How to do Maintenance on a Thunderbolt siren (Read desc)

©cooldomino 2020 do not copy any content with out permission.
Time stamps:
Chopper Inspection 1:43
Rotator Inspection 26:31
Never tamper with any safety equipment!
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2nd channel:
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[@johndeerefan725]

This video is perfect for towns that still have Thunderbolts in service.

[@trainsandsirensofilinmiwi2080]

11:10. Spinning up a bolt is something we don't see often. Awesome video.

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. And thanks.

[@trainsandsirensofilinmiwi2080]

@@cooldomino1800 Your welcome.

[@SirenRecordingsofIowa]

@@trainsandsirensofilinmiwi2080 you're* why do i keep doing this

[@mmstudio4664]

I really like how you take care of the bolt. It looks somehow...relaxing.

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. Until you have to move something heavy. Like the horn. Lol.

[@emrilbennett8704]

@@cooldomino1800 I think he means to watch it

[@SirenGirl2001]

I always see brushes and bearings referenced when I watch videos of sick thunderbolts so it’s interesting to see them up close

[@SirenGirl2001]

Also it’s interesting to see what a brush looks like when it’s good vs when it’s bad

[@cooldomino1800]

@@SirenGirl2001 yeah. A lot of thunderbolt owners will find this handy.

[@marciovieira8092]

👍😞😘😃🌅💋

[@cooldomino1800]

@@dj-la--wolf1288 I got it from a friend for free.

[@ManofCulture]

@@cooldomino1800 Lucky

[@J19_vlogger74]

I just KEEP watching this video, and I don't even have a Thunderbolt. It's so cool how these sirens work inside. Great video

[@cooldomino1800]

Thank you! Glad you are enjoying it!

[@J19_vlogger74]

@@cooldomino1800 You're welcome!

[@emrilbennett8704]

Agreed

[@ThunderboltSiren1003]

This is awesome there is like no videos on how to do maintenance on a thunderbolt so thank you this helped out a lot

[@WasherBoy2016]

Keep up the repair videos, wish there was more out there, thank you so much.

[@cooldomino1800]

Your very welcome! Wish there’s more out there as well.

[@benjaminmendenhall3104]

Wow this is so cool now I know what the inside of a thunderbolt

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. They are really cool!

[@NPminnetonka]

Very well done, I’d say you did much better than mine from a few years back!

[@soum23]

@Cannonball Films I cannot seem to find your video on thunderbolt maintenance have you deleted it?

[@NPminnetonka]

Planes And Sirens Of Upper Midwest it was switched to private since my way of maintaining the thunderbolt has changed, and the constant onslaught of nitpickers correcting every little part name

[@soum23]

@@NPminnetonka Ohhhh

[@kansasclocksandsirens]

I plan on getting a bolt, this will be very helpful

[@cooldomino1800]

Thanks! Good luck!

[@kansasclocksandsirens]

@@cooldomino1800 I'll need it lol

[@Tishers]

I used to do non-operational testing on our sirens if we had a problem during an activation. Usually I had to do that in the middle of the day. I never wanted to blast the neighborhood while testing so I would cycle the three switches in the cabinet one at a time (blower, chopper, rotator). The most hideous sound was running the blower without the chopper, it sounded like a giant fart-cushion. We had people who were at home and asleep during the work day (shift workers). They would invariably call and complain about the fart-cushion blower. My biggest maintenance problem was in the rotator due to a lack of lubrication. When it is sitting on top of a sixty foot tall wooden pole that would mean a call to the siren company to come out and service it. Not a task that I was ready to do. I could climb a ladder and service it from the cabinet (sometimes even replace contactor parts or reset a thermal that had tripped out).

[@emrilbennett8704]

That has to be an awful sound, but what you called it was funny lol

[@mjojo1000]

I would love to own a thunder bolt siren like this

[@kansasstatealerting2874]

Cool video! Your SD10 looks a lot better!

[@cooldomino1800]

I think so too!

[@kansasstatealerting2874]

@boyfamersshakersfom Marqwinez What?

[@BossCoins2]

This is very helpful since I am going to get a thunderbolt in the future.

[@tornadoandfiresirensofohio8479]

this is awesome, i want to get the 1003 t-bolt eventually

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. Me too! Good luck finding one!

[@Nottruesigma]

.

[@Nottruesigma]

.

[@Nottruesigma]

.

[@Nottruesigma]

.

