Spectra Siren

[sourapple613]

Hello all,

Wondering if the spectra siren is a 100 watt or 200 watt output siren.

All was going well today until I pushed the button to change tones from wail to yelp... and no noise...
Got home.. Put a different speaker wired to it and works fine again.

The speaker I toasted was a FS MS100 100 watt speaker.. So I wondered was it just an old speaker that wore out or did the siren kill it because its more than a 100 watt siren.

Thanks

[jmr061]

The Systems 9000 siren can be set at 65, 100 or 130 watts. The MS100 or Dynamax speaker when it first came out was notorious for failure when combined with the Systems 9000 siren. I had heard FS fixed this issue in later releases of the MS100 but I am not so sure the issue really was fixed.

Jason

[4n6inv]

The factory defual setting is 65 watts. If you parallel 2 100 watt speakers (4 ohms) you get 135 watts at the factoty setting without having to change jumpers. As Jason said; you can also jumper it for a full 100 watts into a 100 watt speaker, but as he also mentioned, the MS100 is not tollerant of half a watt over 100. I had jumpered my siren to 100 full watts and installed the Federal. It was a huge pain in the ass, since space was very limited, even with the small size, so I had to reverse and repeat the process. I was not amused. Lots of bloody knuckles. I now have a newer one installed in my new vehicle and it works just fine at 100 watts.

[jmr061]

Default should be 100 watts.

Jason

[sourapple613]

The Systems 9000 siren can be set at 65, 100 or 130 watts. The MS100 or Dynamax speaker when it first came out was notorious for failure when combined with the Systems 9000 siren. I had heard FS fixed this issue in later releases of the MS100 but I am not so sure the issue really was fixed.

Jason

The speaker I got was probably quite old as it came out of a 97 or so police car. When it came out of that car it was not used with a System 9000 like my car.

Can anyone explain the jumpering?

Thanks

[4n6inv]

Negative. According to my siren maual, the default is 65 watts / per new (and ridiculous) OSHA regualtions. Evidently they (OSHA) doesn't :o about front mounted (as opposed to over head) speakers, to the tune of 130 wattts... You can hear it a LOT further, but not on an advance.

FYI; having gone through more than one federal / state pursuit / precision drivers training course; irrespective of your speed; you outrun the siren at anything over 65 MPH. I can personally attest to that. Incredible? TRUE! I can personally attest to it at Road Atlanta Speedway during a precision / pusuit driving class(es) - or FLETCH in Glynn County.

I'm a siren nut, but they have their limitations... Absent the mechanical fire truck [Whirrr!!!] sirens. I can't tell you why... But the Federal Mechanical Sirens will blow your ass out of the water. Difference? Dunno... Acoustics is NOT my fortei.

[sourapple613]

Negative. According to my siren maual, the default is 65 watts / per new (and ridiculous) OSHA regualtions. Evidently they (OSHA) doesn't about front mounted (as opposed to over head) speakers, to the tune of 130 wattts... You can hear it a LOT further, but not on an advance.

FYI; having gone through more than one federal / state pursuit / precision drivers training course; irrespective of your speed; you outrun the siren at anything over 65 MPH. I can personally attest to that. Incredible? TRUE! I can personally attest to it at Road Atlanta Speedway during a precision / pusuit driving class(es) - or FLETCH in Glynn County.

I'm a siren nut, but they have their limitations... Absent the mechanical fire truck [Whirrr!!!] sirens. I can't tell you why... But the Federal Mechanical Sirens will blow your ass out of the water. Difference? Dunno... Acoustics is NOT my fortei.

I realized that... But its a complete pisser when your making your way through traffic blocked because of the wreck ahead and all of a sudden it quits..
My siren was bought used so who knows how old it is.. But the amp works like a champ.. Just had issues with the speaker.

Do you have to take the siren box apart to find the jumpers?

[jmr061]

I am working on copying the manual. Mine clearly states the default is 100 watts. Give me a bit. This is the manual for the 1185 series. The 1439 may be different. Not sure what one you have.

Jason

[jmr061]

4.6 SPEAKER CONNECTOINS
The Siren/PA is shipped pre-wired for 100-watt operation. It can be rewired for 65-watt, 75-watt, or 130 watt power levels. To change to another power level, perform the following:

(1) Open the Siren/PA connector cover to gain access
to the two-conductor speaker leads. Do not change the
speaker common lead (Pin 20). The other lead is con¬
nected to Pin 35 (for 100-watt operation).

(2) Using an appropriate pin removal tool, extract Pin
35 and move it to one of the following:


location 36 75-watt operation
location 28 .65 or 130-watt operation

(3) For 65 or 75-watt operation, no further changes are
required. Reassemble the connector.

(4) For 130-watt operation, you must parallel two
11-ohm speakers, each rated at 65 watts minimum.
Proper phasing of the two speakers is important—when
connecting two speakers in parallel, wire similar speaker
terminals together to ensure maximum loudness and pre¬
vent "deadspots." For example, if the terminals are
marked "1" and "2," connect the terminals marked
"1" together and connect those wires to one speaker
lead. Connect the terminals marked "2" together and
connect those wires to the other speaker lead.

Caution
Before continuing, remember that under a high-line supply condition (16.6 V), up to 30% more power will go to the speaker(s) after the next step is complete. Do this only when your PA speakers are capable of hand¬ling the extra power.

(5) To configure the Siren/PA for maximum power out¬put (130 watts), open the Siren/PA top cover and clip out R83, a 2.4 kilohm resistor. (If you re-configure from 130-watt speaker power to a lesser power-rated speaker, you must re-install R83.) Close the Siren/PA unit and reassemble the connector.

[sourapple613]

4.6 SPEAKER CONNECTOINS
The Siren/PA is shipped pre-wired for 100-watt operation. It can be rewired for 65-watt, 75-watt, or 130 watt power levels. To change to another power level, perform the following:

(1) Open the Siren/PA connector cover to gain access
to the two-conductor speaker leads. Do not change the
speaker common lead (Pin 20). The other lead is con¬
nected to Pin 35 (for 100-watt operation).

(2) Using an appropriate pin removal tool, extract Pin
35 and move it to one of the following:


location 36 75-watt operation
location 28 .65 or 130-watt operation

(3) For 65 or 75-watt operation, no further changes are
required. Reassemble the connector.

(4) For 130-watt operation, you must parallel two
11-ohm speakers, each rated at 65 watts minimum.
Proper phasing of the two speakers is important—when
connecting two speakers in parallel, wire similar speaker
terminals together to ensure maximum loudness and pre¬
vent "deadspots." For example, if the terminals are
marked "1" and "2," connect the terminals marked
"1" together and connect those wires to one speaker
lead. Connect the terminals marked "2" together and
connect those wires to the other speaker lead.

Caution
Before continuing, remember that under a high-line supply condition (16.6 V), up to 30% more power will go to the speaker(s) after the next step is complete. Do this only when your PA speakers are capable of hand¬ling the extra power.

(5) To configure the Siren/PA for maximum power out¬put (130 watts), open the Siren/PA top cover and clip out R83, a 2.4 kilohm resistor. (If you re-configure from 130-watt speaker power to a lesser power-rated speaker, you must re-install R83.) Close the Siren/PA unit and reassemble the connector.

Thank you very much!!

[jmr061]

Keep in mind all the mods except 135 watt are made on the cable assembly by moving the speaker lead, nothing internal in the siren amp. 135 watt requires a cable assembly pin move AND an internal amp mod.

Jason