My Eows 612 and MCP controller.

[uncommonsense]

Very cool acquisitions! You can bet I'll be all over this thread like a hawk. I'm surprised by the relative simplicity of the MCP and the modular nature of the amps (Federal has always seemed to be good about that). I'm assuming the unit was missing the face plate over the main controller when you acquired it.

From what little knowledge I have (and I am probably about to make a really stupid statement), it seems that the MCP shares a lot in common with the UltraVoice (at least a great bit more than with the MC). I'd be curious to know what it is that separates the two units (my hunch is a redesigned amplifier system)

I guess this one had the soft-start enabled? I found it interesting to watch the amps slowly come up rather than just light up. I guess that means the soft-start on the Federals is handled via the amps and not the tone generator. Granted, I'm just speculating there. Another thing about the amps that I see and find interesting is the--and this probably isn't the best way to phrase it--"sub amps" that make up the whole amplifier unit. I'm guessing each 400-amp is made up of 2-200 watt units that come together to form one? I see to see two transformers and the faceplace is even labeled "Amp A" and "Amp B."

One other thing is when you have the 612 down to the bare bones like that, it become so obvious that it was a rushed product at its inception. 6 Atlas Horns attached to a square metal frame and an off the shelf sign rotator motor does not scream innovation (unlike Howze's/Whelen's directional speaker design, which certainly has proved itself). That being said, I did always find them visually pleasing in the wild.

Anyway, if I say anything else, I'm bound to get myself into trouble as little as I know about these things. Good luck on your restoration...it seems like you're doing it the right way!

[Mysterious T-Bolt 111]

Although not pertaining to your MCP, but in general I always had a few questions myself.

With Turbo Function as an available add-on the consumer could specify, would this be assumed that this was/is Federal's semi-take on how a Whelen works with its voice and/or tones? Where the amplifiers really do "kick on", but only in two directions? Or is it something totally different and I'm just not thinking too clearly?

Also does this unit have an RF reciever bundled with it?

[mrboojay]

I guess this one had the soft-start enabled? I found it interesting to watch the amps slowly come up rather than just light up. I guess that means the soft-start on the Federals is handled via the amps and not the tone generator. Granted, I'm just speculating there.

It could also be (not that I know for sure if those amps work differently than others or if they are run in a weird way) that the "AMP A/B" lights indicate the input signal.

The reason I think this is that:
1. During the Chimes in between each measure and on the plused signals they turn off, it would be weird for the amps to turning off and on constantly.
2. There is a master "POWER" light on the face plate.
3. The "AMP" lights flash on when the amp gets turned off, I have seen amps that have input indicator lights do this when they are powered off, and the power indicators just fade/turn off.

But, during the wind down they don't fade, I don't know if the tunes fade out on the wind down or it is always at 100% volume. Also on amps I have seen them with a master power light, power lights for A and B outputs and indicator lights. But these are not tornado siren amps. I could be wrong.

Also, would these be classified as PA amps or regular speaker amps?