Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 31 Aug 2007 14:25:10 +0000
From: David Rieben <drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: drieben@xxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd)

Hi Frank,

I agree with using the Class A,B,&C rating in one fire extinguisher as 
being best for a general purpose fire extinguisher for extinguishment
of most small fires. However, I don't agree that water ALONE can be
used for extinguishing hydrocarbon (petroleum) fires. Water can be
used alone to extinguish SMALL fires fueled by polar solvents (alcohols, 
acetone, ect) by the dilution of the fuel, since these are water soluable. 
OTOH, petroleum products are generally not water soluable and will 
simply float to the surface of the water and continue to burn. Firefighters 
use an AFFF (Aqueous Film Forming Foam?) foam agent (brand name-
light water) that is mixed with the water through a special device, called an 
eductor, in concentrations of 3% to 6% to combat petroleum fueled fires. 
Water alone would simply spread the burning petroleum! You must get a foam 
covering over the surface of the burning petroleum to "smother" out the fire. 
BTW, the only way to extinguish a flammable gas fire is to shut off the source 
of the gas or to simply let the fire consume the entire fuel source. Removal of 
the available oxygen isn't practical for large outdoor fires. If you've ever watched
news footage of a propane tanker fire, you'll notice that the firefighters
simply evacuate an appropriate area around it and let the fire fully con-
sume the fuel before moving in to "mop it up".

Also, unless you have access to a large quantity of fully de-ionized water
($$$), use of plain water to extinguish energized high voltage equipment 
would be quite dangerous"! Professional firefighters will use plain
water to fight electrical fires, but they're trained to use only a "broken"
stream of water to do it. The electricity cannot travel back up a broken
or finely devided water particle stream of water to shock or electrocute
the nozzle holding firefighter. However, I would not recommend just
any layman trying this, as firefighters are specially trained in this.

We're starting to get OT here, but with firefighting as my "day job"
(September marks my 19th anniversary as firefighter by profession), 
I felt that I needed to "step in" on this one ;^)

--
David Rieben

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> 

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ---------- 
> Date: Thu, 30 Aug 2007 20:49:25 -0700 
> From: Frank 
> To: Tesla list 
> Subject: Re: Tesla Coil Firehazards (fwd) 
> 
> Usually a C class extinguisher is CO2 which is only effective in an 
> enclosed space where there is no air supply so it can smother a fire. 
> The space has to be small or the gas is disbursed and it is not 
> effective. If you are in the space, you get smothered too! A hand 
> held extinguisher for C fires will not be too effective in a garage or outside. 
> CO2 is typically used for confined spaces that the ventilation can be 
> shut down and there is a bank of large cylinders that is discharged. 
> The number of cylinders is calculated for the space volume. Common on 
> ships for the switchgear and engine rooms. 
> 
> Class B extinguishers are usually dry chemical and can be used on C 
> or electrical fires, it just makes a huge mess! They are also used on 
> small class A fires. Look for ABC on the label. 
> This is the best all around extinguisher to have in your home, 
> garage, shop and etc. A mess is a lot better to clean up than burning down! 
> 
> Water can and is used on hydrocarbon fires a lot. It takes training 
> and LOTS of water and is the prime fire fighting agent on ships. 
> 
> There is a system designed that uses water for electrical fires too 
> and it is used on high tension switch gear. 
> 
> Make sure your coil has a remote safety cut out for the power. This 
> can be as simple as an extension cord or two where the plug is in a 
> "safe" area. 
> 
> Have a couple 5 pound dry chem extinguishers around at all times and 
> keep them near the exits of the space, preferably one on each side of 
> the exit. Cheap insurance, not only for running coils, but protecting 
> your home as well. They are not expensive. 
> 
> Frank 
> At 08:31 PM 8/30/2007 -0600, you wrote: