ACA Allertor siren - Philomont Volunteer Fire Department

[@friedmanirit]

Runs up nicely. Just not getting the power it needs. It can easily be repaired.

[@JunoTheRailfan844]

Yea thats what i figured it was too

[@audvidgeek]

I remember as a kid hearing that same model siren at my aunt's house on Jackson Avenue in Round Hill just up the street. Their fire department had one too. The first time I heard it I didn't know what the heck it was, as I had never heard anything like it! I was about 4 or 5 at the time in the early 80's. I thought space aliens were landing or something.

[@WoodJack99]

Yes Round Hill used to have an Allertor as well. They have a Model 5/7 (I think) in the cupola on top of their fire station. The Allertor is long gone, though, and the Model 5 is not used anymore either.

[@markbarone140]

That 5/7 came from North Merrick Long Island

[@deaderthandead1182]

God! That sounds worse than the 3t22 near me with a stuck damper. Ouch.

[@lorenlorenzen4626]

I watched this video when it first came out and honestly that siren doesn’t sound that bad it’s just old but it packs a punch

[@WoodJack99]

That snap/click that you hear every time the siren starts up is the electrical relay.

[@ntxsirenvators8983]

This one I watched many times

[@katiaoliveira335]

1gsyetdgertteyeeuyeueueueyeye

[@Whyyoutubewhy..]

@@katiaoliveira335 are you ok

[@WoodJack99]

It is actually three-phase so it is probably something wrong with the motor. If it had capacitors it would be single-phase.

[@WoodJack99]

UPDATE ON THIS SIREN: the last time I heard it in person was August 2015 (I have a video from then too). Since then, my understanding is that they have lessened the use of the siren somewhat due to the fact that the fire station now has career people 24 hours a day, and they rely on them before the volunteers. Therefore, the siren is now only sounded when the volunteers are needed. There is talk that they may stop using it at some point in the not-too-distant future.

[@thisissparta789789]

This is the last active firehouse siren in Loudoun County.

[@WoodJack99]

Unfortunately it’s no longer active for fire calls. But they plan to use it still for tornado warnings, so I look forward to seeing what the future holds.

[@jamesackley6653]

That siren sounds sick.

[@mynmhsnvwls1124]

Lmao

[@MaxtheSirenHunter]

@@mynmhsnvwls1124 no it is legit sick or low voltage

[@laurenceamspoker6739]

The description said this siren was from the 1970s. That means its a 1972 allertor.

[@lorenlorenzen4626]

They could easily refurbish it an it sound healthy and proud

[@rburnsii]

I've heard this as far as Fauquier and round hill va. Luckett s station 10 is a great one too. Although not sure if it still goes off.they might have turned the volume down a little for the test.

[@WoodJack99]

I doubt you could hear this from Fauquier County. If you did it would be very faint. You could have been hearing the siren that was in Middleburg. That siren was an ACA Allertor like this one but it was sadly removed a few years ago. You could hear this siren from Round Hill but it would be pretty faint. This siren was not turned down for the test. The reason it is so low-pitched is because its phase converter has problems. Lucketts's fire station has two sirens, an ACA Allertor like this one and a Federal Signal Model 5/7. Neither of them are still in use. The siren in this video is now the only active fire siren in Loudoun County.

[@Dasquadwith6]

Lovettsville Sta. 12 also at one time had one of the Federal sirens on the roof, as well as an Allertor down the road on a pole. I took photos of the allertor in 1998, but noticed that it was gone via google a couple of years back.

[@deaderthandead1182]

You can not turn the volume down on this.

[@ksgoalhorns57]

Lucketts Has not gone off as far as I know However I do Live within range to hear it If it did I will wait for the next Tornado Warning that has not happened in this part of the county since I moved from Sterling out west here;

[@steveperelli3602]

Sick sick sick sick siren It sounds like it’s going to die

[@chickenlips9974]

That siren must've had a lot of voice cracks

[@giborisrael4229]

This poor Allerator is sick, That doesn't sounds good

[@thehackeroftornadosirens5133]

u mean Allertor

[@giborisrael4229]

@@thehackeroftornadosirens5133 I mean Alligator

[@table4freeevolutionmatthew428]

@@giborisrael4229 e stupid

[@TSAR2010]

He means crocodile

[@giborisrael4229]

@@TSAR2010 exactly! thank you sir

[@radiosnmore1225]

SICK AS HELLLLLLLLL

[@brianGnav.19]

Poor ACA

[@sirensofneohio3979]

Poor allertor

[@untetheredangel2152]

They need a thunderbolt

[@FireRescue80]

@@untetheredangel2152 You're just saying that because you like Thunderbolts.

