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MG TD TF 1500 - fire extenguisher life span?

Now that she's finished I'm wondering the life span of my First Alert ABC (dry chem) fire extenguisher. It's at least 10 years old but still shows "green" on the dial. Shame to throw it out but bigger shame to need it and it's worthless! Can't find answer in archives. Anyone know? And can I safely test it by pressing trigger or is that a one-time thing? Instructions just say "test monthly". How?
efh Haskell

Test monthly should read "check monthly". The canister as you now is pressurized and the indicator valve is strictly pressure measurement, the dry powder and CO2 within are perpetually stable, so the extinguisher is probably good, but for peace of mind you have a few options, take it too an Extinguisher testing service who will read your dial and put on a new tag for ??? money, or take your extinguisher and give an every so short blast (outside) to assure the nozzle nor valve is clogged) watch the valve while activating it will drop precipitously then return on release) and then make up your own tag for no money. Or take what money you have got some Jack Daniels and don't worry about the GD extinguisher (though you have to have one at all times with our rolling incendiary devices)
Jon Levine

Hi Ed,
Love the color on your car ;-) Our choices match. And you did it in under 2 yrs, how many folks are there out there that have taken much longer? Lots, I suspect.
We have several dry chem. extinguishers, at home, in the car, on the boat. Seems like instructions that came with at least some said to shake it every few months, to keep the dry powder from clumping up. My wife does that occasionally on the boat, don't know about the others. I think with that, and the gauge showing "good", you should be OK. Jon's thoughts sound good.
Al
A W Parker

I purchase a new one every few years (if reading on dial goes down) and rotate them.
New one goes in the TF ...older one goes in the Triumph! (I know some of you are smiling at that...no doubt wearing a "Rather push an MG than drive a Triumph" T-shirt. LOL)
Borderline goes in my old Dodge pick-up ...at least I can tell the insurance guy "I tried to put it out"!

The boat had it's own "anti-fire" device ...my son learned all about it when he launched with the drain plug sitting on the dashboard.
David Sheward

Once a year the extinguisher should be inverted and lightly thumped several times on the bottom with a rubber mallet; not whacked hard, just lightly thumped.
D. Sander

Once a year your wife should be inverted and lightly thumped several times on the bottom with a rubber mallet; not whacked hard, just lightly thumped. The secret to a long and happy marrage!
Mike
M Sutton

Is that an ancient Lancashire tradition Mike?

Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

Our federal motorsport body here in Australia require those competing in MGCC events to have their extinguishers tested every 2 years IIRC. Since the cost of testing is close to the cost of a new one we usually end up with a stack of good older extinguishers in the garage. Hey, I just thought of another form of rocker cover racing! 'Rocket' propelled extinguisher racing!

Matthew.
Matthew Magilton

The company that does my office extinguishers just shakes and eyeballs every year, puts new tags on and I pay them. Keeps the fire dept. happy however. I think every 5 or 10 years the commercial ones have to be emptied and serviced. They told me never to test fire, as some of the powder may lodge on the valve sealing area causing a leak. I had to change all of mine recently, as the manufactuer went out of business and you could no longer get the parts to service. Considering how much time and money we have in our cars, why risk an ancient extinguisher? I'm with Dave, just replace it every few years. George
George Butz

There's no real test to the old dry chem extinguishers. If you try a test blast, the powder introduced through the valve will allow the gas to leak.

Extinguisher service men warn that too often, those old things choke the tube with powder, go "poof" and that's all.

Don't trust them. Best to keep CO2 extinguishers around if you're serious about putting out fires.

Smoke detectors are cheap and can mean all the difference in the world for preventing a major catastrophe.

A buddy that ran an auto repair business said his air hoses/air guns were the first line of defense for fires. He's got a point but firemen would beg to differ.

I've got about a dozen CO2 extinguishers laced all over my shop, air hoses & guns strategically located as well as pails of water. No fires yet, knock on wood.
Jim Northrup

Humm...trying to figure out what good an air hose/gun would do to a fire other than spread it??
efh Haskell

Mathew
It is a tradition if you married a Yorkshire lass. Folk around here consider cross border liaisons to be an act of incredibly bravery or incredible foolhardiness. The annual event takes place on the first day of the roses cricket match and is known as “Eky thump day”!!!

Mike
M Sutton

Mike,
So will this "cure" that white build-up in her eye's?
http://youtu.be/1OjTspCqvk8
LOL
David Sheward

David
This is the message I received when I clicked on your link:
"The uploader has not made this video available in your country."
It would appear that the UK is not as liberal a country as the US! What ever can you guys be looking at over there after you down spanners (sorry wrenches).
Ah! May be after downing wrenches you pick up your wenches! Much too naughty for us chaps back in the old country.
Mike
M Sutton

Mike ,
"Down Spanners" ?? Never heard that one before.
Love it. Just for grins I googled "Icky Thump" and a youtube video came up from the band The White Stripes. The one lass looks as if some kind of dry chemicial has coagulated in her one eye. Apears she could use a good thumping. Don't know why it would be banned ..not naughty at all.


David Sheward

This thread was discussed between 18/08/2011 and 21/08/2011

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