Hello! Log in or Register   |  Help  |  Donate  |  Buy Shirts See all banner ads | Advertise on TheSamba.com  
TheSamba.com
 
Blazecut Fire Supression System
Page: 1, 2, 3 ... 17, 18, 19  Next
Jump to:
Forum Index -> Vanagon Share: Facebook Twitter
Reply to topic
Print View
Quick sort: Show newest posts on top | Show oldest posts on top View previous topic :: View next topic  
Author Message
noganav
Samba Member


Joined: January 06, 2006
Posts: 1236
Location: San Diego CA
noganav is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:06 pm    Post subject: Blazecut Fire Supression System Reply with quote

photogdave recently posted pictures in the fires and wrecks thread of his beautiful Tiger Van burned to the ground. In that thread he also posted a video of the Blazecut fire supression system. I had never seen this product before, and thought it was a great idea. So, no time like the present.

Here's the thread with photogdave's original post on this product:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=440675

Blazecut is a tube of pressurized fire suppressant (Kyoto compliant). When the heat gets above 120C, the tube ruptures and puts out the fire.

Link


It cost $200 including shipping from JOGR, and arrived in 2 days.
http://jogrusa.com/products/blazecut-fire-suppression-system

Here's what you get:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


There's a nifty little pressure gauge on one end of the tube:
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


I installed mine directly on the engine cover. Drilled small holes 6 inches from the edge, every second rib and strapped it down with the included zipties.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


The swirly pattern maximizes coverage of the engine, avoids interference with the air filter housing in the upper right of the engine bay, and makes checking the gauge easy.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


Here's a shot through the license plate door.
Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.


This is certainly no replacement for changing and maintaining your fuel lines, or a full blown fire suppression system like some folks have installed: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=521827

But it's a small price to pay for a little peace of mind. Maintenance free, small and unobtrusive and installs easily in just a few minutes.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
insyncro
Banned


Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
insyncro is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:10 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

They had an ad in the classifieds section for about a day Think
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
noganav
Samba Member


Joined: January 06, 2006
Posts: 1236
Location: San Diego CA
noganav is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 4:26 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

insyncro wrote:
They had an ad in the classifieds section for about a day Think


I didn't see their ad, but for the record I'm just a customer. I have no association with this company whatsoever. I just like the idea.

Edit: Yup, here's a link to their ad:
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1482463
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
insyncro
Banned


Joined: March 07, 2002
Posts: 15086
Location: New York
insyncro is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:05 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

It was in the Vanagon section and now switched to the General Parts sections.

Cool device.

Upgrade your fuel lines, fuel rails and add this feature so your van wont burn to the ground Exclamation
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Ahwahnee
Samba Member


Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9769
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
Ahwahnee is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:19 pm    Post subject: Re: Blazecut Fire Supression System Reply with quote

noganav wrote:
...I installed mine directly on the engine cover. Drilled small holes 6 inches from the edge, every second rib and strapped it down with the included zipties...


I like the way you installed that. Do you recall what size holes you drilled? I looks like one hole per zip tie and the fastener bit of the zip tie is large enough to hold it in place - right?
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
noganav
Samba Member


Joined: January 06, 2006
Posts: 1236
Location: San Diego CA
noganav is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 5:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Exactly, the fastener holds it in place. I drilled two small 1/16 holes side by side the width of my zip ties and connected them. Just big enough for the strap to come back up through the same hole. I also sealed them up with a dab of silicone. It leaves the fastener heads exposed, but they are in the recesses of the engine cover, and it's under the mattress most of the time anyway.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
photogdave
Samba Member


Joined: April 05, 2004
Posts: 3032
Location: Vancouver Island, B.C.
photogdave is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:04 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Nice work Steve. I was going to start a separate post on this product to see what the forum thinks.
Here's an interesting discussion I found on another forum:
http://www.speedsterowners.com/topic/an-interesting-fire-suppression-system?page=1
I feel ready to invest in this too. I had two questions:
Is it possible that conditions could occur to get the engine bay hot enough to prematurely set it off? 248F doesn't seem that out of reach on a hot day.
IF the chemical is accidentally released, could it damage the engine?

PS I didn't learn any more specifics about the Tiger Van's fire. The driver heard a bang, saw smoke and got out of there! It had new fuel lines maybe three years before I sold it. Sad
_________________
89 Syncro GL Westfalia 2.1 WBX/WBXaustSS

My Westy Movies:
photogdave On Vimeo
photogdave On YouTube

Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Ahwahnee
Samba Member


Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9769
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
Ahwahnee is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 6:41 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Okay - I'm in.

