Whelen 4004 or Vortex

[TSMaster5150]

This siren is located at Station 20 in downtown Howell. I couldn't get very close to it since there was people outside.


Close up
From behind
Controls

[bigloudnoise]

Looks like a 4004 to me, because the rotator motor is round. To the best of my knowledge, the Vortex uses a larger square/rectangular rotator motor.

[uncommonsense]

As far as I know, the only way to tell the difference is between the control boxes.

The Vortex Control box is one giant compartment (Whelen's Type I) that houses both the electronics and the batteries (image credit: Brent Wilcox):




The 4004 uses a split compartment that separates the battery compartment and the electronics (Whelen's Type II box) (credit to Mid-States Communications):



That being said, judging by the width of the boxes on that siren, its a 4004.

P.S. As far as I know, the rotator mechanism on Whelens was changed to incorporate a beltless mechanism into the rotator, and has nothing to do with the model of the siren, just the newness. My evidence is in this:


http://www.whelen.com/install/136/13602.pdf

[ACAP10]

I always thought you could tell the difference by the projector horn. The 4004 series has a raised rectangular "bump" on the sides of the projector, whereas the Vortex doesn't. It has more of a raised outline near the mouth of the siren. Maybe not?

[Alasiren1977]

Those are all true. The WPS-4004 has a round, or cylinder shaped motor device the protrudes from the side of the rotator box. They also have a rectangular shaped imprint on the sides of the horn, as well as the control box is a bigger because the battery compartment is split from the control area.

This is a great picture! I like the pole as well. I alway like to see a siren mounted on a concrete or metal pole versus a wood pole.

[holler]

Most of the older belt drive whelens had a find on the back also. Not sure if all the belt drive models did though.

[coyoteunknown]

Most of the older belt drive whelens had a find on the back also. Not sure if all the belt drive models did though.

I love that fin. I wonder what it's technically called? I always called it a wind deflector. Here's an image for those unknown to it.



Though if it were a wind deflector, it doesn't work well as shown in this Judsonia, AR siren test:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kFi5HckXWJM

[kswx29]

I remeber someone saying the "Fin" was a weight or something.

[coyoteunknown]

I remeber someone saying the "Fin" was a weight or something.

Is the fiberglass horns really that heavy, though? Aren't those drivers and metal plate in the back where all the actual weight is at?

[NFRANGA]

By the angle of it, it looks like a Vortex


Photo: Newark's R3 Vortex