Question about removing Halon extinguisher.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by er9

does that extend to visiting cruisers or only residents?

Interesting question, I would assume not.
My reasoning is if you apply local laws, then all foreign visiting vessels to the US and vice / versa are going to have to buy USCG certified life vests and fire extinguishers, or European depending on where you travel.
Forget that the European ones they have may be better, US Regs plainly state USCG approved.

I hope that they don’t have to, but am not certain?

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by er9

does that extend to visiting cruisers or only residents?

Australia has a strict arrival system with inspections to protect their environment. The EU is less strict but still illegal after Dec 2003. We had an auto halon in the engine space which the local dump took away. Replaced by the replacement type. Whilst yachts travelling to other EU countries aren't normally inspected, I really don't need grumpy foreign customs staff giving me a hard time on my holidays due to out of date flares or illegal extinguishers.

https://www.fireprotectiononline.co....extinguishers/

Defender seems to have replacements for $190 depending on size of engine bay.

[wedivebc]

Halon is by far the best extinguishing agent available. You will want to keep your system and if you can do it legally all the better. The vessel I work on owned by the Canadian Government has halon. If it's ever discharged we can expect it to be converted to CO2 but for now I'm happy with what we got.

[qwert]

Originally Posted by er9

does that extend to visiting cruisers or only residents?

It does apply to residents unless you can persuade someone to give you a special license (unlikely). The regs are here.........


Exemptions - Do I need a licence? | Department of the Environment and Energy



I'm no lawyer so good luck interpreting them. There is I note, under "customs" a provision for temporary importing.............

[hellosailor]

Pete-
You seem to have been misled by the common confusion that vessels are subject to local regulations in all ways and times. That's just not so.
The SAFETY EQUIPMENT on vessels is subject only to the regulations of their FLAG STATE regardless of where they are transiting.
Unless you are subject to local regulation because you have "resided" there for too long, you only have to comply with the safety regulations of your flag state. That's by international treaty and convention.
So if you have a Halon bottle installed in your engine bay? Or your flares or pfd's don't meet "local" rules?
It doesn't matter. Just make sure they meet the rules of your flag state.
The inspectors, everywhere, KNOW THAT. If they pretend otherwise they are just looking for mordida. Or for you to patronize their family-owned chandlery.

Halon is not classed with nuclear weapons. And as they say in the Navy, I can neither confirm nor deny the presence of any nuclear weapons on board this vessel.

Or, you could just quickly print a "CO2" label on your handy inkjet printer and slap it on the bottle. I'd rather increase the odds of a hole in the ozone, than assure being burned to death. Nasty way to go.

[a64pilot]

For those with an aversion to Halon, and or can’t due to legality, look into Halotron, I have that as well, it’s from my understanding very similar, just takes twice as much of it, so a 10 lb bottle of Halotron to replace 5lbs of Halon.
Also there are at least two distinct and different forms of Halon, 1211 and 1301 and even a blend of the two, my aircraft bottles I have on board are a blend of the two.
1301 is a wetting agent, sprays out wet like water I believe and 1211 is a gas, sort of like CO2

[model 10]

Interesting, So I have a 13lb 1211 on the boat. I have another just like it at home that I once used to put out an engine fire on my plane. It only took a small blast to put the fire out and the bottle is still in the green 12 years later. If the replacement fluid is is only half as good, that is probably good enough.

[paul2884]

Originally Posted by Djarraluda

Only in the US, options are simply not available elsewhere!
Most of the world is aware of the extreme long-lasting damage to the ozone layer caused by Halon and have banned it except in aircraft. No argument that it is efficient, but.......
To protect the environment and save the planet, make certain there is a safe replacement plan that includes recovery of the gas.
We removed ours and handed them all in for recycling many years ago.
Roger

Halon has been banned in europe for many years and if you have it on board in some european contries you are likley to be fined! dont you have an alternative in the US?

[ranger58sb]

Originally Posted by paul2884

Halon has been banned in europe for many years and if you have it on board in some european contries you are likley to be fined! dont you have an alternative in the US?

Yes, there are alternatives, fitted on new boats as they're built and as replacements when Halon systems are decommissioned -- but our law doesn't force immediate replacement of viable Halon systems.

-Chris

[a64pilot]

There are replacements, but none are as safe and as effective as Halon.
As soon as there is, I feel sure that Halon will no longer be required on aircraft. Yes, they are not only allowed, but required.
Halotron I think comes closest, but it’s only half as effective as Halon.
You can buy new Halon systems in the US, just as you can buy R12 refrigerant, but neither is allowed to be manufactured.
By still allowing it, it’s driven the price so high that it’s recaptured, cause you can sell it and make a nice profit, day it becomes outlawed, it will just be vented into the atmosphere because you can’t sell it anymore.

Wrecking yards never use to bother to recapture the refrigerant, the lines were just cut.
Of course now there aren’t many automobiles with R12 being junked anymore, probably very rare.

Just do a quick google on selling Halon, many will buy, and give you a good price too.

[Frank60]

If I were you, I'd be darn sure that the system is working. This isn't something to gamble with. Your boat and possibly your life may depend on it. Call the manufacturer's customer support line. They can help you figure that out.

I had a similar system but not Halon. It was something called FE 241. Anyway, the gauge showed that the pressure was low which meant that the nitrogen propellant that expels the fire retardant was low. So, even though it still had all of the fire retardant, it might not discharge fully. Again, I believe this isn't something to gamble with and spent the money to replace it as unfortunately it could not be recharged. I installed the new cylinder myself which seems scary but pretty simple.

If you still want to remove it, here's what you do. First cut that zip tie that's holding the wire to the cable so that it's not in the way. Remove that hitch pin. That will let you move the cable forward to provide slack and unhook the cable from the lever. Just be careful not to pull back as you're doing it. Then you can pull the cable back and fully remove it from the cylinder valve.

The wires should be going to an indicator on your dash with a light and audible warning that tells you if the system discharges. Cut those wires but be careful as one of them will be hot. It would obviously be better to turn off power, but it could be that the only way to turn off the power to this is by disconnecting your battery. For safety reasons, this is one of the things that is often hard wired to the battery and bypasses the breakers and battery switch. I wired mine hot and was just careful not to ground myself while connecting the wire.

Putting in the new cylinder is just reversing the process. If you don't get an identical replacement though, you could run into a problem with the cable fitting the new system. In my case, the cable was not adjustable and could not be modified with a MacGyver move. I'd suggest getting the same brand and talk to the manufacturer to make sure your old cable will work. You may need to order a 'right pull' or 'left pull' system.

Good luck.