[@midwestmassnotification4127]

Can you make a video about some steps to take in case your thunderbolt's chopper has some of the problems you mentioned? (Cleaning motor fields, cleaning a commutator, how to fix a scraping noise when the chopper spins)

[@cooldomino1800]

I can try.

[@HX56Music]

@@cooldomino1800 I agree, please do this.

[@Vyclops]

I watched every second of this video! I don't own a thunderbolt (sadly)

[@Jumpkourseven]

Vyclops , you can get them for free

[@HX56Music]

@@Jumpkourseven From where? I don't think you can.

[@SportyTrainGuy]

@@HX56Music I have to agree with him. If they were free, I would have heard of that and get one for myself already

[@HX56Music]

@@SportyTrainGuy The only way I know of POTENTIALLY getting one for free, would be if you contact a Fire Department with an inactive one, and ask if you can have it. They might just give it to you to get it off their hands, but in most cases they want some cash for it. Only a few enthusiasts have gotten sirens for free, and they are very lucky.

[@ballsacksniffer420]

Same

[@TheFlipmode89]

Really nice! Greetings from Germany 👌🏻👍🏻

[@FireRescue80]

This is a very neat video!

[@cooldomino1800]

Jared Thompson thanks.

[@FireRescue80]

@@cooldomino1800 Yup. No problem.

[@SirensandThunderbolts1003]

Good video!

[@cooldomino1800]

Sirens & Thunderbolts 1003 thanks.

[@Creeperboy099]

There needs to be more videos like this

[@cooldomino1800]

I think so too.

[@TexasRailfan2008]

Creeperboy099 especially for new thunderbolt owners!

[@johndeerefan725]

​@@TexasRailfan2008 and towns that still have Thunderbolts still in service.

[@United_HVAC_and_Fans]

i have the same camera as you (Cannon Vixia HF R800) btw great video, love thunderbolts.

[@cooldomino1800]

Me too!

[@FederalSignal2T22B]

Where Do I Buy This .

[@cooldomino1800]

Got it from a friend. The blower came from another friend.

[@cooldomino1800]

They are extremely hard to find unfortunately, you might be able to get one from WSS.

[@FederalSignal2T22B]

@@cooldomino1800 god dang it i live in an apartment and my garden is small as heck so i need a big house for this beauty

[@FederalSignal2T22B]

And garden

[@Sirensofgrimescounty]

@@cooldomino1800doesnt WSS have like an entire field full of thunderbolts near the trees

[@coolguy345depaula2]

Nice siren i was looking for a detail nice good thing i saw this vid

[@emrilbennett8704]

This is really cool thanks

[@maxx-1996]

33:35 growl test

[@BlueNovaVROfficial]

what you want to do is inspect the chopper of the siren this is the chopper- (SLAAAP!!!!) (SLAAAAAP!!!!) the slaps got me dead also i dont think SLAPPING the chopper is propper anyways-

[@cooldomino1800]

An I get a time stamp?

[@BlueNovaVROfficial]

@@cooldomino1800 1:37

[@yoitsmoe967]

Will be watching this if I get my hands on the thunderbolt in Windsor Hills and Overhill dr Los Angeles, CA

[@cooldomino1800]

Ok. Well. Good luck finding one.

[@stickwelder3776]

So much bigger than I thought

[@J19_vlogger74]

Most, if not all, of them are bigger than they look. Even up-close videos are unable to give true justice of their size. Looking at a T-128, you'd never guess that they are 4 1/2 feet tall. Seeing them in person is almost breathtaking. It's incredible.

[@monicacoon2983]

Any idea how to fix brushes on a thunderbolt or how to replace them

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. I can possibly make a video of that.

[@ReverseThunder18]

What was holding the bracket onto the bottom of the chopper holder? Do you need a hex wrench for that too?

[@cooldomino1800]

@@ReverseThunder18 there’s 4 bolts on the bottom of the bracket near the weather cap.

[@twmax4137]

it sounded like it was ran with a blower in the end

[@cooldomino1800]

TΩwmaX yup. I had a leaf blower.

[@einark3846]

Is this siren is able to do the Hi Lo sound?

[@cooldomino1800]

This is a 1000T so with these parts it can’t The thunderbolt 1003 can do hilo because it has solenoids blocking off one of two tones alternatively.

[@V.G.F.]

Perfect video.

[@ScarOne314]

Maybe you can make video on how to replace damaged parts if somebody would have Thunderbolt with damaged parts.