[@untetheredangel2152]

@@FireRescue80 yep😂

[@FireRescue80]

@@untetheredangel2152 yeah that's not going to happen.

[@CarsAndSirensA]

Poor motor, that thing in toast.

[@ThunderTrain2930]

Poor siren sounds like it's in such bad condition. especially that wind down.

[@WoodJack99]

It is. Not sure why the wind down sounds the way it does. I think the phase converter is tough on the siren.

[@ThunderTrain2930]

It's like it struggles to wind up, but the phase converter just, like you said, is being a little rough with that siren. And it tries to stop it as it winds down.

[@WoodJack99]

Yes. This siren has been sounding like this for about 10 years or more now. It's louder than you might think too. Shook my chest when I was there and you almost have to cover your ears several hundred feet away.

[@TheMatsushitaMan]

When it winds down, it does so sharply then naturally. Why?

[@WoodJack99]

It's capacitors are bad. They should be replaced.

[@bnmobildirecto3949]

Do the siren was loud

[@mitchellkaquatosh1158]

I like your vid i wonder what that Allertor would sound like in alert signal

[@destisinawe1221]

Same thing

[@minnesotaoutdoorwarningsirens]

That allertor needs new starting Capacitors

[@katiaoliveira335]

Yeheg 🙂😉😉🙂

[@Josh-le6lu]

It's pretty quiet inside that building. I guess that's why nobody who works at the Iron County courthouse seems to mind. They have a Fedelcode model 20 as a noon siren, and a Whelen Vortex R4 for the storm siren.

[@WoodJack99]

It is pretty quiet in there. The room where the siren's controls are has cinderblock walls. In there, the rotary phase converter for the siren is loud when it starts up, but then you walk outside and the siren is deafening. What do you imagine it would have been like if the siren had been on full speed when I had stepped outside, right under the pole? I had earphones in, but it was deafening and shook my chest, even though it only gets up to half speed.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

my god that motor is FUCKED! something must be causing the chopper to hiccup when winding down. reminds me of the SD-10B at Trappe Fire company in PA but even that sounds healthier than this Allertor! poor thing. Give it a new 3 phase motor and it'll be good as new

[@WoodJack99]

It's not single phase. It's 3 phase on a rotary converter, and I think that is what's causing it to run so slowly. I'm not sure how much life is left in this siren honestly. It does sound very sick, and I think that is due to a problem with the phase converter.

[@Thunderbolt_1000_Siren]

Jack Wood ugh phase converters suck ass.

[@geebee6010]

They can be restored. Like this Directo in Pottsville. kzbin.info/www/bejne/l3iWp3mGnNqVfas

[@laurenceamspoker6739]

Sounds like a fog horn 😂

[@Jamesairhvac]

Oh god that is low pitched! and that wind down... tho anyways great video!

[@elrektm]

Ultra low pitch, that siren is dying

[@minnesotaoutdoorwarningsirens]

I think it’s sick, it’s not good

[@RandomTransits]

That aca allertor is revers wired though

[@SNIXC]

Running off of a phase converter or something?

[@katiaoliveira335]

Yetetet3

[@SNIXC]

@@katiaoliveira335 stop doing this stuff all the time

[@fredborja1384]

looks sick

[@BumberenzoTheFireTruck]

The ACA allertor sounds different

[@WoodJack99]

This one is sick. That's why. Almost an octave lower than normal.

[@crazycalvinwilliams]

Nice video Allenorgan42099!

[@thattechdude]

This thing sound terrible.

[@mynmhsnvwls1124]

Really. 😕😕, I liked it

[@thattechdude]

@@mynmhsnvwls1124 This isn't how they're supposed to sound. They are supposed to be much louder and much higher pitch.

[@andrewmcmann8653]

It's rotator is working normally! But I agree with everyone else's comments. Needs a new motor and maybe a new chopper, because it does sound pretty bad! And maybe there is a short somewhere in it's power supply or something. In any case, the whole thing just needs to be replaced. A very interesting siren though. 🙂👍Nice video!

