Questions about the 4/5 Thunderbolt and the System 7000

[System 7000]

I have a few questions about the Thunderbolt and System 7000:

1. When was the Thunderbolt available in a 4/5 port configuration? Was this port arrangement available as an optional alternative to the 5/6 arrangement, or was it standard at one point? Were there any advantages to the 4/5 port configuration as opposed to the standard 5/6?
2. As far as I understand it, the Federal AF Timer used on FS?s three-signal models had an Alert, Attack and Fire setting, with the default signal for Fire being Steady Hi-Lo. You could also re-wire the controller to give a Pulsed Steady, Hi-Lo Wail or Pulsed Wail if you wanted, which would then be activated by the Fire button. Is this correct?
3. The System 7000 Model 7026 (using a Thunderbolt 1003 head) used a special timer (I don't know its model name) which had an individual setting for all six signals. Were these timers available as a separate part? Does anyone have any images or specifications of this timer?
4. Are there any System 7000 sirens still in service in the US or in the rest of the world? Do any even survive?

Thanks for any replies!

Regards,
Jerry.

[500 AT fan]

1. Think it was around 1970's, stopped by at least 1980. And not all 1000Ts from this time were 4-5, too. Only advantage is that it sounds different from the 5-6 ones.

4. Doubt it.

[ver tum]

There are some System 7000's still in service today, but none that I know of in the US. Here are some that I know of sounding for an airraid warning.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPyMcScnOaE&fmt=18

About the 4/5 port 1000T, it's possible that the first A series 1000T's came with this port configuration as the standard port configuration. The reason I say this is because all but one of Miniapolis, MN'sTBolts are 4/5 port 1000T's, and most of them are A series units. I also believe that someone on YouTube that used to be a member here has an A series TBolt head which has the 4/5 port rotor. I may be wrong about this though.

Concerning the advantages of the 4/5 port rotor over the 5/6 port rotor, you can get lower pitches out of it, which can carry for longer distances, and if I'm not mistaking, I believe that since the 4 port part of the rotor has bigger ports, it would be a little louder, maybe a half DB louder than the 5/6 port version. The one I recorded last June seemed louder than any 5/6 port Thunderbolt I've ever recorded, and that particular TBolt can be heard exceptionally clear from 5 miles away. If I'm wrong on any of this, I'll leave it to the experts to clear it up.

[500 AT fan]

I believe that someone on YouTube that used to be a member here has an A series TBolt head which has the 4/5 port rotor. I may be wrong about this though.

I wouldn't listen to what random people say on there. They often have no proof to back up their claims.

I've heard an earlier A series 1000T in person, and it was 5-6 port. It's interesting how none of the Federal manuals mention a 4-5 1000T.

[JasonC]

It's probably just what they had available around the factory at the time. Why cast more 5/6 rotors if you have plenty of 5/4 rotors for 2T's readily available?

[holler]

I think charles murray's tbolt has a 4/5 chopper, I might be wrong though.

The other person you are talking about just stuck a Darley 2T in the chopper housing of a 1970's A2 series tbolt. That siren was originally a 5/6.

[Thunderboltlover]

I think charles murray's tbolt has a 4/5 chopper, I might be wrong though.

You would be correct.

[SouthDakotaBoy2009]

1003's "Fire" signal came from the FS factory in Alternating Wail signal (High Low Wail) as standard.

When you ordered it, you had to tell them (FS) that you needed one of the other Alternate "Fire" Signals & they would make so, or you could do it yourself, just follow the instructions (and study the manual diagrams ) on the manual for this modification.

[System 7000]

1003's "Fire" signal came from the FS factory in Alternating Wail signal (High Low Wail) as standard.

When you ordered it, you had to tell them (FS) that you needed one of the other Alternate "Fire" Signals & they would make so, or you could do it yourself, just follow the instructions (and study the manual diagrams ) on the manual for this modification.

I was looking at the 3T22 manual earlier, so I pretty much understand how to set up the AF Timer and wire the RCM6 differently for Hi-Lo Steady, Hi-Lo Wail, Pulsed Steady and Pulsed Wail (well, better than I did earlier, anyway).

But how do you set whether or not it will keep operating the solenoids on the wind down? The tone diagrams in some of the manuals show it continuing to alternate on the wind down, like Alternate Wail on the EOWS, and some show it alternating on the wind up and full RPM, and then winding down conventionally, like most of the 1003 recordings on the Internet.

Regards,
Jerry.

[JasonC]

Replace the fire cam with one that doesn't have notches cut in it like the wail cam.