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mrkane1952

06-28-2009, 05:46
Hope Ron doesn't feel the posting of the picture of his
disabled coach is like we are kicking him while he's
already down.

Any indication of what caused the failure?

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX

Ernie Ekberg

06-28-2009, 08:54
Mike, the large battery cable from back to front must have shorted. This in turn produced a large amount of heat, smoke and flames from the burning insulation. Also, many small wires in the same proximity were affected. It could have been worse had it not been for Ron and a fella going home from Holt Caterpillar with their fire extinguishers.


Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx---Im' in NC

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <mrkane@...> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <mrkane@...>
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Bird of the Week 06/26
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 12:46 PM


Hope Ron doesn't feel the posting of the picture of his
disabled coach is like we are kicking him while he's
already down.

Any indication of what caused the failure?

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX

Curt Sprenger

06-28-2009, 09:40
The large battery cables should be fused with very large capacity fuses. I've seen this done on at least two coaches. I believe I was told the fuses aren't too expensive and the fuse holders are somewhat expensive. Probable a good thing to consider doing since our coaches have been vibrating down the road for many years and thinning the cable protective coatings.    

Curt Sprenger

1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"

Anaheim Hills, CA
Read all about Southwest Bluebirds and Friends (SWBB) at http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG ...Then Join us.

"Host of the Annual Bluebird Quartzsite Rally"
On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 1:54 PM, Ernie Ekberg <"ernietex@yahoo.com"> wrote:





Mike, the large battery cable from back to front must have shorted. This in turn produced a large amount of heat, smoke and flames from the burning insulation. Also, many small wires in the same proximity were  affected. It could have been worse had it not been for Ron and a fella going home from Holt Caterpillar with their fire extinguishers.



Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx---Im' in NC

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com"> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com">
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Bird of the Week 06/26
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"

Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 12:46 PM


Hope Ron doesn't feel the posting of the picture of his
disabled coach is like we are kicking him while he's
already down.

Any indication of what caused the failure?

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40

currently near Livingston, TX

John

06-28-2009, 09:59

I may have a supply of 250A fuse holders.
If there is interest I will dig them out.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "curtsprenger@gmail.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 14:40
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Bird of the Week 06/26


The large battery cables should be fused with very large capacity fuses. I've seen this done on at least two coaches. I believe I was told the fuses aren't too expensive and the fuse holders are somewhat expensive. Probable a good thing to consider doing since our coaches have been vibrating down the road for many years and thinning the cable protective coatings.

Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA
Read all about Southwest Bluebirds and Friends (SWBB) at http://www.SOUTHWEST-BLUEBIRDS.ORG ...Then Join us.
"Host of the Annual Bluebird Quartzsite Rally"

On Sun, Jun 28, 2009 at 1:54 PM, Ernie Ekberg <"ernietex@yahoo.com"> wrote:





Mike, the large battery cable from back to front must have shorted. This in turn produced a large amount of heat, smoke and flames from the burning insulation. Also, many small wires in the same proximity were affected. It could have been worse had it not been for Ron and a fella going home from Holt Caterpillar with their fire extinguishers.


Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx---Im' in NC

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com"> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com">
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Bird of the Week 06/26
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 12:46 PM


Hope Ron doesn't feel the posting of the picture of his
disabled coach is like we are kicking him while he's
already down.

Any indication of what caused the failure?

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX




mrkane1952

06-28-2009, 10:09
Guess Ron's luck was only half-bad.

I discovered just how useless those dry-chemical
extinguishers can be when I was trying to suppress
a vehicle fire on the highway outside this campground
last March. (A sedan, pulling out on the highway, was struck
from behind by a small pickup going ~70.) A garden-style
hose from the campground water faucet was also about as helpful
as a biological, self-generated stream would have been.
Fortunately that was just after a rain storm so the gasoline
from the ruptured tank burned like candle flames in the
ditches along the road, rather than spreading to the RVs
behind the wooden fencing along the roadway (including mine!)
Was only able to put the flames down long enough to verify no
one was still inside.

Since then I carry a shovel and an assortment of foam
extinguishers, including a 1.5-gallon unit from Mac
the fireguy: <http://www.macthefireguy.com>. Mac does
the rounds of the RV rallies giving hands-on training,
but there are many other sources.

The VFD arrived in about 25-30 minutes, and it still took
more than 5 minutes to put the car out with their foam.
The sedan driver and his dog had only bumps, etc.

Ron's misfortune might serve as a reminder to the rest to
check those old extinguishers tucked away around the coach,
or to upgrade them to newer technology units.

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX

Ernie Ekberg

06-28-2009, 10:15
Very good point, Mike about those extinguishers. I have 2 of the small ones in my coach and they probably would be good at putting out nothing of any substance.


Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <mrkane@...> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <mrkane@...>
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 5:09 PM


Guess Ron's luck was only half-bad.

I discovered just how useless those dry-chemical
extinguishers can be when I was trying to suppress
a vehicle fire on the highway outside this campground
last March. (A sedan, pulling out on the highway, was struck
from behind by a small pickup going ~70.) A garden-style
hose from the campground water faucet was also about as helpful
as a biological, self-generated stream would have been.
Fortunately that was just after a rain storm so the gasoline
from the ruptured tank burned like candle flames in the
ditches along the road, rather than spreading to the RVs
behind the wooden fencing along the roadway (including mine!)
Was only able to put the flames down long enough to verify no
one was still inside.

Since then I carry a shovel and an assortment of foam
extinguishers, including a 1.5-gallon unit from Mac
the fireguy: <http://www.macthefi reguy.com>. Mac does
the rounds of the RV rallies giving hands-on training,
but there are many other sources.

The VFD arrived in about 25-30 minutes, and it still took
more than 5 minutes to put the car out with their foam.
The sedan driver and his dog had only bumps, etc.

Ron's misfortune might serve as a reminder to the rest to
check those old extinguishers tucked away around the coach,
or to upgrade them to newer technology units.

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX

Rob Robinson

06-28-2009, 10:19
I'm sure I'll get corrected or confirmed on this but I read somewhere that dry chem was the preferred extinguisher for a propane fire. I carry three fifteen pound foam, two dry chem and one Halon and even with that I don't feel it's enough.

2009/6/28 mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com">





Guess Ron's luck was only half-bad.



I discovered just how useless those dry-chemical

extinguishers can be when I was trying to suppress

a vehicle fire on the highway outside this campground

last March. (A sedan, pulling out on the highway, was struck

from behind by a small pickup going ~70.) A garden-style

hose from the campground water faucet was also about as helpful

as a biological, self-generated stream would have been.

Fortunately that was just after a rain storm so the gasoline

from the ruptured tank burned like candle flames in the

ditches along the road, rather than spreading to the RVs

behind the wooden fencing along the roadway (including mine!)

Was only able to put the flames down long enough to verify no

one was still inside.



Since then I carry a shovel and an assortment of foam

extinguishers, including a 1.5-gallon unit from Mac

the fireguy: <http://www.macthefireguy.com>. Mac does

the rounds of the RV rallies giving hands-on training,

but there are many other sources.



The VFD arrived in about 25-30 minutes, and it still took

more than 5 minutes to put the car out with their foam.

The sedan driver and his dog had only bumps, etc.



Ron's misfortune might serve as a reminder to the rest to

check those old extinguishers tucked away around the coach,

or to upgrade them to newer technology units.



--M.R.Kane

1987 PT40

currently near Livingston, TX





--
Rob, Sue and Joey Robinson
94 WLWB

John

06-28-2009, 10:20

All most all of the extinguishers that come with any coach serve just one purpose, that is to fill a federal requirement that they carry one. The coaches come with one, but it's not much good for anything other than filling that requirement. When we think about how much money we have tied up in our Birds a couple of great extinguishers is a very small drop in the bucket.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "ernietex@yahoo.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 15:15
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26



Very good point, Mike about those extinguishers. I have 2 of the small ones in my coach and they probably would be good at putting out nothing of any substance.


Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com"> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <mrkane@...>
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 5:09 PM


Guess Ron's luck was only half-bad.

I discovered just how useless those dry-chemical
extinguishers can be when I was trying to suppress
a vehicle fire on the highway outside this campground
last March. (A sedan, pulling out on the highway, was struck
from behind by a small pickup going ~70.) A garden-style
hose from the campground water faucet was also about as helpful
as a biological, self-generated stream would have been.
Fortunately that was just after a rain storm so the gasoline
from the ruptured tank burned like candle flames in the
ditches along the road, rather than spreading to the RVs
behind the wooden fencing along the roadway (including mine!)
Was only able to put the flames down long enough to verify no
one was still inside.

Since then I carry a shovel and an assortment of foam
extinguishers, including a 1.5-gallon unit from Mac
the fireguy: <http://www.macthefi reguy.com>. Mac does
the rounds of the RV rallies giving hands-on training,
but there are many other sources.

The VFD arrived in about 25-30 minutes, and it still took
more than 5 minutes to put the car out with their foam.
The sedan driver and his dog had only bumps, etc.

Ron's misfortune might serve as a reminder to the rest to
check those old extinguishers tucked away around the coach,
or to upgrade them to newer technology units.