[@charlie_nolan]

Why is it a common thing for allertors to be low pitched?

[@charlie_nolan]

@Nuke_VA I know but I’m asking why this often happens when they get old? Are they brushed motors or synchronous motors?

[@ntxsirenvators8983]

This Thing is ready for replacement

[@EstorilEm]

What ever happened with this? I still see it on the pole. Perhaps we could offer to refurbish it or something? Needs 3 phase though, right?

[@patrickrogers9499]

3 phase motor running on single phase electric . Grossly underpowered indeed .

[@WoodJack99]

No, it has a rotary phase converter that you hear starting up after the tones before the siren starts. It sounded much better a long time ago, so I suspect the siren has motor problems or it is something with the phase converter.

[@patrickrogers9499]

Regardless it definitely has power issues . I'm originally from the DC area and I don't ever remember seeing any Alertors in the District at all unless I overlooked them somehow .

[@WoodJack99]

This Allertor was part of DC's old Civil Defense system that was dismantled in the early '90s. That system consisted mainly of Thunderbolts, but there were some Allertors as well. After the system was dismantled, this Allertor became a fire siren, which it continues to be used as today.

[@EstorilEm]

What days do they test this again? I've only heard it once when we first moved in (mountville)

[@WoodJack99]

It's not tested. It sounds for fire calls. How long has it been since you heard it? I sure hope the motor doesn't burn out. They have career firefighters staffing the station so they rely on them more than the volunteers.

[@EstorilEm]

Jack Wood nah there used to be a certain test on each day of the month at a certain time. FWIW I've heard it the past two days around 630 in mountville, Middleburg. Are they trying to fix it or what?

[@WoodJack99]

I didn't know that it was tested on a schedule. I really don't know to tell you the truth. Next time it goes off, maybe try to record it and put it on here.

[@lilclacla1610]

This siren needs to be fixed

[@charlie_nolan]

Why does it wind down so rapidly at first? Is that charging a starter capacitor or something?

[@dylxnchn]

is it doing yelp?

[@WoodJack99]

No. I think the reason it winds down that way is because it is on a phase converter. Yelp sounds a bit different.

[@thehackeroftornadosirens5133]

no... wail tone

[@controllertehsparten940]

did you ask the fd to set it off? Or is it a county test

[@WoodJack99]

Yes, I asked them to so I could film it.

[@steveperelli3602]

Is it still there?

[@WoodJack99]

@@steveperelli3602 yes - but hasn’t been used for calls since around 2017-18.

[@CentralVirginiaEAS]

Y'all its still active believe it or not!

[@WoodJack99]

@@CentralVirginiaEAS wait, it is? Last I knew it was inactive

[@CentralVirginiaEAS]

@@WoodJack99 Apparently if you look on google streetview, the siren changes positions if you switch between the dates of December 2023, and August 2024.

[@CentralVirginiaEAS]

​@@WoodJack99 If you look on google streetview, and alternate dates between August 2024 and December 2023, you'll notice that the siren rotated. Now the siren is probably not active for fire calls, but i'm pretty sure it's hooked up to power, and they'll probably use it for special occasions. Also for some reason my last comment was deleted, not sure why. Well I guess my comment wasn't deleted. It wouldn't show my reply for some reason. Sorry.

[@antoinem5901]

Sounds like its tired of doing that

[@codygeorge6813]

were is this at?

[@StevenPerelli]

What it needs is a faster motor then what it has

[@alarmandsirenguy]

Has this siren been fixed?

[@EstorilEm]

I live nearby and haven’t heard it for about 4 years now. 🙁 It’s still there though!

[@joshmckinnley745]

Is it even loud at all?

[@WoodJack99]

Actually yes. You'd be surprised. It vibrated my chest both times I heard it and whenever it faced towards me I had to cover my ears, something O never had to do with any other siren. It's not as loud as a healthy Allertor, but it's still pretty loud and does its job. My guess is it's about as loud as a Model 2 running the speed it does.

[@MasenMonster]

It sounds a bit like the Yelp signal!

[@seanjuth]

You were standing right next to the controls box to.

[@jihadvinylboy4157]

It sounds various

[@mynmhsnvwls1124]

Love it

[@devildog8016]

Its not running on the correct power it sounds like a-3phase unit being ran on 240

[@leehuff2330]

BAD BEARINGS

[@Midwest_Sirens]

Very sick :(.

