Modulators, Omni-Directional Whelens, and the ASC I-Force

[carexpertandy]

The iForce has 5 different models: STi-800, STi-1600, STi-2400, STi-3200, STi-4000. The number I'm pretty sure explain the number of watts per cell, but I'm not sure how many drivers. Here's how some models compare with the 2900s and Modulators:

118 dB-STi-1600 uses 1600 watts, and the MOD4016 also uses 1600 watts, so for efficiency, these are equal.

121 dB-STi-2400 uses 2400 watts, MOD6024 uses 2400 watts, and WPS2904 uses 1600 watts, so for efficiency, the 2904 is best.

126 dB-STi-3200 uses 3200 watts, and WPS2907 uses 2800 watts, so for efficiency, the 2907 is best.

128 dB-STi-4000 uses 4000 watts, and WPS2909 uses 3600 watts, so for efficiency, the 2909 is best.

It seems like Whelens even beat ASC for efficiency in Omni-Directional electronic sirens.

[holler]

The whelen tone makes their sirens superior toany other electronic on the market. Mods running in alert are pathetic, and i-farce doesn't seem any better.

[sirenita]

I'm in between a whelen 2810, a thunderbolt, and some i-forces. I don't believe I've heard the i-forces yet (I think they may have been installed after our last tornado warning) but it will be interesting to hear if they can drown out the other two.

[AQHort]

So from this information, one can conclude that Modulators and I-Forces are roughly equal in efficiency while the Whelen 2900 series is more efficient than both for the most part. I also believe from a sound standpoint that the 2900s carry much farther than its other omni-directional counterparts. That's most likely due to it's lower pitch I would assume.

[t-bolt82]

I'm in between a whelen 2810, a thunderbolt, and some i-forces. I don't believe I've heard the i-forces yet (I think they may have been installed after our last tornado warning) but it will be interesting to hear if they can drown out the other two.

Are you able to make video or audio recordings, maybe on the next test day??

[sirenita]

unfortunately, on test days I'm at work in another county and it's too far to try and make it on my lunch break

[SirenMadness]

I think Whelen chooses a single driver per cell to eliminate possible cancellation of sound coming out of four different channels, which is probably why the WPS is more efficient than a Mod. And on the topic of maintenance, I'd rather repair a Whelen omni than a Mod; remember that Whelen has the EZ Pull driver that you simply pull out of there, while on a Mod you have to unscrew the panels on the cell. Neither the Whelen or Federal have a frequent history of needing repairs to my knowledge, so a repair on the Whelen wouldn't drain too much extra money in the long run. In the end, with their lower frequency, the Whelen would be my choice, regardless of whether it has voice or not, voice being pretty useless in most city environments.

[uncommonsense]

Completely off the subject of efficiency is the fact that Whelens are built top to bottom in the USA. When large sums of public money are being spent, its still nice to know some of this money is staying right here.

Community Professional Loudspeakers builds Whelen's drivers. In fact, Bruce Howze, Community's owner, has his name on many of Whelen's siren design patents.

Ex: Whelen 2700 series: http://goo.gl/EmHcM
A patent that would evolve into the 3016/400x*: http://goo.gl/q0nNV

Now, that being said, I can say with total certainty that ATI uses a Taiwanese driver (and speakers). Federal uses a generic 100W driver, but its a crap shoot who makes them and where they're made (I couldn't find it). I believe its been said here that ASC uses Atlas Sound drivers, which are of quality and I believe made in the USA. But Whelen is for sure totally USA made, and that's something that, in this day of outsourcing, I really appreciate.

*This appears to be the ACTUAL patent for the 3016/400x. Its always been thrown about that http://goo.gl/UbjHY is the patent for the 3016, but that's just a rotator mechanism. The actual sound producing mechanism is the patent I posted above. I'm not sure its been posted here before in all truth.

[TboltTX1]

I'd rather repair a Whelen omni than a Mod; remember that Whelen has the EZ Pull driver that you simply pull out of there, while on a Mod you have to unscrew the panels on the cell.

As long as it is the 2900 series. To the best of my knowledge on the 2800 and 2700 series, the actual tower of cells have to be taken apart until the cell with the faulty driver is accessable. That is why the EZ pull driver was a lifesaver on repair labor costs. Not bashing Whelen or anything, I actually prefer their products over Federal's .

[Ziginox]

As long as it is the 2900 series. To the best of my knowledge on the 2800 and 2700 series, the actual tower of cells have to be taken apart until the cell with the faulty driver is accessable. That is why the EZ pull driver was a lifesaver on repair labor costs. Not bashing Whelen or anything, I actually prefer their products over the 2001 .

From what I read, it was introduced in the 2800 series. But I can't seem to find the product description for the 2800 series now...