Auto Fire extingisher system

Aussie Syd · Post by **Aussie Syd** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 12:14 am

Hi Has anyone removed or is familiar with the dismantling and removal of the auto fire extingisher system. I don't have any instructions on the boat and although the guage shows a very low reading if I starting taking it a part it may activate and I may end up with a boat full of foam, any suggestions would be appreciated. Regds Syd

captgene · Post by **captgene** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:22 am

You are talking about the big Kidde bottle. I disassembled the whole mess when I repowered the boat. unbolt the bottle from the discharge tube. Take the face plate off the round trigger mechanism and very carefully disconnect the manual trigger cable. It feeds through the copper tube (skinny one) with the round pully elbows. Then you can take the bottle and valve out of the boat. The big valve will come apart. Big nut loosens and you can twist it to line up with the discharge tube or lift it off. Take it to a fire extingusher service center and they will rebuild the valve, hydro the bottle and recharge it. Gene Dugan Boca Raton, Fl. "Nauti Marie" 1989 33 FBC

IRGuy · Post by **IRGuy** » Wed Jul 18, 2007 4:38 am

Syd... I am not sure which system you have, but in my '83 FBC I have a single tank mounted athwartships on the overhead between the engines. It has a simple spray nozzle that was tripped by high temp (I think it has a meltable metal link) and dumps Halon into the engine room. There is no other way for it to go off, manual or automatic. It also has a small switch built into the head so when it trips and the tank pressure drops the switch closes. I removed the tank myself and found a local commercial fire extinguisher service guy who serviced the thing and placed a new label on it. Several years ago in the US Halon, being nasty to the environment, was essentially replaced by other less nasty chemicals. I am not sure, but I believe it is illegal to install new Halon systems, but legal to keep one you already have in service. (You do not want to breathe Halon vapors! If you are in the boat when it trips.. get everyone out into fresh air immediately!) The tech explained to me that he was one of the few local fire extinguisher guys who would even handle Halon today. He had to remove the Halon, weigh the empty tank, recondition the valve, pressure test the tank, and then reload the Halon back into the tank. I have installed it, but have not yet connected the switch to anything. I plan on installing a warning light in the cabin somewhere, possibly with an electronic sound annunciator, so if the system dumps in the engine room (causing the switch to close) I get a light and sound alarm. My system appears to be a much earlier version of the one seen here.... http://www.sea-fire.com/SF/ProductsSeaF ... 00/FG.html Frank B - IRGuy@aol.com "Phoenix" 1983 FBC Wilmington, NC