Comments on: Fire Protection http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/ A geek's thoughts on various stuff Wed, 07 Jan 2009 00:15:13 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: killswtch http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-761 killswtch Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:22:45 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-761 Thanks Dave. What have you done so far with your projects? I'm ok on the computer hardware front for now - been programming and building computers for many years. I can offer my ideas and help to anyone who asks. I will look into setting up a contact form on this site so that contacting me is a little easier. Thanks Dave. What have you done so far with your projects?

I’m ok on the computer hardware front for now - been programming and building computers for many years.

I can offer my ideas and help to anyone who asks. I will look into setting up a contact form on this site so that contacting me is a little easier.

]]> By: killswtch http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-760 killswtch Mon, 21 Apr 2008 21:18:55 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-760 Hi Matt. Wow, it's a miracle I've found someone else! These bits of kit seem quite rare since I think the company that originally manufactured them went bust (as far as I can tell). I could really do with an instruction manual to figure out why the alarm in mine goes off constantly - I would prefer to have a working alarm than a disconnected one since I don't want to be asleep when it goes off, whether it is harmful or not. I guess it could be a symptom of a low battery, so since its had a while to charge maybe I'll take it out of the rack and see if the 15v across the siren terminals is still there. Hi Matt. Wow, it’s a miracle I’ve found someone else! These bits of kit seem quite rare since I think the company that originally manufactured them went bust (as far as I can tell).

I could really do with an instruction manual to figure out why the alarm in mine goes off constantly - I would prefer to have a working alarm than a disconnected one since I don’t want to be asleep when it goes off, whether it is harmful or not.

I guess it could be a symptom of a low battery, so since its had a while to charge maybe I’ll take it out of the rack and see if the 15v across the siren terminals is still there.

]]> By: Dave http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-759 Dave Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:59:48 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-759 Very interesting project. I am into home automation and slowly trying to do what your doing. If you need any help etc with PC hardware then I may be able to help there. Do you offer help and advise in what your doing, if so please email me. Dave. Very interesting project.
I am into home automation and slowly trying to do what your doing.
If you need any help etc with PC hardware then I may be able to help there.
Do you offer help and advise in what your doing, if so please email me.

Dave.

]]> By: Matt Miles http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-758 Matt Miles Mon, 21 Apr 2008 20:10:18 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-758 Hi! Just found your site via AutomatedHome.com and to my surprise you have the same FPU as me! I also bought mine on eBay a while back (at least a couple of years)... As far as FM200 goes, it works quite cleverly... The reason it has to be in the top 2U of space is because it releases and forms a layer of gas which is heavier than air. This works its way down the rack (assuming it can't escape) and blankets any fire it may find on its way down (thus starving the fire of oxygen). Well, that's the theory anyway! I've never had the misfortune of being in a situation where mine has gone off, but the siren is loud enough to wake the dead! This happens even if you pull mains power and leave it to run on its inbuilt battery (it 'bips' every 30 seconds or so). Nice piece of kit, never got a manual with mine, but the lights are green and the FM200 canister is ok so I know I can sleep a little bit safer at night! And you're right - it is non-toxic. It was designed to replace systems that used Halon gas. Its also more environmentally friendly as a side note! Congrats with the ZDnet competition! Matt Hi!

Just found your site via AutomatedHome.com and to my surprise you have the same FPU as me! I also bought mine on eBay a while back (at least a couple of years)…

As far as FM200 goes, it works quite cleverly… The reason it has to be in the top 2U of space is because it releases and forms a layer of gas which is heavier than air. This works its way down the rack (assuming it can’t escape) and blankets any fire it may find on its way down (thus starving the fire of oxygen). Well, that’s the theory anyway!

I’ve never had the misfortune of being in a situation where mine has gone off, but the siren is loud enough to wake the dead! This happens even if you pull mains power and leave it to run on its inbuilt battery (it ‘bips’ every 30 seconds or so).

Nice piece of kit, never got a manual with mine, but the lights are green and the FM200 canister is ok so I know I can sleep a little bit safer at night!

And you’re right - it is non-toxic. It was designed to replace systems that used Halon gas. Its also more environmentally friendly as a side note!

Congrats with the ZDnet competition!

Matt

]]> By: killswtch http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-757 killswtch Mon, 21 Apr 2008 17:22:03 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-757 Thanks for the warning, although my research at the time of buying indicated that FM200 doesn't work by oxygen deprevation and is therefore safe to use where people are present. Apparently it's used as the propellant in asthma inhalers. Thanks for the warning, although my research at the time of buying indicated that FM200 doesn’t work by oxygen deprevation and is therefore safe to use where people are present. Apparently it’s used as the propellant in asthma inhalers.

]]> By: Theo http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-754 Theo Mon, 21 Apr 2008 07:55:03 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-754 Hmmmm. FM200 works through oxygen deprivation - it smothers the fire. Might want to make sure you have enough ventilation in that room to clear away the FM200 in a couple of minutes, or it's not the toxicity you will be worried about!!! Hmmmm.

FM200 works through oxygen deprivation - it smothers the fire. Might want to make sure you have enough ventilation in that room to clear away the FM200 in a couple of minutes, or it’s not the toxicity you will be worried about!!!

]]> By: killswtch http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-692 killswtch Mon, 07 Apr 2008 17:49:47 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-692 FM200 is non-toxic so hopefuly no harm will come of a discharge. FM200 is non-toxic so hopefuly no harm will come of a discharge.

]]> By: David http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/comment-page-1/#comment-691 David Mon, 07 Apr 2008 07:54:14 +0000 http://www.killswtch.net/2008/04/06/fire-protection/#comment-691 If that thing mis-fires silently while your sleeping aren't you at risk of poisoning yourself?! If that thing mis-fires silently while your sleeping aren’t you at risk of poisoning yourself?!

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