[@cooldomino1800]

Sure. Like what parts you would like to see?

[@ScarOne314]

@@cooldomino1800 How to change brushes, coils and fields.

[@cooldomino1800]

@@ScarOne314 ok. I’ll see what I can do.

[@ScarOne314]

@@cooldomino1800 Ok Thanks.

[@Snake-561]

Very informative video but my question kind of still remains. How does the siren rotate without binding the wires for the rotor?

[@cooldomino1800]

There’s a think called collector rings and brushes which transfers power from the rotator to the chopper.

[@Snake-561]

@@cooldomino1800 Ahh I see, so the wires don't actually move with the rotating parts, the power gets transferred through the brushes. I didn't even think of that. Thanks for the info and quick response!

[@cooldomino1800]

@@Snake-561 No problem!

[@ScarOne314]

Nice...

[@cooldomino1800]

Thanks!

[@ScarOne314]

@@cooldomino1800 Also, is there a video, how to do Maintanance on Thunderbolt 1003? I would like to see how to maintanance the Solenoids. And last question, where you got this thunderbolt from?

[@cooldomino1800]

The Siren Kingdom! I did not see a video on how to do a 1003 maintenance. But if I get one I’ll be sure to do it. And also. This siren is not mine. It belongs to a friend.

[@ScarOne314]

@@cooldomino1800 Ok.

[@danerichardson446]

I really wish i could get a hold of a thunderbolt

[@soum23]

You could go to West Shore Services...

[@danerichardson446]

@@soum23 i actually got some😂😂

[@soum23]

Oh ok!

[@Tbolt1000TForLife]

Me too but sadly I can't afford it right now. Maybe someday.

[@danerichardson446]

Funny story i actually got two oldies

[@kingdomplayeranimations5519]

Where does the blower go to the chopper?

[@cooldomino1800]

The air from the blower comes up from under the head.

[@pLzza4150]

If you have a Thunderbolt 1003, can you tell me how to do maintenance on the dampers/solenoids? Edit: When I said "tell me", I meant to say "make a video".

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. I would definitely do that. If I have one.

[@pLzza4150]

Thanks.

[@VintageCollections]

Weird question, but does a bottom motor bearing on a Model 2 also just slide out like that on a Thunderbolt? I recently acquired a Model 2 and am having trouble with getting that free.

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. It should come out of the bearing holder. I will finish editing my model 2 repair video sometime soon.

[@VintageCollections]

@@cooldomino1800 ok! Thanks!

[@ThunderboltSiren1003]

And also I have a question what is the heaviest part on the thunderbolt?

[@cooldomino1800]

Probably the blower. 4M is 500 lbs while 6M is 800 lbs.

[@ThunderboltSiren1003]

@@cooldomino1800 what about the Rotator in the chopper and all that stuff like the head of the siren

[@cooldomino1800]

@@ThunderboltSiren1003 I’m going to say approximately 300-400 lbs.

[@ThunderboltSiren1003]

@@cooldomino1800 what's the heaviest part on it though like the siren head the chopper and the Rotator box and all that stuff and the horn

[@cooldomino1800]

@@ThunderboltSiren1003 the horn is like 80 lbs, chopper is like 60 lbs, and rotator assembly is around 140 lbs. these numbers are just rough estimates.

[@Sirensofgrimescounty]

what voltage and amp level do bolt choppers run at (chopper level 1)

[@cooldomino1800]

120v at 5-7 amps.

[@Sirensofgrimescounty]

@@cooldomino1800so you can run it off of standard house outlets! Great!

[@christophermattox3972]

I love this. Let me ask you this. Do you have this plug into 120 and 220?

[@cooldomino1800]

I made a video on my 2nd channel about how to get 240 from 120.

[@christophermattox3972]

@@cooldomino1800 OK. The reason I asked is because I am blind and I am not able to see what you were doing but I really do appreciate the description on how you are taking things apart and putting things back together.

[@Jd-gy7kk]

@@christophermattox3972 if you are blind, i would not recommend trying to do electrical work without help, if you put one thing in the wrong place or touch one thing that is "live," it could be the end of your siren, or even worse, your life

[@christophermattox3972]

@@Jd-gy7kk that’s why I got my pastor who’s going to help me hook this up.

[@Jd-gy7kk]

@@christophermattox3972 good to know, just trying to be helpful, good luck!

