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Fire alarm for engine compartment

Yesterday we purchased a foam fire extinguisher for our engine compartment from "Mac the fire guy."  He is in Tucson for the FMCA rally.  I got to thinking that it would also be a good idea to have an alarm that goes off when there is a fire in the engine compartment.  Dave Katsuki gave me some ideas on how to build one with a fusible link and a relay, but does anyone know of a commercially available alarm that could be used in the hostile environment of the engine compartment?  Thanks in advance.

George

P.S.  Pat and I drove around the rally and saw only one Foretravel (a 2000 no slide from TX).  As a comparison, there were a ton of Beavers and Country Coaches and even two Vogues.
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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #1 –
George, yes, just go visit your local alarm installer. They can provide you with a sensor for most any environment you chose.
No RV! Have hung up the keys.
In the past: 2016 Winnebago Era, 1994 Foretravel U240, 1995 Foretravel U240 (wide body), 1999 Foretravel 320, 36 Foot, 2003 Foretravel U320 38 foot,

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #2 –
George, which engine suppression system did you get? I have been thinking that it would be a good idea.

Did they install it for you and if so where was it mounted?
The selected media item is not currently available.Kent Speers
Locust Grove, OK
1993 U300 SSE 40' (Restored at FOT 2009) Build 4323
720 watts Solar
6V92TA DDEC Silver Engine
2014 Subaru Outback

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #3 –
Did you get one for the refrigerator as well? Or have you already gone residential?

I see more wrecked coaches from refrigerator fire than Engine or Genny.
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #4 –
Yes, we did get a Halon refrigerator extinguisher and I installed it today (see below).  I really had not thought much about getting one for the engine compartment until I saw the one that Dave Katsuki installed.  If he thinks its a good idea, it probably is!  We bought the one that George McCoy (i.e., "Mac the Fireguy") recommended, the 3 liter foam extinguisher (SS200AFFF).  I'll install it this week and post a pic. 

George

P.S.  Although our 10 yo gas/electric Dometic refrigerator works fine, we plan to have its coils replaced this summer.

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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #5 –
Check out these folks - they make the units Mac sells. I have also see an indicator light for the dash that is wired to the extinguisher - comes on when the unit is activated. I believe most sources for the indicator are marine as it can also be wired to shut down the engine(s). Jim also has a fun business restoring and selling parts for the classic GMC coaches from the 70s. He's a real source of information and a great guy to talk to. Anybody that has a drag race motorhome has got to be fun!

Installations

Cooperative Motor Works (The Co-op)
Jeff & Patricia
Rescue dog Molly
Previous Foretravel owner

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #6 –
Here's mine. My next door neighbor works for a fire suppression company. He showed me a video of this unit putting out a fire in the engine bay of a city bus. Cost was $300. I installed it.
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #7 –
This is what ours looks like (From Mac the Fire Guy, and I got it with the switch contacts installed in the fuse head and the alarm unit.)
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #8 –
Quote
I got it with the switch contacts installed in the fuse head and the alarm unit.

Does that mean the switch that turns on the alarm is located in the fuse head? I assume the fuse head is what tells the extinguisher there be a fire? Is your alarm a light on the dash, a klaxon, hooked directly to the Hadleys or all of the above? :)

see ya
ken 
The selected media item is not currently available.ken & dori hathaway & Big Agnes
🍺1992 U300 GrandVilla WTBI #4150 FOT FBP 2011
✨6V-92TA DDEC Parlor Coach 350HP Series 92
🏁2011 Nissan XTerra Pro-4X

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #9 –
Quote
Here's mine. My next door neighbor works for a fire suppression company. He showed me a video of this unit putting out a fire in the engine bay of a city bus. Cost was $300. I installed it.

Is that brown bottle on the ledge used to supplement the fire suppression system? :)

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #10 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
We bought the one that George McCoy (i.e., "Mac the Fireguy") recommended, the 3 liter foam extinguisher (SS200AFFF).  I'll install it this week and post a pic. 
George

I believe the AFFF models can freeze as they are water based so if always in a warm climate they are OK.
Good luck,
Rick

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #11 –
Thanks Rick.  Here is a shot of the label with the temperature restrictions.  I called the company.  It will freeze and when frozen it will not work.  But, when it thaws, it will work again.  It will not burst when it freezes. 
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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #12 –
Bob, it's an installation aid!!
Steve & Ginny Hill
96 U295 36'/Wrangler
Tampa

