Sirens - The Right Balance Of Technology And Design

By Author: Sunil Punjabi
Total Articles: 2565
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Sirens can prove to be an extremely important fixture in emergency vehicles. They can complement the flash patterns of the emergency lighting while also helping to reach out to distant vehicles which cannot exactly spot the emergency lights flashing. The tone of siren systems can also help in conveying the severity of the occasion. Top class siren systems are compact sized, operating with a 100 Watt speaker and powered by a 10 – 30V DC power supply. The siren systems can be ideal as a second layer of warning along with emergency lights and can be very effective when emergency vehicles need to move quickly enough through peak traffic.

Compact Sirens can be expected to have a diameter of less than 8 inches with a weight of less than 10 lbs. There are many lightweight siren systems, with amplifiers that measure about 5 inches in diameter. However, the kind of tones that are built into the siren systems is what is of the greatest significance. One can often find Hi-Low, electromechanical, howler, yelp and wail tones along with a few other. A very interesting and important aspect of advanced siren systems ...
... is the frequency control that they offer. One can use a dip switch to make selections such as ½ tone or ¼ tone depending upon the requirement. In fact, good siren systems have an added manual override button too, which can help in starting the default tone at any time, in an instant.

The trademark aspect of high quality Sirens is the use of technology to enhance operational ease. Scan Lock feature for selecting and locking tones and provision to not only set the tone but also the duration for which it should be played, could make siren systems very effective. There are multiple modes such as tone, radio and PA apart from the horn override. The PA volume control knob is another important fixture that helps in adjusting the tone to the desired decibel level. Impressive siren systems also have programmable push buttons and pattern selection buttons to vary the different parameters as per the situation. Good siren gear also includes approved hearing protection for those who operate the systems to ensure that they don’t damage their hearing capabilities.

Some Sirens have built in controller units and holster features. An impressive aspect of these siren systems is their resilience and longevity. Push buttons for siren systems come with rubber membranes. In some cases, there could be about 6 push buttons. Radio repeat and public address are two important features that are part of high quality, multipurpose siren systems. The public address system can help law enforcement officials to make announcements if required. Another important feature is hands free control which helps the same person driving the emergency vehicle to operate the siren if required. Mounting brackets are usually provided with the kit, to safely install the siren at a convenient point on the vehicle. The Sirens with black composite nylon or polymer housing are rugged enough to resist heavy duty handling too.

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