Refilling/Replacing Sea-Fire Automatic Fire Suppression Cannisters

Tally Ho

Tally Ho

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Jan 7, 2011
5,265
Oday 322 East Chicago, IN
I am curious what a bottle of Halon is worth…

I emailed A-Gas to see if they can give me an idea….would be cool to get enough to purchase a modern fire suppression system for the engine compartment.

Greg
 
L

LloydB

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Jan 15, 2006
900
Macgregor 22 Silverton
A check with Google found me this and made that question about as clear as "what kind of boat should I buy."
 
Parsons

Parsons

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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
An automatic extinguisher sounds like a smart upgrade. How difficult would the installation be, particularly the automatic engine kill?
 
Parsons

Parsons

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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
Thanks @tfox2069 - it is a good article. I just wish they had more depth on running the wiring (step 7). Looks to be plug-and-play, but it will vary by engine and locations (dual engine on my catamaran). Anyone here actually do this?
 
tfox2069

tfox2069

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Apr 8, 2011
771
Hunter 40 Deale, MD
Parsons said:
Thanks @tfox2069 - it is a good article. I just wish they had more depth on running the wiring (step 7). Looks to be plug-and-play, but it will vary by engine and locations (dual engine on my catamaran). Anyone here actually do this?
Click to expand
My guess is you'd need to contact the manufacturer of the AFSS system. The article mentions the author contacted the manufacturer and they provided him with installation information. I'm sure it will vary by engine type, so I'll bet you'll need the wiring diagram for your engine panel in the cockpit.
 
S

senang

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Oct 21, 2009
316
hunter 38 Monaco
Parsons said:
An automatic extinguisher sounds like a smart upgrade. How difficult would the installation be, particularly the automatic engine kill?
Click to expand
On our 2005 H38 an automatic extinguisher was factory installed. Upon activation (a simple glas tube that breaks when heated) it also cuts off the engine room blower. In fact it is more exact to call it an extractor fan. No engine kill switch when it activates. Stopping the running engine needs to be done manually.
 
tfox2069

tfox2069

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Apr 8, 2011
771
Hunter 40 Deale, MD
senang said:
On our 2005 H38 an automatic extinguisher was factory installed. Upon activation (a simple glas tube that breaks when heated) it also cuts off the engine room blower. In fact it is more exact to call it an extractor fan. No engine kill switch when it activates. Stopping the running engine needs to be done manually.
Click to expand
I find this interesting. Below is a panel from a 2005 Hunter 38 on Yachtworld, and in the upper right of the panel is the AFSS helm display unit, which includes an override switch for the auto engine shutoff that is wired to the shutdown control module (2nd photo below), which is likely buried somewhere behind the panel. Curious if you have the helm display unit on your boat with the little switch that lets you override the auto shutdown from the helm?

1675778698261.png



1675778355575.png
 
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senang

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Oct 21, 2009
316
hunter 38 Monaco
Yes, engine panel in cockpit is as in your picture above. The round instrument with the override switch is installed in this panel. I do not know what the shut dowv control module below is for. If it is related to the fire activated auto switch of installation I suppose it is to combine different fire detection sensors with different engines on a big yacht. I am absolutely sure it is not hidden somewhere on our H38, ( I have crawled every space in the last 12 years), no need to combine sensors when there is only one engine and one extinguisher in the engine room :).
 
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spadaforaj

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Sep 27, 2008
199
Hunter 41 Longport,NJ
Hi - I have the same setup. The fire extinguisher has never been engaged, but this spring we could not start the boat when the system was on - to start the boat we now have to override the system. We can get the boat to start and run, but this doesn't seem to be a good safety practice Does anyone have any suggestions for diagnosis, repair, replace or have a good specialist in Rock Hall that might be able to fix it ?
 
dLj

dLj

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Mar 23, 2017
3,878
Belliure 41 Back in the Chesapeake
spadaforaj said:
Hi - I have the same setup. The fire extinguisher has never been engaged, but this spring we could not start the boat when the system was on - to start the boat we now have to override the system. We can get the boat to start and run, but this doesn't seem to be a good safety practice Does anyone have any suggestions for diagnosis, repair, replace or have a good specialist in Rock Hall that might be able to fix it ?
Click to expand
@spadaforaj you might try Truett Marine. Rick might be able to help you out.

dj

Truett Marine Services LLC
 
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Stiknrudder

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Aug 12, 2022
1
I don't own one yet not yet Not yet
sail sfbay said:
Wow that was expensive!! When I purchased my Hunter 46 he surveyor noted "the engine space automatic fire system gauge reads in the “recharge” zone – recommend having the unit re-charged". Replaced the Sea Fire FGA 123-295 50cf bottle in 2019 for $100 from my local fire extingusher dealer in Oakland, CA then wired it up as you noted. Price must have really shot up.
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Could this be another example of inflation in action? I know it is only three years difference (2019-2022) between your replacement and tfox2069's but we have seen some pretty crazy price spikes in odd arenas. Thank you for posting the info!
 
chuckwayne

chuckwayne

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Mar 20, 2004
1,736
Hunter 356 and 216 Portland, ME
tfox2069 said:
My guess would be a Coast Guard inspection team would treat the "extra" extinguisher (e.g. your engine room halon bottle) like they do expired flares. As long as you have sufficient UNexpired flares (or fire extinguishers) onboard to meet the requirement, having some extras that are expired don't count against you, and provide some measure of backup or a potential additional margin of safety.

I'd vote for keeping the halon bottle. Here's one reason why: Halon is a gas and will not require a messy and possibly damaging cleanup like a dry chemical or foam fire extinguisher (although you MUST evacuate the fumes after the fire is definitely out because it will settle in low areas and could cause a suffocation hazard).
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I asked the commander of our local CGA this question and he confirmed that a fixed halon or equivalent system can be counted as part of the requirement but if you have sufficient portable units it doesn't have to be in certification - it's just like carrying expired flares in addition to in date ones to meet the requirements. This was during my official inspection.... My system on Escape is a standalone bottle with gauge, heat sensing spray head, and a remote indicator at the engine panel. I do unmount it and weigh it every year and tag it.
 
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