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #13 –
Quote from: kenhat –
Does that mean the switch that turns on the alarm is located in the fuse head? I assume the fuse head is what tells the extinguisher there be a fire? Is your alarm a light on the dash, a klaxon, hooked directly to the Hadleys or all of the above? :)

see ya
ken 

Yes, the switch that turns the alarm on is located in the fuse head.  Probably a pressure-sensitive one, although I haven't looked closely at the switch.  I got the alarm from Mac also, but turned out to be pretty pricy for what it is - a box with a relay, a horn, a light and an on-off switch.  Come to think of it, I put the switch in...    Could have run the spray head switch contacts up to the cockpit, but didn't want that much fun.  I mounted the box with the horn in the bedroom at the foot of the bed, so it will be easily heard up front.
Dave and Nancy
1999/2013 U270 36' Xtreme
Motorcade # 16774
2013 Subaru Outback
KD0NIM

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #14 –
As a point of reference I checked the temp of the engine compartment fire extinguisher yesterday after 5 hours of driving in 90 degree heat (Kingman, AZ to Virgin, UT).  It was 154 degrees F using a point and shoot IR thermometer.  According the Mac the fire guy, it goes off at 286 degrees F.

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George Hatfield

  Never ever use World Line Motors of Nacogdoches for service!

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #15 –
Quote from: George Hatfield –
Thanks Rick.  Here is a shot of the label with the temperature restrictions.  I called the company.  It will freeze and when frozen it will not work.  But, when it thaws, it will work again.  It will not burst when it freezes.

You need not worry about your foam extinguisher freezing while driving in cold weather. The unit will surely be unfrozen with the engine heat and work fine. We have had foam extinguishers mounted in the engine compartment and generator compartment since we bought the coach in 2006. In each compartment is one to two Halon fire extinguishers. Foam works great when it encounters wind like the wind blowing around in the engine compartment. Halon will fly right out. Had two bus fires in my driving career and each time we had fire foam suppression systems save the day. This should be a top priority in anyone's bucket list. 
Steven & Anna Lindemann
2012 Prevost  H3-45 VIP
2007 Foretravel 40' Nimbus
2014 Cadillac Escalade

Private/Charter Bus Driver-Owner
30 Years of Driving the Stars of Nashville

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #16 –
Quote from: Steve and Anna Lindemann –
You need not worry about your foam extinguisher freezing while driving in cold weather. The unit will surely be unfrozen with the engine heat and work fine. We have had foam extinguishers mounted in the engine compartment and generator compartment since we bought the coach in 2006. In each compartment is one to two Halon fire extinguishers. Foam works great when it encounters wind like the wind blowing around in the engine compartment. Halon will fly right out. Had two bus fires in my driving career and each time we had fire foam suppression systems save the day. This should be a top priority in anyone's bucket list. 
But if you start out in below 0 F temperatures and are in those temperatures for several hours, how long before the foam thaws out?  Have departed home in that scenario several times.  One time we hit -27 F degrees.  I have to go through Bradford, Pa., which is well known as one of the coldest spot in the nation on weather maps during the winter months, just to go anywhere south.  I thinking that little 5.9 6BT Cummins is not going to warm up that big, wide open, engine compartment enough to thaw that foam out before getting out of Pennsylvania! There is still room in the compartment for two mechanics in addition to the engine.
1994 U225
build #4514

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #17 –
Quote from: PatC –
But if you start out in below 0 F temperatures and are in those temperatures for several hours, how long before the foam thaws out?  Have departed home in that scenario several times.  One time we hit -27 F degrees.  I have to go through Bradford, Pa., which is well known as one of the coldest spot in the nation on weather maps during the winter months, just to go anywhere south.  I thinking that little 5.9 6BT Cummins is not going to warm up that big, wide open, engine compartment enough to thaw that foam out before getting out of Pennsylvania! There is still room in the compartment for two mechanics in addition to the engine.

Good point. In my rig, we mounted the foam bottle over on the exhaust manifold side. Then we routed two heads from the bottle to the cooler side of the engine and one between the cooler side and the warm side of the engine. This allows the foam canister to remain unfrozen and allow the activation heads to be away from the heat. Wen the temperature is very cold outside, I do let the rig warm up to about 150 degrees before moving. That is usually about a half hour of running with the aqua hot warm engine switch on overnight.
Steven & Anna Lindemann
2012 Prevost  H3-45 VIP
2007 Foretravel 40' Nimbus
2014 Cadillac Escalade

Private/Charter Bus Driver-Owner
30 Years of Driving the Stars of Nashville
 

Re: Fire alarm for engine compartment

Reply #18 –
On my U225, at least, the engine heater keeps the engine and bedroom above 40F even at temps down into the teens. That thing is WARM!

Craig
1993 U225 36' Unihome GV with PACBRAKE exhaust retarder, Banks Stinger and Solar Panels.
Toad: 1999 Jeep Wrangler 2-door soft-top.

"No one has ever had to evacuate a city because the solar panels broke."