SEA FIRE AUTOMATIC EXTINGUISHER - model 200 A cant refill

[Al B]

Mechanic was doing work in engine room and must have needed more room
removing Automatic fire extinguisher from the clips . It was hanging from 3 wires. Putting back discovered it was empty & out of date.
In the few years of owing boat never has the Halon release. Never having this
type of system and not familiar with it . It was just there .
I always run with 2 Extinguisher's mounted on deck. Good thing I discovered
cylinder was empty and thankful never having too use.
Calling local fire extinguisher companies not able too offer help
Hitting West Marine , Defender could not believe the pricing on new cylinders
Calling SEA FIRE . Speaking with customer service was told due too age of
fire extinguisher, mfg, 2004 , design, chemical Model 200 A is not serviceable .
Since I am a customer they will gladly offer me a discounted price around
$ 600.00 for new serviceable extinguisher. Can use 3 wires , hook up and mount using clips .
On a 30 footer no requirement of automatic extinguisher
Has anybody faced a similar situation , and what have you done too find alternate extinguisher . Any rebuilding companies that can tag, check, refill
or sell used ?
When speaking with local fire extinguisher company they did say once I purchase new extinguisher they have too come too boat, tag and make sure its installed properly . Same as checking Ansel fire suppression systems in restaurants .
I have 2 engines. Only one extinguisher pointing too starboard engine .
Why not install in middle or have two .?
Some thoughts is appreciated

[hellosailor]

Al-
Fire extinguisher companies are like automobile front end shops. A few reputable good ones, and a lot of thieves. There are some that literally just send a guy around to businesses, walk up to the receptionist (who isn't the plant manager, after all) and say "Hi, we're here to check the extinguishers" and then they'll swap some, recertify some, and have that poor receptionist sign off on a huge bill. All with no authorization. Nice?

So. Some facts of like on Halon. It is great stuff, but like all gasses it can leak over time. Gas extinguishers need to be weighed, if they have no pressure gauge, at least annually to see if they are good. And what is "required" in a business or commercial setting, just isn't required at all for private owners. Legally? Maybe your insurer will want to have "certified" installation, maybe they won't. Other than that you are free to DIY all you please, and any shop that tells you otherwise is looking to bill you for labor.

Halon was a miracle solution. Can be liquid or gas, two types. Both have been banned from new production because they destroy the ozone layer, in theory. (Personally, I'd rather take a chance on that than being burned alive.) BUT. There is indeed a market for recycled Halon. If someone gets rid of a Halon system, the gas (or liquid) must be recaptured, recycled, or disposed of. So there are companies which recover Halon, clean it up, and resell it to folks who want to keep their systems topped up or refilled.

The price for that MAY not be reasonable, compared to just buying a new system. Also, some systems are not designed to be refilled, or need maintenance (cleaning, new o-rings, reassembly, etc.) that make them uneconomical to refill.

Easy example: The common "one liter" dry chemical extinguishers? $20 in the big box store, $35 in the chandlery. But it will cost you $30+ to have one refilled, because someone has to clean the powder and the o-rings, and if the refill isn't perfectly clean, it will leak down again.

Your unit? You'd need to check with the mfr. as to what the refill process involves, possibly tank pressure testing, and sources of Halon to refill it, and possibly hazmat shipping to send the bottle out if you're not in a major city. It may indeed be cheaper to just replace.

But when the guy says you can't DIY? Yeah, time to find another vendor, regardless of what your insurer says.