ACA Howler System Recording

Went back to the Macon, GA ACA Howler to try and get a better video of it, but sadly the siren has been struck by lightning and is now dead. All different kinds of sirens in the background, including 2001-DCs (both old and new), 2001-SRNs, a 2001-130, a Thunderbolt 1000, and several Whelen Vortex-R4s.

EDIT: The Howler is fixed! I went by the siren today (5/22/09) and it has rotated about 180º since this recording, as there was another test between when this video was taken and now.

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• aca
• howler
• asc
• p-10
• p-15
• siren
• air
• raid
• cold
• war
• loud
• noise
• tornado
• severe
• storm
• warning
• outdoor
• american
• signal
• allerting
• communicators
• of
• america
• macon
• ga
• georgia
• murrfarms
• yt:stretch=16:9

[briefroboboy]

did you ever get video of the siren being hit by lightning? and if so, could you post it on youtube?

[murrfarms]

No, I actually have no idea when it did get hit. That's just what I was told that happened to it, and it also had a new middle transformer in the bank of them on the service pole feeding it and the old school building. Once we got the siren down, we did confirm that theory as the motor windings were burned in spots.

[jradms]

Hey Ian why were the sirens heard in this video tested on April 15th April 15th wasn't the last Wedesday of April

[murrfarms]

This was a special test that Bibb had conducted after a round of severe storms that warranted an activation, to be sure they were all still working, which (as you can see) quite a few were not. Just found out that this Howler has a dud motor now that Jeb's been able to get it apart and do some tests on it. Thought it was just the radio that went out originally (which it actually did) that caused them to want to remove it, but it turns out the motor was also at fault.

[Thewoog34]

I LOVE the Sentry 40v2t. Not only does it have the same 2/3 port ratio as the Cyclone, it has TWICE the sound output! Every jump in 3 decibles is twice the sound pressure, and since the Cyclone is 125 dB at 100 feet while the Sentry 40v2t is rated 129-130 dB at 100 feet. Ignore my last comment, Sentry sirens are VERY Efficient. The 40v2t-B has battery backup and only has 2 20 hp motors as opposed to 1 50 hp motor like the Cyclone. Truly a beast and the best siren made today!

[murrfarms]

Absolutely! Whelen makes great rotational electronic sirens (although their omnis aren't too much to speak of), and ASC is top dog in the mechanical siren market as far as efficiency and reliability goes. Sentry's not too bad either if you prefer an omni siren, they can be heard a long ways off due to their low tone. I've heard of the 16V1T-Bs being heard clearly from 8 miles out, mainly because the two 8-port rotors spinning at slightly different speeds don't cancel each other out.

[Thewoog34]

I'll take a whelen over any Federal siren anyday. Whelen and ASC are currently the 2 best siren manufacturers, with Sentry coming in third cause their sirens aren't very efficient.

[memommy3]

epic fail

[murrfarms]

Yep, because they're tired of Federal's shitty quality. The Whelens are much cheaper than the 2001s and a LOT cheaper than a Modulator. Plus they want rotational sirens, so a Modulator or omni Whelen would be out of the question, and they don't do voice so a 4000 would also be out of the question.

[jradms]

Hey Ian does Macons old sirens always get replaced by Whelen Vortex R4's