fire alarm

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 4:36 pm

I have an alarm system with the control pad on the bridge.I am not sure if this is standard Bertram equipment or not.It has red warning lights and a loud bell.It monitors 2 high bilge water float switch alarms and i think 3 fire alarm sensors located at each engine.My question is how do you know if the fire/heat sensors work? can you test them? and while i am on the fire safety kick how do you know that if you have an engine fire the halon bottles will deploy? my bottles are 1981 Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

franklyprice · Post by **franklyprice** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:17 am

Tim, As far as I know the alarm system was standard on all of these. The halon system should be weighed and inspected every year according to my insurance company but I don't have one yet and I honestly have never heard of anyone actually servicing theirs unless they see the guage go down. Obviously if your boat burned and the system didn't work, your insurance company would try to not pay because you failed to maintain the system. My insurance policy states that I have a fire suppression system and I shall maintain it yearly. I suppose I should get one some day... Frank Price

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:24 am

Hey Tim, I assume you are tieing up your boat now and not worrying about the halon alarm right now. I have the same system. One big bottle and it is piped to each engine and the to the generator. I've never checked the alarm on the bridge. I did weigh the bottle when I got the boat. I keep it all clean, but have neglected to have the bottle weighed and tested yearly. Dumb on my part. So prepare for storm surge. I'm more concerned about wind cuz Wilma is coming from behind me. (for once). I just finished making all new dock lines and chains last weekend. Good timing. Got to pay BOAT Usless insurance before the warning goes up. Gene Dugan

photo finish · Post by **photo finish** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:43 am

I do not have a pipe system.I have a large bottle in between the engines and a small bottle in front of the genset.I did have them weighed last year and the inspector said they were fine .But how do i know they will deploy?I am thinking about buying a second new bottle for each compartment and leaving the old bottles in as back up but i am not sure if this is over kill as they are very expensive .Also i am wondering if the halon 1301 can be mixed with the new ozone safe chemicals? I am watching this storm. It is still too early to determine where it is going.It already is the most powerful storm ever recorded.Funny enough, I am more worried about my boat than my house. Tim Stamm Photo Finish 1981 33' Bertram FBC

Mikedcabo · Post by **Mikedcabo** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 2:44 am

Hope Wilma leaves you Florida guys alone. We all could use a break!

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 3:35 am

Tim, I would just pull the bottles out and get them inspected. They are expensive. I think they work on the same premise as a fire sprinkler to set them off. The big system in my boat has a major sensing element in each compartment separate of the bottle. A friend of mine has a 48 Hat, and was dinking around with his emergency shut down cables on his bridge and set one of these monsters off by accident. I think it cost him almost $2000 to reload it. Gene Dugan

smithmk913 · Post by **smithmk913** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 9:10 am

Read your note on the alarm system. Find one of the sensors. It's a bakelite disc about 2" in diameter, and about 1/2" thick. It has two wires. Disconnect both and touch together. Alarm should sound. This system works on a completed circuit. Often corrosion will cause small screen on the front of sensor (1/2"circle)to get solid enough that you will get sporadic alarm soundings. Kind of wierd, during a heavy rainstorm, your fire alarm goes off. Heavy moisture caused thatr screen to clog up. Had the problem, and replace all three sensors. None since. Usual culprit is the one by generator. I was only able to find sensors at Richard Bertram, now Allied , in Miami. The factory might also have available. Mike So Far-So Good II

Brian Davin · Post by **Brian Davin** » Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:01 pm

I have been wondering about my Halon system with the repower and new wiring. Only alarms/lights remaining active on that bridge panel after changing wiring harnesses would be the two bilge pumps. I'm contemplating yanking the whole thing out. Any thoughts? Also, my '90 had a fire suppression system tied into an emergency pull cord mounted on a side panel in the cockpit. This unit was disabled and replaced with a halon unit in main engine room and one in generator compartment with an override switch mounted on the bridge. Johnson's Boat Works thought the three heat sensors were part of the old system and could be removed. Any one have a recommendation here? Brian '90 Bertram 33' FBC Never Say Never Guilford, CT (Homeport) Kinnelon, NJ (Home)