37 replies to this topic

[ChrisA]

Getting ready to order a fire system for the car, probably going to go with the Fire Bottle brand. Kind-of debating whether to go with a 5 or 10-lbs system and where I should mount it. Should I mount it on the passenger floor or put it in the trunk? Any thoughts?

[Glenn]

Getting ready to order a fire system for the car, probably going to go with the Fire Bottle brand. Kind-of debating whether to go with a 5 or 10-lbs system and where I should mount it. Should I mount it on the passenger floor or put it in the trunk? Any thoughts?

I once fired off a trunk mouted system during a RUSHED battery change during an enduro.......Sorry again Todd/Steve .

[john mueller]

Getting ready to order a fire system for the car, probably going to go with the Fire Bottle brand. Kind-of debating whether to go with a 5 or 10-lbs system and where I should mount it. Should I mount it on the passenger floor or put it in the trunk? Any thoughts?

Chris;
IMO mounting depends on if you need weight on the right side or not. Personally I like having it next to me, tight to the trans-tunnel.

I recommend having:

• At least 2 Nozzles on the driver, better case 3
• 2 Nozzles on the engine
• 1 Nozzle in the trunk pointed at the fuel filler area

I like the 4 Liter, 6 Nozzle SPA units, good price with exceptional quality.

[Glenn]

Chris;
IMO mounting depends on if you need weight on the right side or not. Personally I like having it next to me, tight to the trans-tunnel.

I recommend having:

• At least 2 Nozzles on the driver, better case 3
• 2 Nozzles on the engine
• 1 Nozzle in the trunk pointed at the fuel filler area

I like the 4 Liter, 6 Nozzle SPA units, good price with exceptional quality.

FYI I have seen a few "go off" with less than steller results IE dribble from the nozels. Not sure cause/brand but I would definatly seek as much input from those that have used theirs.

[SaulSpeedwell]

Am I crazy, or is the ratio of fire systems going off when they shouldn't about 50X higher than the # of times the driver activates them on purpose?

The only times I've seen an SM catch fire, it was always the part of the system that someone "touched" after the car was made - like a leaky SCCA fuel sampling port missing it's cap (i.e. "fuel atomizing ignition device"), or botched replacement of stuff on the fuel pump carrier.

[Johnny D]

Am I crazy, or is the ratio of fire systems going off when they shouldn't about 50X higher than the # of times the driver activates them on purpose?

The only times I've seen an SM catch fire, it was always the part of the system that someone "touched" after the car was made - like a leaky SCCA fuel sampling port missing it's cap (i.e. "fuel atomizing ignition device"), or botched replacement of stuff on the fuel pump carrier.

Here's one. Oil caught shifter boot on fire. Filed under "crap Happens"
Also I heard the Salt Flat guys have the engine noozles at the rad pointed back, so at speed it blows toward the fire.
Pull handle where you can reach it. Left of shifter or left vent IMO.
J~

[ChrisA]

Chris;
IMO mounting depends on if you need weight on the right side or not. Personally I like having it next to me, tight to the trans-tunnel.

I recommend having:

• At least 2 Nozzles on the driver, better case 3
• 2 Nozzles on the engine
• 1 Nozzle in the trunk pointed at the fuel filler area

I like the 4 Liter, 6 Nozzle SPA units, good price with exceptional quality.

I gotta add a lot of lead to the floor, in the order of 125 lbs. to make weight.
The Fire Bottles are FE-36, think the 5 is a 2-nozzle and the 10 a 3 or 4-nozzle. No mess if set off accidentally, just wasted $$.

[Bench Racer]

Chris, being you require weight, you may want to have a hand held bottle for isues like the shifter boot fire (above) and other silly stuff that happens where the nozzles are NOT aimed.

[Johnny D]

You going to run a cool suit? Ice Chest has to go someplace and that's more weight.
J~

[RussMcB]

Chris, being you require weight, you may want to have a hand held bottle for isues like the shifter boot fire (above) and other silly stuff that happens where the nozzles are NOT aimed.

