Engine/Generator Bay Operating Temperatures

[Ryan Wright]

I, too, have thought about onboard / pre-routed fire extinguisher
systems. However, I don't think I'd want an automatic unit. A manually
activated system would be preferred. That way, one could verify a fire
was in progress before unleashing the extinguishing compound.

Granted, you can grab your own extinguisher and run back there, but if
you get an alarm at 70mph and see smoke in your rear-view camera, you
could hit the "extinguish" button and get a head-start on fighting it
- or simply give you more time to get stopped and get out. On the
other hand, if you just get an alarm but don't see any source of
flame, you can hold off on activating the system until you've verified
there really is a fire in progress. I'd imagine that would save the
hassle and expense of an automatic system screwing up.

I don't know a lot about engine fires, but I'd imagine water is
effective. Might be a neat idea to route your water pump through
nozzles into the engine bay. Depending on where and how you aimed
them, they may be effective in a fire without making a mess or
damaging anything if activated accidentally.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92

On 2/20/08, gulfquest2 wrote:
>
> After reading the fire stories recently posted here, I have become
> much more aware of my fire extinguisher status onboard. After
> servicing my factory ABC units, I thought about installing automatic
> units in both the engine bay and the generator bay.
>
> Does anyone have an idea of the temperature ranges in these bays under
> worst case scenarios (short of fire, that is...)? The automatic units
> I have are preset to go off at 212 degrees Fahrenheit and I am
> concerned that the presets are too low especially when driving in the
> Southwest in summertime. Doees anybody have any ideas?
>
> Allen & Conny Cranford
> '00 43LXi, "Lone Wolf"
> Tampa Bay, FL