Some fires are no doubt due to neglect but more than a few seem to happen to owners who have done their best to avoid them.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
vw7266
Samba Member


Joined: April 28, 2004
Posts: 3036
Location: the point, ohio
vw7266 is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 7:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got mine from member widefive hes a distributor too
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
purplepeopleeater
Samba Member


Joined: July 23, 2005
Posts: 3117
Location: E. Washington
purplepeopleeater is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 03, 2013 8:33 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Im more worried about electrical fires in my dash now, suby improves alot of fire issues.

Might get one of these installed in each of my aircooled buses tho!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
BillM
Samba Member


Joined: June 18, 2004
Posts: 1381
Location: Stonington,CT
BillM is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 8:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I don't like the holes drilled into the engine cover. I also think this is one of the things that could be improved and maybe extend the time one has to extinguish the fire before it breaches the interior. Once that engine cover gets soft it drops down in and the fire takes off. It gets a surge of Oxygen and medium to burn. Its really difficult and dangerous to fight fire now with just a
extinguisher.
An engine lid that was fire resistant or maybe made so it would not drop down
when hot could not only give more time to save van but to also get your kids/family out. I know when my Westy caught fire in the engine compartment
if it wasnt for my son removing the dog and camera gear. He tied the dog to a tree safely away and tossed the gear far away. I would have never gotten the
fire out. The lid was just starting to get soft. I was able to focus on the fire and my son had even put the extra extinguisher at my side just in case.
While I think the suppression system is a great step in the right direction there is more that needs to be done.


1) All power should be fused at the battery.
2) a switch that will shut off all power sources
3) extinguishers need to be placed so than its in your hand while exiting the vehicle and a back up that can also be grabbed.
4) a way to slow the fires ability to pass from the engine compartment to interior.
5) a plan and practice on how to respond. The wife,kids,etc should know what to do.

While every fire and cause is different practice and prevention always help.
There is also the issue that the best intentions can make things worse. If you don't know how to fuse your batteries or install a shut off switch properly
dont do it. A hot post on the back of a switch that could be shorted by a dropped coin is just as dangerous as a leaking fuel line.

All of the above is stuff I have spent some time working on. I am also
very particular about everything I do to my Westy. Even then I had
a failures that no one could have forseen but being prepared turned what
could have been a total loss into a lesson that I had to do better.
_________________
Bill M
87 Westy
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Gallery Classifieds Feedback
joseph928
Samba Member


Joined: September 22, 2011
Posts: 2114
Location: flagstaff az.
joseph928 is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 6:30 pm    Post subject: automatic fire extinguisher Reply with quote

Blue Bay Bus http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=521827& I did a post on automatic fire extinguisher. Any system is a good one! Yes I like more fe-36 like 6 LBS. One pound seems a little low. But for the cost and how easy it is to put in, you can't go wrong. And the video seems to show it working well! Do something don't put your head in the sand. Our vans are worth to much to not do something. Yes if you shop well you can find a system like mine used for the same cost. But for $200 this seems like a great choice! And this is from a retired fireman. Very Happy PS I did have an air cooled burn once, never again! Crying or Very sad
_________________
1987 syncro westy tin top sun roof , GW2.3, rear locker, decoupler, Gary Lee tire rack & winch mount, lift, south african grill, big brakes , rhein alloy ,15 BFG AT, Fiamma 10 foot awning ,140 watt rear 85 watt front solar , mppt, truckfridge, automatic fire extinguishing system, tencent oil cooler, And a RMW SS exhaust! - 1971 bug convertible 1776 engine- 2010 Subaru turbo - 1993 Toyota 4x4 truck - 1999 Harley 95 CI, big bore, Andrews cams . Also 80-84- vans. Stock 65 sunroof bug.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Gruppe B
Samba Member


Joined: January 16, 2007
Posts: 1331

Gruppe B is offline 

PostPosted: Sun Aug 04, 2013 7:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

BillM wrote:
I don't like the holes drilled into the engine cover. I also think this is one of the things that could be improved and maybe extend the time one has to extinguish the fire before it breaches the interior. Once that engine cover gets soft it drops down in and the fire takes off. It gets a surge of Oxygen and medium to burn. Its really difficult and dangerous to fight fire now with just a
extinguisher.
An engine lid that was fire resistant or maybe made so it would not drop down
when hot could not only give more time to save van but to also get your kids/family out.


Aircooled and Diesel Vanagons came with steel engine hatches and are direct replacements for the fiberglass models.

I think that this is a great idea for the price and even if it doesn't fully put out the fire will definitely knock it down to something more manageable with a fire extinguisher.

