The Siren Board

One word: warranty. Unless you have someone who is going to do the maintenance or refurbish them, the brand new option is the most feasible for most cities. I disagree with the popular opinion that thunderbolts are maintenance hogs or unreliable as people don’t build sirens like the used to... not saying new sirens are bad... but if it gets the job done then it gets the job done. With battery back up and less energy draw at that. Like what’s been suggested maybe ask if you can have it. Just make sure you don’t cut yourself on it.

I'm quite sad to see such a piece of history go, but excited to see what comes in to replace it. **HINT HINT**

Spoof!

But just wondering what if a Thunderbolt's head & blower have solar panels & battery backup?

theres no point in saying "What if" anymore. thats already been discussed. its not feasable to run a thunderbolt off battery, as you already have 3 motors that must be converted to dc. then you need to make sure the batteries can provide enough voltage. then you stop and ask yourself: Will anyone actually do this?, and the answer will be no. its just not feasable.

FahmiRBLX wrote: ↑

Mon May 07, 2018 4:06 pm

Spoof!

Huh?

It's a siren, it's not a sacred artifact. Federal didn't build their Thunderbolts to last forever, sirens will eventually give out and will need to be replaced.

As for going to the city council meeting and begging the city to keep the siren up, I will have to disagree with some people and say that's a horrendous idea. First, it will give a bad rep for the siren community. By you goin g to that meeting, many people including ones who are experts in this field and install sirens are being represented by someone who doesn't realize that sirens are meant to save lives by providing warning during a disaster, not to please us hobbyists. If you do end up going, you need to provide a solid argument on why it should stay in service other than to please you. Otherwise, you'll probably get kicked out because they'll see you as some kid who want attention. If you really do want to try to speak, then nobody is going to physically stop you from doing it.

In conclusion, sirens are not meant to be seen as a personal hobby, they are meant to save lives and that's it. I feel like this problem is shredding the community apart, and it's extremely disappointing to see us at an all-time low.

Like I said, you can go and voice your opinion, but this is just my personal viewpoint.

Well what I was going to consider is them ! refurbishing it which I highly doubt I can convince them to do.So I was either going to see I they could give it to me or refurbish it and use it elsewhere. I was going to have them consider special ordering a cyclone and use that and moving the thunderbolt elsewhere. now don't scream at me "JACOB! that's obsolete to!".
Think about it it has a lot of ground to cover and there's a giant courthouse in the way and there putting up a new jail right next to it. the cyclone has good coverage bing lower pitched and if they put a 2001 down the 2001 can cover a lot with little obstruction keyword little obstruction. there will be a new jail and a giant quarthouse in its path. But in the worst case I will recommend they get a 508.

Darley Champion wrote: ↑

Mon May 07, 2018 3:08 pm

I strongly agree with uncommonsense and FireFreak. If the siren is [for exemple] too corroded (read: so corroded that the metal is as thin as a sheet of paper) or damaged (crucial parts going bad beyond repair), it's just not worth keeping it.

Just replace it already before it fails right when you need it to sound off, because should it fail right in the middle of the tornado... (in the worst case scenario)

But the siren is in good condition the radio looks fine the controls are not that bad and the blower shroud and pipe are a little rusted and there's a hole in the horn. other than that its fine

jacob585 wrote: ↑

Mon May 07, 2018 8:28 pm

Well what I was going to consider is them ! refurbishing it which I highly doubt I can convince them to do.So I was either going to see I they could give it to me or refurbish it and use it elsewhere. I was going to have them consider special ordering a cyclone and use that and moving the thunderbolt elsewhere. now don't scream at me "JACOB! that's obsolete to!".
Think about it it has a lot of ground to cover and there's a giant courthouse in the way and there putting up a new jail right next to it. the cyclone has good coverage bing lower pitched and if they put a 2001 down the 2001 can cover a lot with little obstruction keyword little obstruction. there will be a new jail and a giant quarthouse in its path. But in the worst case I will recommend they get a 508.

Let them do the descisions. It's not up to you. (Also ASC got rid of the Cyclone from the website and that was for parts I believe. Something tells me it's battery backup or bust so a 3 phase 50 horsepower siren is out of the window.) About your little obstruction thing: there's a 2001 in a bell tower that runs perfectly fine and is heard at a nice distance, so I don't think a jail and courthouse will be an issue.

jacob585 wrote:

Darley Champion wrote: ↑

Mon May 07, 2018 3:08 pm

I strongly agree with uncommonsense and FireFreak. If the siren is [for exemple] too corroded (read: so corroded that the metal is as thin as a sheet of paper) or damaged (crucial parts going bad beyond repair), it's just not worth keeping it.

Just replace it already before it fails right when you need it to sound off, because should it fail right in the middle of the tornado... (in the worst case scenario)

But the siren is in good condition the radio looks fine the controls are not that bad and the blower shroud and pipe are a little rusted and there's a hole in the horn. other than that its fine

Oh well. Replacements will happen. And besides, it's a piece of machinery on a pole in a rural town. It just happens to be a town you're in or near to. Just let it be. I do hope you won't make a fuss and bother over it, because that will make you lose whatever credibility you just had. Just saying.

There will be a mandate one day stating that all warning systems have battery backup. Then is the time to cry. When that will happen is anyone's guess. Then again, it might not happen at all.

My stance: Sirens are bound to be replaced. The jurisdiction responsible for the Thunderbolt likely either contacted or received instruction from their dealer, which it seems 75% of will tell you any old siren needs replacing. At this point, given the details you have provided, it is unlikely you will prevent it's replacement. Not to mention, there really isn't a point in arguing against a siren that will likely provide a similar coverage radius, battery backup, and easier maintenance among other things.

As far as the demise of the Thunderbolt... try and obtain it! There is absolutely nothing wrong with asking if they would give or sell the unit to you. That said, if it is government property then it would probably need to be auctioned off.

One final thing I would like to address: Why the negativity? I've been watching this topic grow and a majority of what I'm seeing are sarcastic comments that, while coinciding with the subject matter, replicate arguments already stated by previous posters in what appears to be an attempt to take a stab at the OP.