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Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 3:32 am
by stevecast2024
Alright... I'm working on a project for a local fire company. Their STH-10A has not functioned for the past 2 to 3 years. I am guessing the motor is shot based on some troubleshooting that I did. When checking continuity, I am showing open circuits between all phases going to the siren. I went of to check the siren and found the chopper locked up. I could not spin it and even putting force into it to break it free, it would not budge. Am I looking at a motor issue here, and if so, is it possible to pull and replace the motor without de-mounting the entire siren if I can locate a motor? Any ideas would be a huge help. Really trying to get these guys back in business.

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 5:52 am
by Archon
TO check for grounding you need a megamomator and check from each phase to the case of the motor as for the locked up that is probably the bearing sized up on it or the rotor has some oxidation on it that needs to be sanded off if it was in a higher salt area IE by a major road or near the oceans the aluminum tends to get white

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:02 am
by 500AT
A local fire department recently rebuilt their STH-10B, and they had to dismount the siren from the support pole. This is the only way you can safely remove the motor from this unit. However, after a complete motor rebuild, sanding and painting, the siren is as good as new.

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2013 6:47 am
by stevecast2024
Thanks guys. I guess I'll be finding a way to get it down off the platform. The area that I'm in is a litter ground for all kinds of sirens. There are a few sth10s throughout the county that are no longer in service. Parts may be available from those if I try hard enough. Now if I could just teach myself how to rewind the motor... unfortunately there is no money available for this project from the fire company.

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:00 pm
by Grasshopper
Brush and spring assembly from Fed Sig is available; Q-BSA

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:09 pm
by holler
Grasshopper wrote:Brush and spring assembly from Fed Sig is available; Q-BSA
He says it's an STH-10A, which means it's three phase. Three phase motors don't have brushes.

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:29 pm
by Grasshopper
holler wrote:
Grasshopper wrote:Brush and spring assembly from Fed Sig is available; Q-BSA
He says it's an STH-10A, which means it's three phase. Three phase motors don't have brushes.
You are correct about the 3 phase. Fed Sig does not supply replacement parts for that since it is 30 years + obsolete.

It is not uncommon for manufactures to discontinue selling parts for obsolete models or old models of equipment.

It is hard to get parts for many vehicles that are that old correct? Unless a company decides to manufacture aftermarket replacement parts

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:42 pm
by holler
Brushes are still made the single phase STH, since the motor was made by Northwestern Electric and the brushes are used in other applications.

http://www.graphitestore.com/itemDetail ... &curPage=1

The majority of parts on these sirens were not made by Federal and can be tracked back to the original manufacturer for a replacement.

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:48 pm
by theroofable
Grasshopper wrote:
holler wrote:
Grasshopper wrote:Brush and spring assembly from Fed Sig is available; Q-BSA
He says it's an STH-10A, which means it's three phase. Three phase motors don't have brushes.
You are correct about the 3 phase. Fed Sig does not supply replacement parts for that since it is 30 years + obsolete.

It is not uncommon for manufactures to discontinue selling parts for obsolete models or old models of equipment.

It is hard to get parts for many vehicles that are that old correct? Unless a company decides to manufacture aftermarket replacement parts
Car manufacturers have to make parts for 10 years. The siren was discontinued in 2006, so an STH10 could only be 7 or 8 years old. (I know his siren is older, but they still made them not too long ago is the point.)

Re: Federal STH10A Troubleshooting Questions

Posted: Mon Jun 24, 2013 8:50 pm
by holler
Actually I think the single phase STH was dropped whenever Northwestern Electric was bought out by Emerson. Mid to late 90's I think.