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Macon, GA ACA Howler short alert

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 2:58 am
by holler
As promised, here is the long awaited vid and audio of the ACA Howler in Macon, GA.

Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ia5OcQH2QFA

Stereo recording (MUCH better audio):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yhpsmFBjaY

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:19 am
by murrfarms
I took a video as well of the Howler, but unfortunately my camera isn't wanting to cooperate tonight, so I should have it up tomorrow. For now, here's some more pictures I took of it today after the test:

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And one I did a little photoshopping on:
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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:21 am
by jkvernon
That thing still sounds really healthy considering the condition it appears in. How far away were you when you recorded this?

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 4:38 am
by holler
jkvernon wrote:That thing still sounds really healthy considering the condition it appears in. How far away were you when you recorded this?
I would say about 200-300 feet. It runs great, just the tornado that came by last year ripped the intake cone loose. It's going to be replace soon and I've told the EMA director that I wanted it to restore and install in another town. He said he would try whatever he could to get it to me, since they are normally sold at the city salvage auction.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:10 pm
by ACAP10
Thank you Holler!!! I've been wanting to hear a recording of a Howler for a long time. Awesome awesome video +2 for you!

It sounds exactly like a P10 to me. I compared it with another video and they sound essentially the same. The only thing difference is the Howler rotated clockwise and the P10 rotated counterclockwise. Any reason for that?

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:45 pm
by Travis
ACAP10 wrote:Thank you Holler!!! I've been wanting to hear a recording of a Howler for a long time. Awesome awesome video +2 for you!

It sounds exactly like a P10 to me. I compared it with another video and they sound essentially the same. The only thing difference is the Howler rotated clockwise and the P10 rotated counterclockwise. Any reason for that?
Looking at rotator housing on this siren, one can see that this has a different drive system. As far as noise making goes, this is basically identical to the P-10/15/Allertor.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 5:48 pm
by RamFett
Alright, you finally got it! It's really cool to finally hear it and the stereo recording sounds awesome! Interesting that it has a very different sound from the Screamer S-10, even though it uses the same rotor. The draw from the rotator takes a bit of speed from the rotor and the shroud concentrates the sound.

Good luck on saving it. The cone shouldn't be too hard to fix.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:23 pm
by RamFett
ACAP10 wrote: The only thing difference is the Howler rotated clockwise and the P10 rotated counterclockwise. Any reason for that?
Both sirens have completely different rotation mechanisms.

On the three phase version, the wires can be connected to rotate either direction. However, to be producing the most sound output, the rotor should be spinning counterclockwise, which would make the rotation clockwise, as the Macon Howler correctly does. That's how the ports are angled.

Look at the lower right corner of the builder plate.

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Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 6:27 pm
by RamFett
SirenkiD wrote: As far as noise making goes, this is basically identical to the P-10/15/Allertor.
Smaller rotor assembly, but same port ratio.

Posted: Thu Feb 05, 2009 8:18 pm
by ACAP10
RamFett wrote:
ACAP10 wrote: The only thing difference is the Howler rotated clockwise and the P10 rotated counterclockwise. Any reason for that?
Both sirens have completely different rotation mechanisms.

On the three phase version, the wires can be connected to rotate either direction. However, to be producing the most sound output, the rotor should be spinning counterclockwise, which would make the rotation clockwise, as the Macon Howler correctly does. That's how the ports are angled.

Look at the lower right corner of the builder plate.

Image
Thanks for the info, RamFett! I understand now