The Siren Board

Jim Z wrote:startup current isn't due to friction but the mass of the armature. after all, it's a big lump of iron and copper, so it takes some "oomph" to get it moving.

Err, yeah I meant that. Anyway, don't Allertors and P-15s (at least the one that Ian tested that started smoking) use start caps?

Kasm279 wrote:

Jim Z wrote:startup current isn't due to friction but the mass of the armature. after all, it's a big lump of iron and copper, so it takes some "oomph" to get it moving.

Err, yeah I meant that. Anyway, don't Allertors and P-15s (at least the one that Ian tested that started smoking) use start caps?

Single phase ACA sirens use start and run capacitors. 3 phase ACA sirens (and any 3 phase siren) don't use any capacitors.

Kasm279 wrote:Err, yeah I meant that. Anyway, don't Allertors and P-15s (at least the one that Ian tested that started smoking) use start caps?

Yes, the single phase ACA sirens do use both start and run capacitors to operate. They have a little relay that kicks on both capacitor banks (start and run) while the motor is first starting up, and after a pre-determined amount of time (once the motor gets up to speed), the relay drops out the starting circuit and it continues to run with the bank of run capacitors.

Oh wow, congratulations! What a lucky find!

BotdfAllertor wrote:Oh wow, congratulations! What a lucky find!

Thanks!!!!!

-Ricky