Kendallville, IN 2001-130 Accident.

[Josh_S]

It might have something to do with the way the head is supported internally. The older ones had a support bracket that used to span across the chopper's mouth and connect to the "chopper tube" from the Thunderbolt. The tube itself would sit right in front of the intake. This in combination of the shorter back probably introduced some turbulence issues and inhibited airflow which is probably what bottle-necked the third generation SRN and SRNB to 128 dB. When they made the back longer they shortened the bracket and placed the chopper higher up so the tube wouldn't be in the way - might be the reason 130s and Equinoxes have a hard time holding their pitch in high winds. The longer back probably puts a little more weight onto the head causing them to have a slight lean. Other than that they are pretty much the same. I haven't noticed much of any lean on the older ones around here, but I never payed that much detail to the heads. The one above probably had it's support bracket bracket break from the shock of the impact.

Inside of the SRN. All of them from the "Roundback" to the SRNB were built this way. Credit to Jeb M.


The inside of the 130. I suspect the Equinox looks identical to this, just with an Eclipse rotor in place of the Model 3's rotor. Credit to Christopher J.

The Equinox probably has a 8 port model 3 rotor. The model 3 was available in an 8 port version so that is probably what is used. The difference between a 3 rotor and an Eclipse rotor is that an Eclipse rotor has fan blades on it and a model 3 rotor does not.

I have been told that the Eclipse rotor is literally the ASC curved-vane rotor. Not sure if it's purchased from ASC or copied, but more than likely purchased.

[Tyler]

I don't understand why Federal did it like that anyway. It does more harm like that than it does leaving it the other way at 128dbc, because of leaning and being much more top heavy. If they would've just made that tube shorter in the older models, it probably would have been fine. This way the 2001 would look good, wouldn't be so top heavy, and wouldn't have such a pitch problem.

Honestly, I like the 2001, the SRN*B is my favorite in fact. I just hate the 130, because of these stupid mistakes that in reality, make the 130 look and function cheaply compared to the older ones. If its windy, then the 130 is going to struggle like heck to keep pitch and carry its sound. The older, more compact ones tend to hold their pitch very well in bad conditions.

[Minnesota2T22]

Ouch.

[DJ2226]

I have been told that the Eclipse rotor is literally the ASC curved-vane rotor. Not sure if it's purchased from ASC or copied, but more than likely purchased.

They source the rotors from the same manufacturer IIRC.

The Equinox probably has a 8 port model 3 rotor. The model 3 was available in an 8 port version so that is probably what is used. The difference between a 3 rotor and an Eclipse rotor is that an Eclipse rotor has fan blades on it and a model 3 rotor does not.

It's an Eclipse rotor. If it were the Model 3's 8 port rotor it would sound more raspy and have an undertone like the 12 port one because of the 4 longer vanes. Both choppers have 4 longer vanes, so they both have a similar sounding undertone even though they run at different pitches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egvsAADpwdQ
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S20nueFEkZU

[Stormsetter4]

I don't understand why Federal did it like that anyway. It does more harm like that than it does leaving it the other way at 128dbc, because of leaning and being much more top heavy. If they would've just made that tube shorter in the older models, it probably would have been fine. This way the 2001 would look good, wouldn't be so top heavy, and wouldn't have such a pitch problem.

Honestly, I like the 2001, the SRN*B is my favorite in fact. I just hate the 130, because of these stupid mistakes that in reality, make the 130 look and function cheaply compared to the older ones. If its windy, then the 130 is going to struggle like heck to keep pitch and carry its sound. The older, more compact ones tend to hold their pitch very well in bad conditions.

Nothing is wrong with the 2001-130, the structural integrity of the siren is prefectly fine. Any siren would be damaged pretty badly from a car impact such as that. 2910's and Vortexes have been hit before and they have literally snapped in half and fell off the pole.

[4J25]

This DC was hit pretty hard, yet the head's integrity minus the projector seemed to hold together decently well. That's not so say that the insides weren't mashed to bits though.

[Tyler]

I don't understand why Federal did it like that anyway. It does more harm like that than it does leaving it the other way at 128dbc, because of leaning and being much more top heavy. If they would've just made that tube shorter in the older models, it probably would have been fine. This way the 2001 would look good, wouldn't be so top heavy, and wouldn't have such a pitch problem.

Honestly, I like the 2001, the SRN*B is my favorite in fact. I just hate the 130, because of these stupid mistakes that in reality, make the 130 look and function cheaply compared to the older ones. If its windy, then the 130 is going to struggle like heck to keep pitch and carry its sound. The older, more compact ones tend to hold their pitch very well in bad conditions.

Nothing is wrong with the 2001-130, the structural integrity of the siren is prefectly fine. Any siren would be damaged pretty badly from a car impact such as that. 2910's and Vortexes have been hit before and they have literally snapped in half and fell off the pole.

The structural integrity of the 130s actually aren't as good as that of the previous generations, and this is a good example of it. There was a thread about an SRN that was hit by a car and it didn't do that, the pole fell over and damaged the projector and the motor I think. The head didn't fall forward like that before falling over. 130s are signifangantly top heavy compared to the previous SRN*B, and have a greater chance of leaning forward over time, because of lack of support that the previous models had, as well as the thin sheet metal settling and warping. They also have a greater chance of doing something like that above if struck by a car or whatever.

[DJ2226]

I think the shock from the impact caused the support bracket to snap, however sirens are mostly built to handle intense winds rather than shock and direct head impact. Even if they are somewhat top heavy I'm sure Federal had them tested in a wind chamber, which is where the majority of concern is when it comes to these things surviving the elements. If it would have fallen apart there they would have never made it onto a pole. Manufacturers know that accidents happen from time to time, which is why these things have insurance policies and warranties like cars, phones, computers, etc. More than likely this one will be covered under some type of policy by the vendor and Federal and will be replaced without costing too many pretty pennies.