This subject was a pretty long thread some time back (but what wasn't)...?
At the time I gave some thought to the kinds of triggers they use in
restaurant fire suppression systems. These things hold a trigger wire under
pressure, and they melt really quickly at whatever temp they're designed
for, usually about 650 F- it's essentially a kind of fusible link. Rigging a
similar system would be problematic to say the least, but doable.
Something else that occurred to me about these links- what if one was used
to complete an isolated ground to the fuel pump? That way if there was a
fire, the link (assuming it is conductive, have to check that out) would
melt and cut off the current to the fuel pump, limiting the available fuel
to whatever was in the engine circuit. It wouldn't prevent the fire (have to
rely on proper maintenance mostly for that, I think), but it would stop the
delivery of additional fuel, eliminating the flamethrower effect.
Thoughts?

Cya,
Robert

----- Original Message -----
From: "John Brush" <vanagonvw@GMAIL.COM>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Friday, March 03, 2006 12:52 PM
Subject: Re: Burnt Vanagon of the Week

> Still waiting for the more highly motivated and skilled among us to come
> up
> with a detector that would mount in the engine compartment, or on
> underside
> of the rear deck lid, that would monitor for flames, or an unusual
> increase
> in  heat output.
>
> Obviously, the fuel needs to be cut off, and the occupants notified  as
> soon
> as possible. By the time one sees the flames through the deck, or out the
> bottom, its probably too late.
>
> I know it could be done. Exactly how, is up for debate :-)
>
> John