[@crazypilot7577]

Wait where is this? Arcola, VA?

[@WoodJack99]

No, Philomont. Between Middleburg and Purcellville, on Snickersville Turnpike.

[@crazypilot7577]

Jack Wood Ok, thanks I just know Arcola, VA has an Allertor 125 also.

[@WoodJack99]

Yes it does. There used to be many Allertors in Loudoun County at fire stations, installed by Civil Defense. The only ones left are Lucketss, Philomont, and Arcola. Philomont is actually the only fire station in the county that still uses a siren at all. We can hear it in Middleburg, 6 miles away, on a clear day!

[@crazypilot7577]

Jack Wood I also found a FS STH-10 in Leesburg. I'm about 2-3 miles from Arcola, and I never hear it go off. So you're lucky to hear it.

[@WoodJack99]

There are two STH-10s in Leesburg. As I said previously, the Allertor in this video is the only siren in Loudoun County that is still in use. If I ever manage to catch it from my mom's when conditions are right, I'll put up that video as well.

[@twotailedavenger]

This siren is what hot rod guys would call "clapped out".

[@romeosworld2827]

It's sick

[@JunoTheRailfan844]

they shouldnt be doing that with a generator, they just arent giving her enough power

[@jeremyn6791]

Why is it only on half power

[@WoodJack99]

It's on a rotary phase converter and that is not good for it. I think something is wrong with the converter that is causing the siren to run much slower than normal.

[@Stormdivision1]

Poor sick siren

[@alexaggressive5286]

allertor breaks his batterys but she dosent feel good

[@christiaanhauchecorne2271]

they don't know exactly how to connect a three-phase siren

[@crazycalvinwilliams]

WeeeeeeehBLEH! Gees, is that thing on 120 volts?

[@Stormsetter4]

The starting caps are bad

[@crazycalvinwilliams]

Stormsetter4 Yeah. I saw the replies on ARS.

[@404HandleNotFound]

Sounds a little like a dirt bike. LOL

[@Rocktecho]

Sounds very poorly like listening to music that has out of pitch parts

[@ravenalravinegamingvlogs_r4100]

It sounds more like a turntable too.

[@tdzysk9439]

Bad wind down

[@Buttern531]

Why is the sound like that

[@EstorilEm]

Because it’s half a century old and requires some maintenance- which no one is willing to pay for because they don’t use it anymore 😕

[@Countryball_mexico634]

Siren

[@h2ovilleed]

Sounds like it’s actively dying lol

[@WoodJack99]

I got a video of this siren going off for a fire call: kzbin.info/www/bejne/favHnXStbZd3j8U Listen to the echoes when it winds down.

[@mynmhsnvwls1124]

B day motor😁😁😁

[@angeladamron3645]

:3 aca 125

[@devinttrobloxforroblox2242]

1:52

[@steveperelli3602]

Poor thing it sounds funny give it some coffee and some caffeine coffee. It might sound better. so they are saying, give me some coffee some Mountain Dew you can’t get hit up any higher. . I have heard worse

[@talonhauser5434]

That sounds weird all the time

[@marlonvasquez6531]

No wonder, it is reversed wired

[@marlonvasquez6531]

alexis trinquet I see

[@mynmhsnvwls1124]

Lmao

[@marlonvasquez6531]

Nvm

[@laurenceamspoker782]

😂

[@ScarOne314]

The.

[@garrettdodson6110]

Definitely underpowered. Needs to be taken off the generator and powered up properly.

[@SirensAndAlarmsOfNorthernIL]

Some places don’t have three phase you know

[@garrettdodson6110]

@@SirensAndAlarmsOfNorthernIL no need to be persnickety. I’m not an electrician ya know??? I’m a musician. I just remember having these in my neighborhood and surrounding areas and they never sounded this poorly. Well except when one’s motor started to burn out. The person posting the video didn’t even mention power issues in the description. So maybe next time just don’t assume everyone has a masters in electrical engineering asshole.

[@furybolt1474]

Try some (med). Up help you.

[@furybolt1474]

when the heck did I say this???

[@billyannwoodcock5647]

Calm down siren. Get yourself together and sound the right way!! sorry. I put that comment in randomly

[@1979cl1]

It sounds sick,,, fail!!