Federal Signal 500T Air Raid Siren on New Years eve/day

Please check that your speakers are turned all the way up to ensure the closest reproduction of the sirens audio ;^) Please don't, it's REALLY LOUD!


A few facts... The siren was rescued from a surplus equipment site. Weighs in at about 650Lbs, has a 10HP 3 phase motor and rotates at nearly 3600RPM.

The first part of the video is at the "location" where is was first fired up. Here we had access to the correct current requirements. 3 phase 240, and all the juice in the city. The siren takes just about 5 seconds from stop to full run.

Next, a "few" miles away, is where the siren was located for the new years festivities. After a brief tour of the site, we test the beast in the afternoon of December 31st to verify that the celebration would go off without a hitch.

At startup, the 500T and the phase converter draws 125Amps at 240 VAC. That was enough to dim the lights in the house and outside lighting (watch closely during startup). Even the main service disconnect at the meter buzzes just when the phase converter is started!

The siren was connected to an air conditioning electrical disconnect, thru a phase converter and then through its original control box. If you are not familiar with the technology, the phase converter 'creates' the third phase of a two phase supply. Most homes (and the air conditioning circuit that is outside) are only a 2 phase, 240VAC supply. The motor on the siren is 3 phase, thus the phase converter makes the third properly timed cycle for the motor to operate correctly.

After the testing, it was time for action! Having everything started up and ready to go, 2 atomic clocks and WWV on the radio, the three troublemakers knew when to wake the valley up and ring in the new year!!

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Federal
• Signal
• 500T
• Air
• Raid
• Siren
• New
• Year's
• Celebration

[minkyblack]

that was great! wish I lived close by to you guys...what year was that siren built?

[mrksvideos]

@minkyblack Not too sure, perhaps in the early to mid 1950's as the motor just has the appearance of old 50's styling. Let me find out.

[SODEMO2007]

When I served in the airforce they once lugged up a big ass air raid siren into our hall and let that fucker rip, people were pissing their pants and falling out of their beds left and right. We thought the fucking Russians had finally started attacking, those things are so fucking loud.

[1008962ify]

put it in the road and put a remote control on it... lol car comes by.......

[LNERMallard]

Wish I had one of these. I might be getting close to owning a Model 2, but those little buggers don't compare with this monster!

[AnalogRocks]

I like the power supply

[SuperUTBER]

@SODEMO2007 I bet it was a Chrysler-Bell lol

[Polybun]

@Daddybopper this queer got your mom. what?

[Daddybopper]

@Polybun You talk alot of shit for a little fag on the internet! Grow up queer boy!

[Polybun]

@Daddybopper so can your mom's face.

[Daddybopper]

These things can give people heart attacks!

[Schutzraumtechnik999]

@Jgardner2122 LOL I find the sound to be extremely calming (I guess I am just fucked up in the head that way), though I do feel better knowing I am not the only one XD

[Tough278]

when you were this siren you can just kiss your ass goodbye