The Stixx Pro fire extinguishing system from Maus is specially designed for switch cabinets or cabinets with electrical installations. The rod-shaped extinguisher is vaguely reminiscent of a Lego brick and should simply be stuck to a flat surface. The Stixx Pro is automatically activated by heat. Above 180 degrees Celsius, it emits potassium smoke, which smothers the flames. The solid of the MAUS Stixx series is based on a potassium compound. Potassium radicals are highly reactive and interrupt the combustion reaction by neutralising hydrogen, oxygen and hydroxide radicals in the flames. As aerosols consist of tiny particles in a gas mixture, it is said to be a more effective extinguishing agent than conventional powder.
The extinguishing agent is non-toxic and leaves no residue. In contrast to powder extinguishers, whose extinguishing agent causes major damage to electronics in particular, the Maus Stixx Pro is designed to extinguish without causing damage.
The Stixx Pro measures 9.8 centimetres in length, 1.8 centimetres in width and just 1.0 centimetre in height. It weighs just 26 grams. This extinguishing system is therefore extremely compact and can simply be stuck over the area to be protected. One Stixx Pro should be able to protect a volume of 0.1 cubic metres. This corresponds to a box measuring 100 x 50 x 20 centimetres. For larger fuse boxes, several Stixx Pro mice can be installed next to each other. Once installed, they will last five years maintenance-free.
The great advantage of the Stixx Pro is that it is automatically extinguished when the temperature exceeds 180 degrees Celsius. This means that incipient fires are extinguished before they are even noticed or even when nobody is on board. At the same time, this can also have the disadvantage at night that a malfunction with fire development may go unnoticed. No alarm is triggered. A smoke detector can therefore be a very useful addition here. Maus also has a smoke detector in its range that can send a push notification to a smartphone in addition to an acoustic signal (provided Wi-Fi is available).
The Maus Stixx Pro costs 90 euros with shipping. The smoke detector costs 81 euros.
