PSA- mount your fire extinguisher horizontally

David1tontj

David1tontj

New member
Just thought I would throw this out there for everyone-

A while back I was on a wheeling trip and learned that if you mount your fire extinguisher vertically, in a jeep or other bouncy, shaking, or vibrating environment, that it can pack all of the chemical powder too tightly in the bottom and render your fire extinguisher almost useless.

I had my fire extinguisher mounted vertically at the time, and I now have it horizontal. If I was to leave it vertical, I would use a rubber mallet to knock the chemicals loose from the bottom at least once a month.


If you know anything more about this, please feel free to chime in, I am only trying to make people aware of what I have learned.

Thanks!


My ride- 2001 power wheel, 11" plastic tires, upgraded battery, boat sides, custom bumpers, tow hooks, new paint.
 
When I was a shipboard firefighter, part of our monthly PMS (preventative maintenance schedule) was to turn all non co2 extinguishers upside down and give them a few good whacks with a rubber mallet. This was supposed to loosen the powder.


OIIIIIO
 
Even if you mount it horizontally the powder will pack to one side and will still need to be loosened. I would recommend setting a reminder to rotate the extinguisher every month or so. That will prevent it from packing.

As Woody stated that is what we do in the Navy.

R/
Will
 
That's good info. Wouldn't it be okay to just turn it upside down and give it a couple of good wacks on a rock or something before using it? I mean, just in case?
 
I have a never used 2.5lb fire extinguisher I bought from an AMC/Jeep dealer in 1985! I wonder if it would work! The gage is still in the green.
 
Haha yes the pressure is there to make the gauge green, but doesn't mean anything to knock fire down will come out! You should test it out and let us know ;)
 
How about just a good inverted shake every few weeks? I shock bot hormone yesterday and I can hear/ feel the powder moving


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Armydog said:
How about just a good inverted shake every few weeks? I shock bot hormone yesterday and I can hear/ feel the powder moving


Sent from my iPad using WAYALIFE mobile app.......
Click to expand...

Ok I'm just a volunteer firefighter but I do have 14 years in, what is shock bot hormone?
 
JKbrick said:
Ok I'm just a volunteer firefighter but I do have 14 years in, what is shock bot hormone?
Click to expand...

Oops, caught the typo disease...... No excuse, what I typed in my head was........ Shook both of them yesterday..... God, how did you not get that? It was clear as mud!


Sent from my iPad using WAYALIFE mobile app.......
 
Armydog said:
Oops, caught the typo disease...... No excuse, what I typed in my head was........ Shook both of them yesterday..... God, how did you not get that? It was clear as mud!


Sent from my iPad using WAYALIFE mobile app.......
Click to expand...

Lmao, I was never good at guestures or whatever that game was
 
I service fire equipment as my second job. Dry chemical extinguishers will pack. Even the ones hanging on the wall. Once a month, turn over and "fluff" the powder in all your extinguishers and they will always be good to go.
 
witchdoctor said:
I service fire equipment as my second job. Dry chemical extinguishers will pack. Even the ones hanging on the wall. Once a month, turn over and "fluff" the powder in all your extinguishers and they will always be good to go.
Click to expand...

Sharkey is a good fluffer, I'll ask him
 
Two random, honest, serious and hypothetical questions for 'someone' that already has horizontal mounted extinguishers.

1- Would 'someone' who regularly drives offroad, and drives exceptionally fast over rough to very rough terrain, need to worry about the dry chemicals settling and becoming packed?

2- What if there are four speed bumps in a random neighborhood that are driven over multiple times daily by 'someone', the speed limit is 25mph and this person hits the speed bumps at 25mph (completely obeying the posted speed limit), but only doing this when the 'someone's' wife, dogs or groceries are not in this vehicle which may or may not have coilovers and bypass shocks?

What are your thoughts gentlemen.......
 
GCM 2 said:
Two random, honest, serious and hypothetical questions for 'someone' that already has horizontal mounted extinguishers.

1- Would 'someone' who regularly drives offroad, and drives exceptionally fast over rough to very rough terrain, need to worry about the dry chemicals settling and becoming packed?

2- What if there are four speed bumps in a random neighborhood that are driven over multiple times daily by 'someone', the speed limit is 25mph and this person hits the speed bumps at 25mph (completely obeying the posted speed limit), but only doing this when the 'someone's' wife, dogs or groceries are not in this vehicle which may or may not have coilovers and bypass shocks?

What are your thoughts gentlemen.......
Click to expand...

1) Will be fine as this "someone" does this quite regularly.

2) Quit mall crawling, revert to #1

3) Answered with no experience to back up responses. Individual results may very.
 
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