Lifeline Fire System Question

[Shep]

Hello,

A while ago, I obtained a used electrically triggered fire extinguisher system for my CF and I'm finally at the point where I'll need to link everything up. Before I do that however, I want to make sure that A) I have everything I need, and B) that I can't connect things in such a way as to cause an unintended bottle discharge.

The system is a Lifeline Fire & Safety Ltd system with a "stubby" bottle, but there is no model number, etc. I have a power pack, the bottle, the nozzles and the harness. The harness is a three legged affair with two plugs and the actuation button. I would assume the two plugs connect the power pack to the bottle.

Questions:
1. How long does a power pack hold a charge and is there any way to recharge it? (Or must I buy a new one?)
2. Am I missing a power lead that connects the car battery to power pack (I can't see where it'd possibly connect, but I'll ask anyway)
3. Can someone with this (or a similar) system please explain the proper procedure to connect everything and then the procedure to "check" the system? There's a swith on the power pack that presumably has a position in which you press the firing button to check proper wiring. The last thing I want to do is press the firing button and have an accidental discharge of the bottle (that I couldn't get refilled according to the other post!)

Thanks,
Erik

[Tim FF19]

Shep,
You should contact Lifeline direct at www.lifeline-fire.co.uk or try Essex Racing at 770-889-4096. Essex is listed as a US importer of Lifeline. You are smart to be cautious about setting it off inadvertently, I've heard of it happening a couple of times.

Tim Dunn

[RussMcB]

Erik, if you're power pack is like mine, it holds a 9 volt battery which it uses for power. You do not connect it to any power source. Mine has a three-position toggle switch: Off/On/Test Battery. The Test Battery switch is a momentary toggle and will turn on the small light if the 9 volt battery is good. The On position means that if someone presses the (red?) actuater button (located in the wiring harness somewhere, not on the battery pack), the bottle's head will fire.

When you wire it to your car, you may want to put two actuator bottons in the system: one for the corner workers (near main roll hoop), and one on the dash where you can reach it.

Another important point: If you leave the battery pack in the Off position most of the time (a good idea), it is easy to forget to "arm" the system before you go onto the track. Try to come up with a fool proof way to remember to have the system ready when you need it. Please don't ask why I know this ...

Hope this helps.

Russ