connect up behind the wheel well. Tight little space. That 2 1/2" piece of tube was straight rotted! I bet it was the original. Check 'em folks. I want to get the fire extinguisher set up going sometime soon...

Tue May 12, 2009 10:51 pm

Meep. This thread has scared me shitless....just ordered a solenoid valve to stick in the fuel lines.

At what point in the fuel lines do you guys think I should stick the valve?

Wed May 13, 2009 5:41 pm

is there any problems with running copper lines as much as possible and running the rubber lines overtop? I have this set up after a small fire caught while I was hooking up electrical and had some fuel residue catch on the start. I do have rubber connectors between the metal lines but nothing over 2 inches of connector.

Mon May 18, 2009 7:13 pm

Do you guys put hose clamps on your vent lines over the gas tank?