Thunderbolts for Exelon?

[Fireman61341]

Just to clarify, you said that the t-bolt in "my" picture is in Morris-Channahon area of Illinois, correct?

It's hard to tell by the picture, that's how most of the Exelon Thunderbolts around here are mounted. Exelon has 3 nuclear plants fairly close together in the counties s.w. of Chicago and at one time there were many Thunderbolts around them, so it could be anywhere in Will, Grundy, or LaSalle county.

[Thunderboltlover]

Just to clarify, you said that the t-bolt in "my" picture is in Morris-Channahon area of Illinois, correct?

It's hard to tell by the picture, that's how most of the Exelon Thunderbolts around here are mounted. Exelon has 3 nuclear plants fairly close together in the counties s.w. of Chicago and at one time there were many Thunderbolts around them, so it could be anywhere in Will, Grundy, or LaSalle county.

Are all three counties equipped with ATI react control's though?

The one in my picture is, anyway. I was hoping that would be a distinguishing factor, but maybe it isn't...

[va_nuke_pe]

Exelon is a combination of Commonwealth Edison in IL and PECO in PA. They use a boat-load of T-bolts around Limerick Generating Station in PA near Pottstown - about 160 of them (soon to be replaced with T-128's). They also use about another 90 of them or so around Peach Bottom (also soon to be replaced with T-128's) near Delta (south of York). So within the next two years or so, there will be about 250 T-bolts taken down from two nuclear stations in PA - I don't know what ASC is planning on doing with them.

The Exelon stations in IL use primarily ASC sirens - one of the few T-bolts they had (near Elwood) was replaced with the T-135 you see in my avatar. They use mainly P-10's, T-128's, a few P-50's and increasingly T-135's. They also have a few E-Class electronics (they look the same as the ATI HPSS - but they are ASC products).

[Fireman61341]

The Exelon stations in IL use primarily ASC sirens - one of the few T-bolts they had (near Elwood) was replaced with the T-135 you see in my avatar.

Are you talking about their new system? Because LaSalle station's original system was almost exclusively Thunderbolts, and there are still quite a few that haven't been replaced yet. There seems to be more older ASCs around Braidwood and Dresden though.

[Bshinn]

I believe the caption just said "A thunderbolt siren used for warning by Exelon" I would guess Exelon nuclear

Here is a link to the picture I am referring to. I downloaded and printed this picture out awhile ago minus the caption and just now scanned it into my photobucket album as I can't seem to find the picture on google images anymore.

I remember the description saying that this t-bolt uses "ATI React" controls if that helps.

Hopefully the picture will help...

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww10 ... Exelon.jpg

Hey all...
That wyffels electronics photo bears a striking resemblance to one I shot of a Limerick siren on Rt. 422 in Douglassvile, PA (wonder where they got it, LOL)
To reinforce what Vanukepe said, yes Limerick Generating Station and Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station both started out with siren systems made up almost purely of Thunderbolt 1000 single tone sirens. Limerick originally had 165 sirens, and Peach had 97. There were 1 or 2 dual tone sirens in the group...at one time, one of these was Peach Bottom siren #36. Sirens at both facilities were retrofitted with ATI REACT 2000 controls sometime during the 1990's IIRC. Many of the original cabinets (measuring about 36x48"!) were gutted and left on the poles...becoming home to several species of small furry animals. As an alternative, you could make yourself one heck of a dump trailer for your lawn tractor with those old cabinets. In the early 2000's, their siren maintenance program was stepped up and revamped after some tampering became evident. At that time, many component parts were being replaced, while a number of the T-bolts were replaced entirely (with Federal 2001's).

I was surprised to learn that T128's were being phased in after they were on Federal's jock for such a long time (buying the 2001's)...but what the heck...they both make noise.

[Fireman61341]

What a coincidence, there's an article in the local paper tonight....

Exelon completes emergency siren upgrade
01/06/2010,
Exelon Nuclear recently completed a $3.6-million siren upgrade project used for emergency public notification around each of its six Illinois nuclear plants, including its La Salle County Generating Station plant in Brookfield Township.

