Cincinnati Metropolitan Area Sirens

[carexpertandy]

The Tbolt on Welch Elementary in Pleasant Run is also a 1000T.

Jason, how do you know that?

[Jpressman8]

My son lives over that way. Says he can hear it when it goes off. Could not tell you the chopper setting though. He is into sirens also.

[carexpertandy]

My son lives over that way. Says he can hear it when it goes off. Could not tell you the chopper setting though. He is into sirens also.

Oh ok. Unless the Whitaker TBolt had its chopper replaced twice(1st being a 1000T, converted to a 1000, now a 1000T again), I don't understand how Springfield Twp's 1st 4 sirens were 1 single-toned and 3 dual-toned ones when that single-toned one can also be purchased as a dual-toned siren.

[Jpressman8]

It's been 10 years since the April 99 F4 hit the Montgomery/ Blue Ash area. Since then there has been a push for more modern and efficient siren replacements in Hamilton County.Federal grant money for Hamilton County siren replacements is close at hand.Nothing against F.S. ,but I hope Werden Electric gets the winning bid. I'd like to see Hamilton County keep labor and revenue within within the county locally. The T-128 has rotation sensors and battery charge monitors that come standard that can send failure info back to the main control office to notify EMA of a failure. Just from comparing the specs of the T-128 and 2001-130 from F.S. and A.S.C. 's websites it appears that the 2001-130 does not come standard with this technology. What do you local guys think?

[Oldiesmann]

I spent some time looking at the Hamilton County Siren Survey CD that Clayton gave to those of us who were there on Saturday. Lots of interesting info in there.

For those who don't have it, or haven't looked at it yet, apparently back in 2002, the Hamilton County EMA had ASC come out and record information about each of the sirens in the system - photographs, condition, model info, etc.

Some of the interesting tidbits:
The Elizabethtown siren is a Model 7.

Evendale used to have a 2t22 (since replaced by a 2001 in a nearby park).

The Thunderbolts were apparently installed in "batches" - several were installed in the 50s, several were installed in 1980, etc.

The funniest incorrect detail I've spotted so far:
The survey lists that the TBolt on the federal courthouse downtown is 346 feet off the ground, but the building is only 110 feet tall.

[Thunderboltlover]

Actually to my knowledge 2001's also have rotation sensors. They have a voltmeter or similar device wired in the control cabinet that senses whether or not it is getting a complete circuit (positive to the rotator motor, common wire that acts as a negative back to the control cabinet for the rotator and chopper motor.

2001's also sense intrusion into a control cabinet or battery cabinet, AC power status, charger status, and battery voltage (low voltage warning, cutoff is 41 VDC for when the siren will shut off and stay shut off).

You have to have two-way radio cabinets and the main transmitter must be 2-way with a readout display to actually utilize these functions

[Jpressman8]

Actually to my knowledge 2001's also have rotation sensors. They have a voltmeter or similar device wired in the control cabinet that senses whether or not it is getting a complete circuit (positive to the rotator motor, common wire that acts as a negative back to the control cabinet for the rotator and chopper motor.

2001's also sense intrusion into a control cabinet or battery cabinet, AC power status, charger status, and battery voltage (low voltage warning, cutoff is 41 VDC for when the siren will shut off and stay shut off).

You have to have two-way radio cabinets and the main transmitter must be 2-way with a readout display to actually utilize these functions

Exactly ,but they don't come as standard equipment though and if it does they don't mention that in specs sheet or I missed it. The Federal system is not compatable with the system that is already in place. That is a hidden additional cost from Federal. Another note the T-128 has a 500hz frequency where the 2001-130 has 785hz frequency even though the db rating on the 2001-130 is roughly 1.1 db higher the T-128 will carry sound farther. This is why fog horns have a low frequency to penetrate heavy fog. Db ratings are irrelevant after a certain distance. I really believe that the Db ratings are just a sales tool as most people would not pay attention to Hz frequencies.

[carexpertandy]

Evendale used to have a 2t22 (since replaced by a 2001 in a nearby park).

Forest Park had 2T22s as well, but were also replaced with 2001s.

[SIRENMAN]

With the bid that was turned in each company had to supply an independent test report with the siren they were bidding. Federal tests there siren in a chamber with a microphone hanging 10 feet away and then they extrapilate the information to get the db rating. This is against ANSI Standards of testing sirens.

The test results say the Federal siren is rated at 126 to 128db I have a copy.

Federal Signal in the 80's was sanctioned by the FTC for bad business practices, price fixing and the list goes on.[/b]

[Thunderboltlover]

Actually to my knowledge 2001's also have rotation sensors. They have a voltmeter or similar device wired in the control cabinet that senses whether or not it is getting a complete circuit (positive to the rotator motor, common wire that acts as a negative back to the control cabinet for the rotator and chopper motor.

2001's also sense intrusion into a control cabinet or battery cabinet, AC power status, charger status, and battery voltage (low voltage warning, cutoff is 41 VDC for when the siren will shut off and stay shut off).

You have to have two-way radio cabinets and the main transmitter must be 2-way with a readout display to actually utilize these functions

Exactly ,but they don't come as standard equipment though and if it does they don't mention that in specs sheet or I missed it. The Federal system is not compatable with the system that is already in place. That is a hidden additional cost from Federal. Another note the T-128 has a 500hz frequency where the 2001-130 has 785hz frequency even though the db rating on the 2001-130 is roughly 1.1 db higher the T-128 will carry sound farther. This is why fog horns have a low frequency to penetrate heavy fog. Db ratings are irrelevant after a certain distance. I really believe that the Db ratings are just a sales tool as most people would not pay attention to Hz frequencies.

Thanks, Jason. That's exactly why my username is "Thunderboltlover", because the t-bolts are a bit "quieter" than some other sirens, but they have the changeable chopper voltage/pitch, which is why I think they're superior to the 2001's. We have 2001's in my city that work great, but they can't penetrate like the thunderbolts can.

Nothing against ASC, but the 2001's are great sirens also. They saved lives in a recent tornado warning, alerting people before the tornadoes came and ripped apart several houses.

I really do not like any of the newer sirens, I like thunderbolts, 2t22's, etc (all CD sirens from FSC)

I'm not trying to say the 2001's are better than any other siren, I'm just saying they are a good siren and a reliable siren.

I get that frequency is a very important thing, and that's one of the reasons the t-bolt is my favorite siren