The Siren Board

HDN wrote: ↑

Tue Apr 16, 2024 12:38 am

It's amazing how far sirens have come in innovation. It takes far less power to run a T-135DC than that old P-50.

I wouldn't mind having a P-50 in my back yard though - I could get a big enough genset to run it =D

CincyTboltman wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:48 pm

You'd need a genset the size of a car to run one of these. They pull 900 amps at startup on 208 volt 3 phase. On 240 3 phase, it's around 500 amps on startup. On 480 3 phase, it's much less at 200 amps to start the siren. That 50 hp motor is a pig and requires so much energy to start.

HDN wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:58 am

CincyTboltman wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:48 pm

You'd need a genset the size of a car to run one of these. They pull 900 amps at startup on 208 volt 3 phase. On 240 3 phase, it's around 500 amps on startup. On 480 3 phase, it's much less at 200 amps to start the siren. That 50 hp motor is a pig and requires so much energy to start.

Good to know! I'm looking on GovPlanet for 480V gensets and I have no clue if they can put out 200 amps to start the thing. There are some really beefy civilian units on there. If I were ever serious about getting one of these 50-horse units I'd be making some phone calls and searching some manuals. It seems the military units top out at 416V, but I can't really think of anything the military has that would need more than 240VAC to run outside of some portable A/C units, maybe portable MRI machines for a field hospital?

Either way I know I'd need at least a 5-ton to tow a genset that size - maybe I can finally talk my wife into letting me buy a wrecker

It sure makes the T-128 and T-135 attractive. They're so energy-efficient in comparison, and the battery backup is really nice. I wouldn't mind having to run a siren on a bank of batteries. I wish I could do that with my Model 5!

CincyTboltman wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 3:25 pm

HDN wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 22, 2024 12:58 am

CincyTboltman wrote: ↑

Sun Apr 21, 2024 7:48 pm

You'd need a genset the size of a car to run one of these. They pull 900 amps at startup on 208 volt 3 phase. On 240 3 phase, it's around 500 amps on startup. On 480 3 phase, it's much less at 200 amps to start the siren. That 50 hp motor is a pig and requires so much energy to start.

Good to know! I'm looking on GovPlanet for 480V gensets and I have no clue if they can put out 200 amps to start the thing. There are some really beefy civilian units on there. If I were ever serious about getting one of these 50-horse units I'd be making some phone calls and searching some manuals. It seems the military units top out at 416V, but I can't really think of anything the military has that would need more than 240VAC to run outside of some portable A/C units, maybe portable MRI machines for a field hospital?

Either way I know I'd need at least a 5-ton to tow a genset that size - maybe I can finally talk my wife into letting me buy a wrecker

It sure makes the T-128 and T-135 attractive. They're so energy-efficient in comparison, and the battery backup is really nice. I wouldn't mind having to run a siren on a bank of batteries. I wish I could do that with my Model 5!

According to the manual the P50 weighs 2000 pounds. So you will need a crane to move the siren at a minimum.

Yes, the T-128 and T-135 are far more energy efficient. They can run on a 15 amp 120/240 service if the siren's entirely DC according to the manual. The AC version requires a 50 Amp 120/240 service.