Thunderbolt Help

[mkapsteve]

Hello, I am trying to get my hands on a thunderbolt with no blower or controls. (have no idea if single or 3 phase) But since there is no blower or controls what parts should I get to be able to fire it up?

[Lycanroc76]

I wouldn't recommend powering a thunderbolt straight from a power source (I think it might hurt the thunderbolt but I'm not positive.), so a controller would likely be necessary. As for the blower, thunderbolts are know to be very quiet without them. If you want to want to run the thunderbolt at full volume you should also get a blower.

[mkapsteve]

I am not worried about the blower because there are substitutes available. I think that getting a control box would be the more difficult part, because I live in Florida and there is not a place like West Shore Services near me.

[HudsonRiverSirens]

I am not worried about the blower because there are substitutes available. I think that getting a control box would be the more difficult part, because I live in Florida and there is not a place like West Shore Services near me.

Try eBay maybe? I found a couple but they’ll set you back at least $800

[tboltsiren599]

Hello, I am trying to get my hands on a thunderbolt with no blower or controls. (have no idea if single or 3 phase) But since there is no blower or controls what parts should I get to be able to fire it up?

West Shore Services is always an option if you're able, you can get a hornless Thunderbolt there for pretty cheap, if you get one with a horn, they're slightly higher in price. If you do manage to get a tbolt, you can power the chopper off a 120 volt cord.

[HDN]

I'd check the manual to determine what the power requirements are for the chopper and rotator and design some kind of control setup. I'd do something as simple as an on/off switches controlling relays with whatever electrical is needed for what they're controlling. I'd give the chopper, rotator, and blower their own switches.

I'm curious about modern blower replacements myself. I think I've seen some Thunderbolt owners on YouTube use a shop vac as a blower. But I'm pretty sure sizing a blower is more complicated than that - CFM, static pressure, other stuff... I guess it depends on what you can afford, what you have the electrical capacity for, and how loud you want your siren to be.

[mkapsteve]

Hello, I am trying to get my hands on a thunderbolt with no blower or controls. (have no idea if single or 3 phase) But since there is no blower or controls what parts should I get to be able to fire it up?

West Shore Services is always an option if you're able, you can get a hornless Thunderbolt there for pretty cheap, if you get one with a horn, they're slightly higher in price. If you do manage to get a tbolt, you can power the chopper off a 120 volt cord.

West shore would not be an option because i am located in Florida and a road trip is not in the books.