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PA300 Info.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 7:22 pm
by fire-medic8104
We have dual PA300 sirens in our pumper. They are connected to 2 speakers each (total 4) in the front bumper. We have them set up to were you flip a switch on the switch panel to activate both of them at the same time. The power is fed through relays so the turn on is low voltage. We have one doing wail and one doing yelp.

The problem is: When we power them up the one selected for yelp automatically goes to wail. We have to manually switch it to wail and back to yelp. This gets to be a pain.

Is there a way to set it up so when they are powered up it stays on yelp instead of automatically going to wail.

I thought about trying to wire into the turn on switch at the gain knob for turn on power but was wondering if there was another route.

Just for information, both of them do this so it is a setting of some sort in the siren.

Thanks for any info.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 7:45 pm
by jim
This must be a newer PA300 since the old ones powered up wherever the switch was set.

If I had a schematic, I'd tell you exactly what to do, but...


Get a schematic and look for the mode select switch.

There should be one common lead to the switch (usually a ground or B+) that gets applied to whatever mode is selected.

Next, find the lead on the switch that matches the mode you want that siren to do.

Add a relay into each siren to connect these two (or 4) leads to produce the sound.

Connect both relays' 85/86 positions to the power switch.

Leave the siren's power hot at all times and in "manual".

This SHOULD od it. If not, more leads may need to be relayed on the mode switch.



An easier way is to get a siren with 2 channels!

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:14 pm
by fire-medic8104
Sounds good, I'll give it a try.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:28 pm
by apco25
2 sirens and 4 speakers?

JESUS THAT SURE IS LOUD!

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:32 pm
by fire-medic8104
Yeah and 2 air horns mounted in the front bumper.

When you cover a 15 mile stretch of interstate you need all the help you can get.

Actually we just got the truck from a nearby department who used it in a downtown fairly populated area.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:41 pm
by apco25
nifty - I've seen and run dual sirens but only to a single speaker each.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 8:50 pm
by fire-medic8104
If someone can explain how to add a pic to a post, I'll put up a pic of what it looks like if anyone cares.

Posted: Sun Dec 28, 2003 10:36 pm
by apco25
fire-medic8104 wrote:If someone can explain how to add a pic to a post, I'll put up a pic of what it looks like if anyone cares.
if you've got a place to host the pic use the tag

"Image"

without the quote marks

Posted: Mon Dec 29, 2003 10:45 am
by fire-medic8104
I don't have a place to host it, so that's out.

Is that how people add pics to their posts?

I could probably look into something.

Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2004 11:48 pm
by motorolamonster911
Email me the pics, I will host for ya: [email protected]

I'm nosy and want to see...lol :)

- Nick

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 12:22 am
by fire-medic8104
Pics on their way Nick.

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:12 pm
by motorolamonster911

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:42 pm
by Robert HT220
Dam, that's I nice truck compared to what I've seen down here. Hell, we have a 1950's Mack that's still in service. :D It ain't no beat up junker though, it looks like it just had a new paint job. Anyway, I have an older PA300, that siren rocks. Especially when hooked up to the 100 watt FS speaker. :)

Robert

Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2004 11:28 pm
by fire-medic8104
Thanks for posting those for me Nick.

This was one of 2 trucks that replaced '60 model government surplus pumpers.

Word of advice, don't ever buy government surplus. They are governed at 40-45 mph. They will pump good but the pickup speed and top speed are horrible.

This truck actually was an open cab when it was new. The city that had it before us had a conversion done on it and both trucks have recently had new bodies and new pumps.

Both had a major overhaul of the engines and transmissions before we got them so they should be in good shape for a while.

But the 4 speakers up front are an attention getter for sure. This particular truck is our first out and rescue pumper.


You get behind someone who won't move, just hit the sirens and airhorns and they will get out of the way for sure.

One of our local state troopers said if we ever get in an accident with another vehicle, he will be giving them all kind of citations since they would have to be blind and deaf. :D