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Should You Have a Fire Extinguisher in Your Car?

So, you're cruising down the road with your friends, enjoying the breeze and the tunes when suddenly, you smell something that made you stop driving — smoke. Little did you know, you and your passengers are already in danger, as your ride starts to fire up, literally.

Car fires can occur unexpectedly, whether it’s from engine malfunctions, electrical faults, or even accidents. These fires can spread rapidly and engulf your entire vehicle, not just causing damage, but also putting you and your passengers at risk. But thankfully, there’s one effective measure that can protect you from these incidents – to equip your car with a fire extinguisher.

But, fire extinguishers are too big!

Right, conventional fire extinguishers are too big. These large, heavy cylinders of compressed gas filled with a messy powder are something that will definitely consume too much space in your car, plus, there's always a risk as these large cylinders bounce around. The good news is there’s already a solution for these fire extinguisher dilemmas – Lightweight and compact Element and BRK Electronics fire extinguishers.

Element Fire Extinguishers

Element Fire Extinguishers are designed to be compact and lightweight, making them easy to store and handle in various settings, including vehicles. Their size allows for convenient placement in your car without taking up too much space. Here are more reasons why you should have one:

Extended Discharge Time

Compared to other fire extinguishers, Element also offers an extended discharge time. In fact, their most popular model, the E50, provides 50 seconds of fire-fighting protection. This duration is significantly longer compared to standard fire extinguishers, giving you more time to suppress the fire effectively.

User-Friendly

We also love how user-friendly Element is. Remove the cap, remove the striker, scratch the striker, point at the fire, and you’re an instant firefighter! The steps are easy – after removing the cap, simply hold the black plastic handle and remove the bottom striker from its base.

You will need to scratch this striker along the tip of the main part of the extinguisher, so it starts the chemical reaction. From here, gas will immediately begin to flow from the tip of the Element extinguisher. Hold from the black plastic handle and point the flowing gas to the base of the fire until extinguished.

Overall, when using an Element fire extinguisher, you must start the flow of gas from the extinguisher, then approach the fire from a distance. Slowly work around first, directing the gas towards the center. The cloud of gas will cut off existing and new oxygen, extinguishing the fire, and preventing it from flaring up again.

Moreover, clear on the product itself will also guide you through this simple 4-step activation process, ensuring that you can use them effectively, even in stressful situations.

No Mess

Element's discharge gas is totally clean and will not leave any residue. During discharge, a chemical reaction does take place which occasionally expels a trace amount of soot from the casing. Even in the most extreme instance, the Element’s discharge is so minuscule compared to a traditional extinguisher that it is effectively non-existent!

Non-Toxic, Loves the Environment

Element Fire Extinguishers are also non-toxic and environmentally friendly. The substances they use for fire suppression are non-corrosive and safe for humans and the environment, ensuring that you can tackle fires effectively without posing additional risks.

However, although its discharge is safe to breathe, general safe practices are always recommended. The gas should also not be aimed at a person's face, or body.

Maintenance-Free

These extinguishers are built to be hassle-free. Element Fire Extinguishers don't have any moving parts or compressed gas that require regular servicing or maintenance, making them convenient and reliable for long-term use. Yes, the solid chemical that makes up the Element extinguisher has no effective expiration.

Weatherproof

Element has been tested to work effectively in temperatures from -140F to +320F. Its solid construction and no-moving parts make it unaffected by harsh environments, or even humidity. You can safely store it in damp and wet environments, provided that the yellow cap covering the tip stays present allowing the tip to remain dry.

Lastly, Tested and Certified

Originating in Italy, Element Fire Extinguishers have been certified by CE Europe, TUV, and the RINA maritime authority. In fact, multiple foreign military and police entities have also adopted it for active usage. This guarantees their quality, performance, and compliance with safety requirements, providing you with peace of mind when counting on them for fire protection.

Where will I put the Element Fire Extinguisher?

While the Element Fire Extinguisher is already rather compact, Element offers a large variety of different mounting options to make sure that it can fit discreetly in with your setup, no matter the vehicle.

Options include a Roll Bar Mount, Seat Rail Mount, Tactical strap/mount (for extreme environments), magnetic mount, and Quick Fist mount.

Beyond Car Extinguishers: What other options do I have?

While Element fire extinguishers are perfect in terms of portability, sometimes fires can get a bit too out of control, and it’s best to have a larger backup. Useful for a variety of incidents – whether you’re in the garage, in the kitchen, and even in your workspace! Say hello to BRK Electronics Fire Extinguishers.

