The Siren Board

Hi

I am doing some volunteer work for the boy scouts, they were donated a Thunderbolt 1003A.
Unfortunately they did not get the control panel. Can anyone help me out? I want to wire this thing so that you can simply turn it on or off no different sounds or levels. It is set up for 480v 3ph, but I want to use 208v, 3ph. I know I can rewire the blower motor to operate at 208 voltage.

Thanks Tony

Yes it can be rewired for 208-230. Open up the junction box on the side of the motor and connect the 9 leads as follows: L1=1&7, L2=2&8, L3=3&9, Join 4,5&6.

I would highly suggest getting an RCM for it, that way you will have your motor starters for each of the three motors. Did you get the panel with all the relays on it when you got the siren?

If your siren has a three phase rotator motor you'll probably have to rewire it for 208-230 also. I've seen some that are 9 lead, some are 6 lead.

Where are you located we? We probably have a board member in your area that can assist you with the siren.

If you wanted to just get the chopper going to you could take a 3 prong ext. cord, take the female end off, (home depot sells ones without the female end and the 3 wires already in the open and ready to go.) take off the side panel (Screwdriver should do it with something holding the bottom part.) follow the wiring to make sure you have the 2 wires for the chopper, use some quick disconnects and basically fire it up that way. I suggest if you do use that method you should use a surge protector or something with a switch. That way it can be turned off and on and you won't run the risk of shock by connecting/disconnecting the disconnects. If you are running it with full 3 ph (rotator and blower) do as Holler suggested.

I would definitely get a motor starter to handle the on/off switching. If you want to keep it a simple on/off control of all three motors just connect all three motors together and connect them to one motor starter that can handle the load of all three. This arrangement would not be recommended for a wailing "attack" signal. This arrangement would also not work for the alternating high/low tones. You would have to wire in a separate flasher for that.

You need three starters so each motor can have overload protection.

Thanks guys!

What would it sound like if you just used the chopper, it would be the best way for us because we wouldn't have to try to get a three phase service brought to it. I live in Janesville Wi.

Tony

tonyw wrote:Thanks guys!

What would it sound like if you just used the chopper, it would be the best way for us because we wouldn't have to try to get a three phase service brought to it. I live in Janesville Wi.

Tony

Then the siren wouldn't be very loud.

The boy scout camp is about 100 acres so you think this won't be heard in that area?
What if I replaced the blower mtr with a 120v single ph motor, and have just the blower, and chopper operate?

We'll, you can't get a 120v single phase 7 1/2 hp blower motor. A 240v one is going to cost lots of $$$.

If you just plug it into a wall and don't use any blower (The walls are what 120v?) it's about as loud as a lawnmower. Like I said though surge protector and have someone ready to shut it off. But if you throw some air in there it'ssssss… LOUD!