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Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Mon Sep 16, 2019 11:06 pm
by Scott Cee AKA 2drx4
So I've seen these being promoted on various Facebook groups, mostly by certain retailers that are charging a ton of money for them.
The question is, do they actually work? They claim a longer "use time" (which doesn't really specify their ability to actually put out a fire), along with being more stable, resistant to vibrations, and not needing any servicing.
Has anyone bought one or seen independent testing?
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Tue Sep 17, 2019 5:18 pm
by Scott Cee AKA 2drx4
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 8:24 am
by pointsnorth
just watching their video and not actually reading the info it looks like you have to get in pretty close for it too work is that feasable with say a atf fire in behind say a skidplate/belly pan
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Fri Sep 20, 2019 9:08 am
by Scott Cee AKA 2drx4
pointsnorth wrote: ↑Fri Sep 20, 2019 8:24 am
just watching their video and not actually reading the info it looks like you have to get in pretty close for it too work is that feasable with say a atf fire in behind say a skidplate/belly pan
Good point. He's closer to that than I'd want to be to any sort of vehicle fire in real life. Get your hand that close to an oil or fuel fire and you're going to get hurt when a line pops or something burns through.
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:17 pm
by ridenby
I have a couple of the large ones. hoping to never use them or the 10lbs regular one.
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:49 am
by Provience
TOTAL PROTECTION
ELEMENT FIGHTS ALL MAJOR FIRE CLASSES
well, that's a lie. it also says it isn't rated for metal fires
found their compare section, says they are using potassium nitrate based instead of CO2, which is probably a closer comparison than sodium bicarbonate dry chem extinguishers.
https://www.amazon.com/Kidde-Dioxide-El ... B001ECQ5MA here is a 5lb CO2
traditional get you quicker deploy time, everybody knows what it is and how to use it, and a bit more range. you have to be one it with the Element stick because, as a gas, it dissipates quickly into the air and doesn't have much charge push behind it, hence the longer run time.
probably hand to have, but for the price, i'll stick with a couple dry chem extinguishers and replace them every 5-10 years
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 10:03 am
by Scott Cee AKA 2drx4
Provience wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:49 am
probably hand to have, but for the price, i'll stick with a couple dry chem extinguishers and replace them every 5-10 years
That's what I've gone with mostly. Larger ABC dry chemical ones, flip them every month. I do have a halon one in my XJ right now though, but that was only because it was free. It won't put out much of a fire though, halon doesn't go very far unless it's in a confined space. I might swap it out for a dry chemical at some point.
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:34 pm
by Provience
flip them every month? hell, better than me
i figure if the ones in the building don't get shit done to 'em except replaced every few years, then even just being in a car will vibrate it enough to keep it loose.
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:56 pm
by Scott Cee AKA 2drx4
Provience wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:34 pm
flip them every month? hell, better than me
i figure if the ones in the building don't get shit done to 'em except replaced every few years,
then even just being in a car will vibrate it enough to keep it loose.
It's the other way around. The vibration packs them, it will turn the powder into a solid cake. It's a known and documented problem. One of the mines I worked in pulled all of them off their gensets because that was exactly what would happen to them, and instead mounted them on poles or stands near them, the genset is the least ideal environment because it's a such a consistent vibration and it will easily pack them to the point they will not work at all. But even service trucks, ships, and aircraft are known to do it. One of the big problems is you don't test them ever, you just look at the gauge, and if it's in the green it's good to go, right? It's so rare that people go to use them that the actual in service failure rate is not exposed.
Now, if you're doing some SCORE style jumps or something, that would probably keep them loose.
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Sun Apr 19, 2020 9:09 pm
by Provience
huh, shit i have one mounted to the fender on my genset trailer
guess that would be the worst of both worlds, vibrates while running and while getting towed.
thanks for the tip!
Re: Element Fire Extinguishers
Posted: Mon Apr 20, 2020 5:39 pm
by ridenby
Scott Cee AKA 2drx4 wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:56 pm
Provience wrote: ↑Sun Apr 19, 2020 8:34 pm
flip them every month? hell, better than me
i figure if the ones in the building don't get shit done to 'em except replaced every few years,
then even just being in a car will vibrate it enough to keep it loose.
It's the other way around. The vibration packs them, it will turn the powder into a solid cake. It's a known and documented problem. One of the mines I worked in pulled all of them off their gensets because that was exactly what would happen to them, and instead mounted them on poles or stands near them, the genset is the least ideal environment because it's a such a consistent vibration and it will easily pack them to the point they will not work at all. But even service trucks, ships, and aircraft are known to do it. One of the big problems is you don't test them ever, you just look at the gauge, and if it's in the green it's good to go, right? It's so rare that people go to use them that the actual in service failure rate is not exposed.
Now, if you're doing some SCORE style jumps or something, that would probably keep them loose.
That is the main reason for getting the element ex. that and less than a 10lbs ex is a joke when your junk is burning.