BRK Electronics Fire Extinguishers

Founded in 1992, BRK Electronics is a globally renowned brand for residential safety products. The company’s mantra is to build products that save lives – including smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, heat alarms, and fire extinguishers to the highest standards. Suitable for automotive use, BRK boasts 3 fire extinguishers that, like Element, also values portability and long-term reliability.

BRK Electronics AUTO5: For Car Convenience

The BRK Electronics AUTO5 is tailor-made for vehicular protection. This compact fire extinguisher is designed to combat automobile fires effectively.The AUTO5’s distinguishing feature lies in its specialized nozzle, optimized for accurate targeting even in tight spaces within your car. With a focus on automotive applications, the AUTO5 offers a specialized solution for those seeking dedicated vehicle protection.

BRK Electronics GARAGE10: Heavy-Duty Defense for Your Garage

The BRK Electronics GARAGE10 steps up to address a different need – safeguarding your garage or workshop.

This heavy-duty fire extinguisher boasts a longer discharge time, a notable 10 seconds more than the AUTO5, making it suitable for tackling larger fires that might occur in a workshop environment. Its robust build and extended firefighting duration ensure that even the most stubborn blazes are effectively controlled.

When it comes to protecting your workspace, the GARAGE10 stands out as a reliable ally.

BRK Electronics Kitchen REC5: Customized Fire Safety for Your Kitchen

Apart from the garage, the kitchen is another hotspot for potential fires, demanding a unique firefighting solution.

Engineered to combat kitchen fires, the BRK Electronics Kitchen fire extinguisher is equipped with the right mix of suppression substances to tackle grease fires, electrical fires, and more. Its 5Bc rating signifies its capability to handle flammable liquid fires and energized electrical equipment fires. With its specialized design, the Kitchen REC5 ensures that the heart of your home remains protected from fire hazards.

Be Fire-Ready with Fire Extinguishers, now available at BlackboxMyCar!

With Element and BRK Electronics Fire Extinguishers, you can have peace of mind knowing you have an instant firefighter in case of an emergency. Element's emphasis on compactness, extended discharge time, and eco-friendliness makes it a strong choice for vehicle and general fire safety.


On the other hand, BRK Electronics caters to specific needs – AUTO5 for vehicles, GARAGE10 for workshops, and Kitchen REC5 for kitchens – showcasing their commitment to specialized fire protection. Whether you're on the road, at home, or in your workspace, these fire extinguishers are your dependable partners in fire safety. Protect yourself with Automotive Fire Extinguishers, and shop yours now only here at BlackboxMyCar!

 

How does the Cloud work in a Dash Cam?

Similar to how iCloud works for your Apple devices, Cloud for dash cams refers to the ability of the device to connect to the internet and store files in a virtual server.

Beyond securing your videos, the Cloud enables automatic backup and dash cam setting configuration through a smartphone app, or desktop software. It can also keep you in the know by sending real-time notifications when your car detects motion and impact, depending on the model. Want to check the dash cam’s view in real time even if you’re miles away? The Cloud makes it all possible with a tap.

Premium dash cam brands like Garmin, Nextbase, BlackVue and Thinkware come with a Cloud, but the functions and features are not the same. For Garmin and Nextbase, their Cloud primarily refers to virtual storage where files can be uploaded.

On the other hand, BlackVue and Thinkware deliver innovative features that make the dash cam experience fully convenient. Let’s check out each Cloud feature in Thinkware and BlackVue dash cameras.

What is Thinkware CONNECTED?

Thinkware dash cams are popular for the right reasons – sleek design, Super Night Vision (from 1.0 to 4.0), Energy Saving parking mode, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, safety camera alerts, and tested reliability in the long run. But on top of these features, one of the reasons why users love Thinkware is its Cloud Connectivity.

With the advanced Thinkware CONNECTED for the Q1000 and the all-new U3000, Thinkware dash cam users can access convenience features like Remote Live View, Strong Impact Notifications, Vehicle Status & Driving History, and Emergency SOS messages.

The Thinkware CONNECTED app can be downloaded from the Google Play or App Store. Best of all, the Thinkware CONNECTED is entirely free of charge - there is no tiered pricing.

Thinkware CONNECTED Features

Remote Live View

Whether your vehicle is in continuous driving mode or parking mode, the Cloud provides you with a remote live view straight to your mobile device. Helpful for checking in your vehicle, and seeing exactly what’s going on with it, in real-time.