I like this idea a lot. It's not hard to imagine situations where you'd like to have a hand-held nearby, even in the paddock.

[Alberto]

I gotta add a lot of lead to the floor, in the order of 125 lbs. to make weight.

Do this for ballast:
http://mazdaracers.c...ballast-system/

[RussMcB]

Possible thread hijack, but I've been looking for an opportunity to ask this question lately.

I've never seen a fire system with two pull handles. How is that accomplished? I like the idea of a handy pull for the driver, and another for corner workers, but I can't picture how the two cables go into the bottle head.

[Bench Racer]

I've never seen a fire system with two pull handles. How is that accomplished? I like the idea of a handy pull for the driver, and another for corner workers, but I can't picture how the two cables go into the bottle head.

Did a quick search, It would seem the answer to your question is yes. Try this link http://honda-tech.co...d.php?t=2464981 post #4. You might also contact someone like Dave Wheeler at AdvancedAutoSports or try PegasusAutoRacing.

[Sean - MiataCage]

Whatever fire system you choose, make sure that you mount the pull or push handle to a solid mount that will not flex or crack/break/melt in a fire. I have seen too many circumstances (not just Miata) where the driver goes to pull the release for the bottle and pulls the release handle right out of the dash without activating the bottle. The other thing to consider is the location of the handle so that you can find it in the dark immediately. For all my cars, I make a bracket and mount the pulls on the transmission tunnel directly to the right of the shifter, that way in a roll over or smoke filled cockpit I know all I need to do is to find the shifter and move my hand to the right 8 inches and I have my handle. Put it wherever you want, but make sure you can find it in the dark and anyone who drives your car knows where it is located as well.

[ChrisA]

Do this for ballast:
http://mazdaracers.c...ballast-system/

Perfect! That is sort-of what I had in mind of designing. You just saved me a lot of time. Thanks!
Wonder what it's going to cost to ship that puppy? Hmm, USPS, "if it fits, it ships"

[ChrisA]

Possible thread hijack, but I've been looking for an opportunity to ask this question lately.

I've never seen a fire system with two pull handles. How is that accomplished? I like the idea of a handy pull for the driver, and another for corner workers, but I can't picture how the two cables go into the bottle head.

Safecraft fire systems has 2 pull set ups.

[RussMcB]

Safecraft fire systems has 2 pull set ups.

Thank you. I did a search and this PDF has pictures that show me how a two-cable system will work.

http://www.safecraft...20Guidlines.pdf

I just bought a new Safecraft system recently. Not installed yet. I've only looked in the box. It only came with one pull cable and the instructions have minimal information. It looks like I could purchase additional parts and have two pull cables plus a large push button mounted on the bottle head (or remote push cable).

Good to have options.

[FTodaro]

Just an opinion, but i have a 10lb fire suppression system mounted in the trunk over the RR and I also have a hand held bottle in the car. I like the extra safety on having a hand held bottle in the car, a few years ago in an SCCA race at Mid Ohio. a competitor went off the track at Turn 9 (the old turn number just past Madness) and slid into the tire barrier hard, the nose of the car caught fire and it caught a tire on fire. The driver got out of the car and put out the fire external to his car with the hand held.

Have heard the the same thing in the summer where a grass fire started under the car. Just saying sometimes what you have to put out is not in the car.

I will always spend my money on my safety.

[john mueller]

Safecraft fire systems has 2 pull set ups.

As does the SPA.

[SaulSpeedwell]

Here's one. Oil caught shifter boot on fire.

Interesting. The oil fire was caused by a blown motor? Did anything actually erupt in flames or show evidence of flame damage OTHER than the shifter boot?

Given that SCCA and NASA went on a rollcage-sealing vendetta that resulted in record metallic duct tape sales, it is interesting to think of the shifter boot as a flammable material covering a hole right next to the driver.

Having said that - I'm wondering if you had a leaky shift turret area (cracked inner shift boot, or not sealed, old gasket, no RTV, etc.)? Or did engine oil spray all over that area? I just tried to burn a (dry) shifter boot and I couldn't get a flame anything like your video show.