Auth Electric Co fire alarm horn test

Here's a test of my 120VAC Auth Electric Co 1786-C fire alarm horn. I didn't want to push sounding the horn any longer than about 30 seconds as this was the 1st time I've done a decent test in my apartment sense moving in a year and 1/2 ago. No one even noticed, and my neighbor downstairs was home. This was mainly do to the volume of the horn. As you'll see especially torwards the end of the vid, I had my decibel meter out to see just how loud it was. I got at the camera, which was about 3 feet away, 92db, and 102db right at the mouth of the horn's projector. I didn't need to use ear protection even next to the horn while it was sounding. Now I did disassemble it the other day to try to get it to sound like it did when I 1st got it (I cleaned it out the 1st month I had it). The sound did improve somewhat, but not fully. I think this maybe the way it was suspose to sound, and over the years from tests/drills/activations, dust ect caused it's sound to smooth out. I did shot some video while I opened it up this past time which I'll post later this week.

in the mean time enjoy

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• auth
• electric
• co
• company
• fire
• alarm
• horn
• buzzer
• decibel
• meter
• projector
• drill
• test
• school
• classic
• old
• antique

[bi0boy]

If the projectorless version of this is the same as a Standard 30A (or so I think), how could the 30A be so much louder than this? I had those Standards in part of my middle school, and they were WAAAAAY louder than 92 dB at 3 feet. I'd say they were at least 100 dB at 10 feet. This Auth doesn't have a volume screw, does it?

[Federal3t22]

@bi0boy I haven't found one. I suspect the way the inside of the projector is designed dampens the sound somewhat as I've heard people say 30As are real loud.

[coffeeandsugar20]

Was that a DB meter at 0:22?

[Federal3t22]

yup. I only got 102db right at the mouth of the horn, which is as loud as my NiB Vibratone 350 at 10ft. This is the only on of my AC horns I can set off without wearing hearing protection.

[coffeeandsugar20]

How much did the db meeter cost? Also, it's good you wear earplugs in other vids. I know a lot of people on here who test alarms like this and the 4040 and don't wear hearing protection. I think I've lost a little bit of my hearing, too.

[Federal3t22]

I lost a bit of my hearing 7 years ago after getting way to close to a Federal 3T22 siren sounding for 5 minutes. As for the db meter, it cost me around $20 at Radio Shack. They sell 2 models, analog, which is cheaper, but harder to read, less sensitive, and not as accurate, and digital which is what I have and would recomend. It has a range of 70db-125db which is plenty for getting a good reading on any alarm.

[bi0boy]

@Federal3t22 Oh okay. That would make sense. Yes 30As are deafening loud. U-MMTs in Continuous Horn are nothing compared to them

[manidig]

Auth made the clock and fire systems in one of the classroom buildings at my college. That fire alarm system had bells.

[youngestpilotinGa]

i got a hor today just like that made by champion siren that has the exzact same sound that is the way its suppost to sound i think

[Federal3t22]

it's the oddest looking one I have. The dual projector verson looked very odd too, kind of had a horseshoe look to it.