With this feature, you receive crucial information from the dash cam – right there and then. If an impact is detected, the Thinkware dash cam will automatically send a notification to your phone. In the Thinkware CONNECTED app, you can view the full recording of the incident, safely stored on the cloud.

Strong Impact Notifications

Check Vehicle Status and Driving History

Now, if someone else is driving your car, this feature helps you check important information like where the vehicle is located. Beyond that, the Thinkware CONNECTED app provides a full history of where the vehicle has been, along with plenty of useful information on that.

You can also check the battery voltage, and even turn off the dash cam remotely if the battery voltage is low.

Geofencing

Apart from tracking the driving history, Thinkware CONNECTED is also equipped with a Geofencing feature. Through this, the Thinkware dash cam will send a push notification through the app if a vehicle enters or exits a preselected geographic zone. Moreover, the radius of the zone can be set easily by tapping on the Google Maps display and selecting the desired radius, from 100m all the way up to 600 km.

Emergency SOS Messages

In an emergency situation, if you are unable to notify your friends or colleagues yourself about what is going on, pressing the REC button on the dash cam for more than 3 secs will send an Emergency Message to your registered emergency contacts, informing them about the situation. A 20-sec video clip will also be uploaded to the server and can be viewed at a later time. This also occurs automatically when the camera detects a serious impact to the vehicle.

Who needs Thinkware CONNECTED?

Thinkware CONNECTED proves itself as a proper cloud service, a welcome upgrade over previous cloud iterations. Capable of keeping you in-the-know about all goings on at your vehicle while you’re away, or if someone else is driving.

With Thinkware CONNECTED, cloud connection relies on third-party hotspot devices. You can use your phone as a hotspot for your dash cam, but that would only work if you continue to keep your phone inside the vehicle, even after you've parked.

Because of that, the Cloud is also great for tracking the vehicle while it's on the road: geofencing, strong impact notifications, live GPS tracking. So, if you are a parent or a small business owner, then Thinkware Cloud and Thinkware CONNECTED can help you monitor your vehicle and driver(s) on the road. Now that’s efficient management!

How to provide a Thinkware Cloud connection

Before anything else, it’s important to find a stable internet source to use Thinkware CONNECTED seamlessly. The Thinkware dash cam can be connected to a smartphone hotspot, built-in-vehicle hotspot, or an external hotspot device which has an active data connection. If you have a dash cam battery pack like the BlackboxMyCar PowerCell 8, setting up the mobile hotspot will be easier with the battery’s 5V USB outlet.

 

Features of the BlackVue Cloud

Remote Live View

Similar to Thinkware, BlackVue is also equipped with a Remote Live View feature that gives you access to your dash cam recordings in real time. Whether through the BlackVue Web browser or the BlackVue app on your phone, you can access a real-time video feed from your Cloud-connected dashcam and swap easily between the front, rear or interior cameras.

This gives you on-the-spot access to the dash cam’s surroundings, while also allowing you to communicate with whoever’s driving or riding your vehicle through Two-Way Voice Communications. That’s right, you can talk through the camera with your phone! This is useful for fleet or when providing directions, as it works as a voice call but hands-free!

Instant Push Notifications

If ever something happens to your car, this feature enables your BlackVue dash cam to instantly inform you when an impact OR motion is detected. When an event is detected, your BlackVue will send a notification, accompanied by a snapshot to give you a better idea of the incident.

Remote Video Playback

Sure, your BlackVue may not prevent hit-and-runs. But if they happen, there is a good chance it will capture crucial video evidence through the Remote Video Playback feature. Through this, you can browse all the videos recorded by your BlackVue from your mobile phone or a web browser.

Live Event Upload

With Live Event Upload, your BlackVue can save Event videos in real-time to the Cloud. Not only does it start saving to the Cloud soon after impact, but it also includes the 5-second pre-impact footage.

GPS Tracking

Through the GPS feature, you can instantly visualize on a map your car’s location and speed. On the free plan, you can still access real-time information, but for a detailed history, the smart plan will store 7 days worth of data, and with the BlackVue Fleet pla, you can also access 90-days’ worth of GPS data.

Event Map

Suitable for all BlackVue dash cam owners, the Event Map feature combines data from the dash cam with a crowd-sourced map to display events such as impacts, hard brake incidents, and even playback videos, making it ideal for both fleet management and personal driving. With this Event Map, you can stay in the know about local road conditions, high accident areas, and the general experience of your local community.