Camera Flash Triggers 2001 AC!

[SouthDakotaBoy2009]

Well..........this is odd for me, I was in Dell Rapids along with Derek & an city worker, Derek performed a battery swap out on one of the 2001 DCs but it still wont be have, (note: batteries havent been chanced since 97) we took a look at the AC & I was taking pictures of both the FC & Contacts box below the FC. well...........here is where it gets strange.

I took the snap shot & just as I pressed the picture button & the flash went off, I heard a click & the 2001 AC roared to life.....in Fast Wail!
Well there was no fire apparently & Derek turned it off to see of there was a fire, but there wasn't any other sirens going. We're like ok that was random!

Well we brushed it off & decided to take another shot of the box, so I zoomed in & pressed the button & guess what? the siren came to life yet again only it growled. well the city guy said no more pictures! cause he thought my camera was an siren activation thing.

Later I called Federal & asked of they had ever heard of a camera activating a siren, they didn't & they think that the flash was "noise" that could trigger the siren. (In other word they havne't ever heard of this)

Needless to say it was an interesting experience, I've taken a few pics of control boards with the siren main power on & never had this prob.
Hopefully it won't happen again.

[md5]

While this is hard to believe... what portions of this siren was the pictures taken? It seems as if your flash was causing some odd interference via the wireless receiver? I'm more curious to know more details of this oddity. Is this a triple flash then the bright flash type of camera or a double flash where there is one dim flash and a bright flash?

If anything, you'll need to get permission from Derek to go to another town that has a 2001 installed and seeing if it gets triggered via the flash as well. If it does, then there is a major flaw in the computer board system that needs to be patched up.

On another note, It might explain why the 2001 a few weeks back during the tornado watch was set off but none of the others weren't. A storm spotter reported it sounding - could hear it blaring through is mic . Because as you know, lightning is another source of a "bright flash/flicker". No the lightning didn't hit the siren or near it. Just curious.

[Jim Z]

well, I suppose the flash on your camera can give off a small EMP, but I would hope the siren controller wouldn't be triggered by that. unless it relies on its steel enclosure for shielding.

[jkvernon]

The lightning issue sounds like what happened here last summer. Our Whelens kept on sounding even after our warning was canceled and the lightning was to blame.

[Hacksaw]

Try holding a flash next to an AM radio that is on, & activate the flash! Yes, they make RF noise. If the controller boxes were open, it would probably be worse.

[Jpressman8]

RF emission from your camera flash probably coincidentally matched the activation frequency of the RF signal reciever. Just a thought.

[Jim Z]

yeah, but you think something like an OWS controller would be immune to that.

[ginbot86]

Craaaaazy! Imagine the "bad" uses of that it works on other 2001's. (Just kidding, it's a bad idea)

[Jpressman8]

yeah, but you think something like an OWS controller would be immune to that.

You would think yes ,but I guess anything is possible.

[sirenman1bd]

Wow. I don't know if camera flashes give off signals that are also used to turn them on, or what. Could it work on other 2001s you think?