The five-year project involved removing select small sirens around each of the plants and installing more reliable, efficient larger sirens that have improved sound coverage and battery back-up.

A total of 168 sirens with battery back-up were installed in the 10-mile emergency planning zones in Illinois and Iowa. La Salle station now has a total of 34 sirens. Residents within the 10-mile EPZ will continue to hear the sirens, but may notice a slight change from where the sound is originating.

"These sirens are an important part of Exelon Nuclear's emergency plan, and they also benefit the counties in which each station resides," said Kevin Appel, Exelon nuclear's emergency preparedness manager. "The siren system layout was designed by a siren acoustic engineering company and approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency."

Although Exelon Nuclear pays for the installation and maintenance of these sirens, individual counties can use the sirens to warn residents of impending fires, tornados, floods or other threatening events. The sirens are a signal to tune to the local Emergency Alert Station.

Testing of the new sirens took place Jan. 5. The emergency sirens are tested 10 a.m. the first Tuesday of every month.

http://mywebtimes.com/archives/ottawa/d ... ?id=395105

I guess that means that some of the Thunderbolts will be staying for now. I know of a dozen or so still being used, including the one 2 blocks from me.

[Thunderboltlover]

I believe the caption just said "A thunderbolt siren used for warning by Exelon" I would guess Exelon nuclear

Here is a link to the picture I am referring to. I downloaded and printed this picture out awhile ago minus the caption and just now scanned it into my photobucket album as I can't seem to find the picture on google images anymore.

I remember the description saying that this t-bolt uses "ATI React" controls if that helps.

Hopefully the picture will help...

http://i700.photobucket.com/albums/ww10 ... Exelon.jpg

Hey all...
That wyffels electronics photo bears a striking resemblance to one I shot of a Limerick siren on Rt. 422 in Douglassvile, PA (wonder where they got it, LOL)
To reinforce what Vanukepe said, yes Limerick Generating Station and Peach Bottom Atomic Power Station both started out with siren systems made up almost purely of Thunderbolt 1000 single tone sirens. Limerick originally had 165 sirens, and Peach had 97. There were 1 or 2 dual tone sirens in the group...at one time, one of these was Peach Bottom siren #36. Sirens at both facilities were retrofitted with ATI REACT 2000 controls sometime during the 1990's IIRC. Many of the original cabinets (measuring about 36x48"!) were gutted and left on the poles...becoming home to several species of small furry animals. As an alternative, you could make yourself one heck of a dump trailer for your lawn tractor with those old cabinets. In the early 2000's, their siren maintenance program was stepped up and revamped after some tampering became evident. At that time, many component parts were being replaced, while a number of the T-bolts were replaced entirely (with Federal 2001's).

I was surprised to learn that T128's were being phased in after they were on Federal's jock for such a long time (buying the 2001's)...but what the heck...they both make noise.

Thanks for the information!

I guess we can conclude it's in Limerick, PA

Are the ATI React 2000 controls basically a newer style radio receiver and timer with a relay to control the control input connection in the RCM1A?

[Bshinn]

Thanks for the information!

I guess we can conclude it's in Limerick, PA

Are the ATI React 2000 controls basically a newer style radio receiver and timer with a relay to control the control input connection in the RCM1A?

That's correct...
Consider a typical installation with a model AR timer, RCM1 control...one-way communication is supported, using either a radio signal or hard-wired connection. You can activate the siren in one of 3 modes, as well as cancel the signal, and you're limited to that. The old controls did feature a counter, used to record the total number of activations, and 2 piloot lights, used to indicate a successful activation.

The ATI controls aren't much different than Compulert or the activation systems used by Federal or Whelen.
REACT 2000 added two-way communication, SCADA (Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition), and housed all the original RCM1 components in an aluminum control box versus steel. REACT 2000 also incorporated transducers/sensors used to verify that all 3 components used by the Thunderbolt siren were working properly.

I'm aware that their electronic sirens may not score points, but I worked with Pete, Brian, and Ping on a project in the past...when it comes to controls, these guys are a class act.

Take care,
Ben