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX

Rob Robinson

06-28-2009, 10:38
Absolutely correct. Government regulations only. Cook stove grease fire maybe. If you have a fire get outside. Fight it from there if you can but get outside. Only dumb asses and sailors fight fires in an enclosure. 

2009/6/28 John <"jc_oop@sbcglobal.net">






All most all of the extinguishers that come with any coach serve just one purpose,  that is to fill a federal requirement that they carry one.  The coaches come with one, but it's not much good for anything other than filling that requirement.  When we think about how much money we have tied up in our Birds a couple of great extinguishers is a very small drop in the bucket.
 
John
 
 
----- Original Message -----
From: "ernietex@yahoo.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 15:15
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26



Very good point, Mike about those extinguishers. I have 2 of the small ones in my coach and they probably would be good at putting out nothing of any substance.


Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx


--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com"> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com">
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 5:09 PM


Guess Ron's luck was only half-bad.

I discovered just how useless those dry-chemical
extinguishers can be when I was trying to suppress
a vehicle fire on the highway outside this campground
last March. (A sedan, pulling out on the highway, was struck
from behind by a small pickup going ~70.) A garden-style
hose from the campground water faucet was also about as helpful
as a biological, self-generated stream would have been.
Fortunately that was just after a rain storm so the gasoline
from the ruptured tank burned like candle flames in the
ditches along the road, rather than spreading to the RVs
behind the wooden fencing along the roadway (including mine!)
Was only able to put the flames down long enough to verify no
one was still inside.

Since then I carry a shovel and an assortment of foam
extinguishers, including a 1.5-gallon unit from Mac
the fireguy: <http://www.macthefi reguy.com>. Mac does
the rounds of the RV rallies giving hands-on training,
but there are many other sources.

The VFD arrived in about 25-30 minutes, and it still took
more than 5 minutes to put the car out with their foam.
The sedan driver and his dog had only bumps, etc.

Ron's misfortune might serve as a reminder to the rest to
check those old extinguishers tucked away around the coach,
or to upgrade them to newer technology units.

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX





--
Rob, Sue and Joey Robinson
94 WLWB

John

06-28-2009, 10:43

Rob,
Love your last comment. I was the latter, maybe sometimes the former. No matter what it's not worth your life to battle a motorhome fire frome the inside. Now when sailors battle fires from the inside it's because there is no other choices, unless you like swimming with the fishes......
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "wander.rob@gmail.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 15:38
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26


Absolutely correct. Government regulations only. Cook stove grease fire maybe. If you have a fire get outside. Fight itfrom there if you can but get outside. Only dumb asses and sailors fight fires in an enclosure.

2009/6/28 John <"jc_oop@sbcglobal.net">





All most all of the extinguishers that come with any coach serve just one purpose, that is to fill a federal requirement that they carry one. The coaches come with one, but it's not much good for anything other than filling that requirement. When we think about how much money we have tied up in our Birds a couple of great extinguishers is a very small drop in the bucket.
John
----- Original Message -----
From: "ernietex@yahoo.com"
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Sent: Sunday, June 28, 2009 15:15
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26


Very good point, Mike about those extinguishers. I have 2 of the small ones in my coach and they probably would be good at putting out nothing of any substance.


Ernie Ekberg
83PT40
Wanderlodge
Weatherford, Tx

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com"> wrote:

From: mrkane1952 <"mrkane@isp.com">
Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] Re: Bird of the Week 06/26
To: "WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com"
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 5:09 PM


Guess Ron's luck was only half-bad.

I discovered just how useless those dry-chemical
extinguishers can be when I was trying to suppress
a vehicle fire on the highway outside this campground
last March. (A sedan, pulling out on the highway, was struck
from behind by a small pickup going ~70.) A garden-style
hose from the campground water faucet was also about as helpful
as a biological, self-generated stream would have been.
Fortunately that was just after a rain storm so the gasoline
from the ruptured tank burned like candle flames in the
ditches along the road, rather than spreading to the RVs
behind the wooden fencing along the roadway (including mine!)
Was only able to put the flames down long enough to verify no
one was still inside.

Since then I carry a shovel and an assortment of foam
extinguishers, including a 1.5-gallon unit from Mac
the fireguy: <http://www.macthefi reguy.com>. Mac does
the rounds of the RV rallies giving hands-on training,
but there are many other sources.

The VFD arrived in about 25-30 minutes, and it still took
more than 5 minutes to put the car out with their foam.
The sedan driver and his dog had only bumps, etc.

Ron's misfortune might serve as a reminder to the rest to
check those old extinguishers tucked away around the coach,
or to upgrade them to newer technology units.

--M.R.Kane
1987 PT40
currently near Livingston, TX







--
Rob, Sue and Joey Robinson
94 WLWB


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