Maybe installing 2 instead of just one might give some added capacity...
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
matkinson13
Samba Member


Joined: January 13, 2013
Posts: 79

matkinson13 is offline 

PostPosted: Thu Aug 22, 2013 10:58 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Looking at this thread made me think of these:
http://www.swiftfireprotection.com/Products/Fire_E...vetop.html

We had them (or something similar) when stationed in Germany for over our stoves. They're about the size of a tuna can and magnetically attach to the underside of the stove's range hood; any fire automatically "pops" the can and releases the powder.
I know many engine lids aren't metal, but you could attach steel plates for the magnet to stick on or rig up another attachment method. They're only $55.95 per pair and the agent is (per the website) 93% sodium bicarbonate (=baking soda).
Only problem I can see is that the website says they need to hang 24-32 inches above the stove and I don't think we've got that kind of room.

Anyway, just thought I'd pass that along. May be another fire-fighting option, and would definitely work in a bus engine compartment.
_________________
Illegitimi non carborundum.

GONE: 1984 Vanagon GL, 4 sp (natch) - new money pit
GONE: 2003 Honda Odyssey - the missus'
2008 Subaru Impreza - daily driver
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
dhaavers
Samba Member


Joined: March 19, 2010
Posts: 7717
Location: NE MN (tinyurl.com/dhaaverslocation)
dhaavers is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 5:39 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

matkinson13 wrote:
Looking at this thread made me think of these:
http://www.swiftfireprotection.com/Products/Fire_E...vetop.html ...
Only problem I can see is that the website says they need to hang 24-32 inches above the stove...

I'd assume the headroom is necessary for adequate dispersal of the soda.
Yeah - I'm not confident this is a good application for our vans.

Maybe if you put a dozen of 'em up under there, but now you're out $300...???
_________________
86 White Westy Weekender
"The WonderVan"

<EDITED TO PROTECT INNOCENT PIXELS>
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
matkinson13
Samba Member


Joined: January 13, 2013
Posts: 79

matkinson13 is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:17 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Touche, good sir. How much room DO we have under there?

This one only requires 15-27 inches:
http://www.hallfireprotection.net/html/stovetop_1.html
Looks like the same concept, but designed for lower cabinetry and is $74.50 a pair.

It may not work due to low clearances. But maybe we can figure out a similar concept that will work in our confined space.

Just looking at alternatives to...well...the "interstate campfire".
_________________
Illegitimi non carborundum.

GONE: 1984 Vanagon GL, 4 sp (natch) - new money pit
GONE: 2003 Honda Odyssey - the missus'
2008 Subaru Impreza - daily driver
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncromike
Samba Member


Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Boise, ID
syncromike is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 8:36 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Does anyone know if it has it ever been tested at highway speeds? I'd think with the airflow at 55 mph it'd be a lot harder for that little tube to displace all the oxygen. It seems pretty ingenious otherwise.
_________________
_____________________
'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Facebook Twitter Instagram Classifieds Feedback
Ahwahnee
Samba Member


Joined: June 05, 2010
Posts: 9769
Location: Mt Lemmon, AZ
Ahwahnee is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 9:09 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

syncromike wrote:
Does anyone know if it has it ever been tested at highway speeds?...


I now have the Blazecut in place. Hopefully I will not be the one to 'test' it under any circumstances.

We can certainly debate if it will be effective protection and what other, possibly better systems could be crafted. But whilst debating I at least have it in there and, I think, most would agree it is better than nothing - which is what I would have if Blazecut hadn't been available.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
syncromike
Samba Member


Joined: November 14, 2011
Posts: 660
Location: Boise, ID
syncromike is offline 

PostPosted: Fri Aug 23, 2013 11:24 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Ahwahnee wrote:
syncromike wrote:
Does anyone know if it has it ever been tested at highway speeds?...


I now have the Blazecut in place. Hopefully I will not be the one to 'test' it under any circumstances.

We can certainly debate if it will be effective protection and what other, possibly better systems could be crafted. But whilst debating I at least have it in there and, I think, most would agree it is better than nothing - which is what I would have if Blazecut hadn't been available.


true,adding to my wish list...
_________________
_____________________
'91 Syncro w/ Country Homes PopTop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Facebook Twitter Instagram Classifieds Feedback
euromog
Samba Member


Joined: September 19, 2008
Posts: 267

euromog is offline 

PostPosted: Sat Aug 24, 2013 8:42 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

It would be a good idea to mount a second system inside the dash. Most of the interior fires start there. Of course installing circuit breakers at the battery would help it not catching fire in the first place as mentioned before.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Gallery Classifieds Feedback
Display posts from previous:   
Reply to topic    Forum Index -> Vanagon All times are Mountain Standard Time/Pacific Daylight Savings Time
Page: 1, 2, 3 ... 17, 18, 19  Next
Jump to:
Page 1 of 19

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum

About | Help! | Advertise | Donate | Premium Membership | Privacy/Terms of Use | Contact Us | Site Map
Copyright © 1996-2023, Everett Barnes. All Rights Reserved.
Not affiliated with or sponsored by Volkswagen of America | Forum powered by phpBB
Links to eBay or other vendor sites may be affiliate links where the site receives compensation.