[@SportyTrainGuy]

Nice! Do you know any dimensions of the siren? I want to build at half, 1/4, or 1/8 of the regular sire

[@cooldomino1800]

I’ll have to take some measurements. You can also look in the thunderbolt manual.

[@SportyTrainGuy]

@@cooldomino1800 The Thunderbolt Manual?

[@cooldomino1800]

@@SportyTrainGuy www.civildefensemuseum.com/sirens/manuals/thunderbolt/Tbolt-2.pdf

[@SportyTrainGuy]

@@cooldomino1800 lol, I actually somehow came across that link earlier, sorry for making you searching up that link for me

[@cooldomino1800]

@@SportyTrainGuy it’s ok.

[@triclamite]

how change chopper level

[@cooldomino1800]

You need a RCM or a variable transformer to change the chopper level. For a RCM, you connect one lead anywhere between 1 and 7 while the other lead is connected to common.

[@raventool8786]

Where do you get the sirens

[@cooldomino1800]

I got this one In the video from a friend.

[@9_12Port3T2I]

Where'd you get 3 phase 240vac

[@cooldomino1800]

This siren does not need 3 phase. For my SD10, I got power from a school and from my phase converter I’m making.

[@9_12Port3T2I]

@@cooldomino1800 Oh, what about the single phase 240vac

[@cooldomino1800]

@@9_12Port3T2I you can get that from a 240v outlet or by being 2 lives into a load. I made a video on my 2nd channel.

[@9_12Port3T2I]

@@cooldomino1800 Can I have the link to your second channel or maybe the video link?

[@cooldomino1800]

@@9_12Port3T2I my 2nd channel is linked in the description of the video or at the outro. Here’s the link on how to get 240. kzbin.info/www/bejne/mpKmY4Vjl9GFrZo

[@CoolSirens1000T]

How big is the horn to the chopper

[@cooldomino1800]

It’s around 5ft.

[@CoolSirens1000T]

@@cooldomino1800 thanks

[@soum23]

If I don’t have good brushes, do you happen to know where I could get a few?

[@cooldomino1800]

There are some on eBay that are very similar. I don’t have the link handy now but I’ll make a video of how to change the brushes.

[@soum23]

Oh ok, Thanks!

[@Jumpkourseven]

How could I buy one

[@cooldomino1800]

CoolSirens this one belongs to a friend. You may find one at West shore services.

[@Jumpkourseven]

Thank you

[@Jumpkourseven]

Anywhere else , I don’t live near west shore?

[@cooldomino1800]

@@Jumpkourseven you can ask cities that have them. Or fire departments.

[@Jumpkourseven]

Noice

[@Jd-gy7kk]

18:57, the rest of the siren is metal too, does that mean if you put power to the siren the ENTIRE siren is live?

[@cooldomino1800]

Normally no. Because the windings are isolated from ground. But it’s still important to ground your siren just in case something happens.

[@Jd-gy7kk]

@@cooldomino1800 oh, good to know. thanks

[@brandonburkest6229]

Could you do Allertir and 3t22 maintenance if you can.

[@cooldomino1800]

I would if I have them.

[@brandonburkest6229]

@@cooldomino1800 its all cool man

[@brandonburkest6229]

I am saving 1200 for an Allertor on Ebay. Once I get that thing, I'm gonna refurbish that baby.

[@cooldomino1800]

@@brandonburkest6229 nice! Good luck. Remember, think about the shipping.

[@faceplant755]

is it ok to grab the commutator like that?

[@cooldomino1800]

Can I get a time stamp?

[@faceplant755]

@@cooldomino1800 12:36

[@jacksonoffical]

Yeah like we just have a thunderbolt siren in our garage lol

[@natej4230]

Get a commutator stone and clean that commutator, repack the bearings and change the motor brushes, and it will run perfectly.

[@cooldomino1800]

I feel like its pretty good. It spins really nicely. the brushes are fine.

[@chass5438]

I was told that these can't be operated in temperatures under freezing or it will ruin the belt.

[@chass5438]

Edit: That's why they don't test them here when it's cold.

[@cooldomino1800]

@@chass5438 that makes sense.

[@midsouthexpress]

This may have been addressed, but how do you get new brushes if needed? Are parts still available for these?

[@cooldomino1800]

Brushes are still available. Because the model 2 is still being made. I found some angle grinder brushes that are the same size. I don’t have the link handy now.

[@EASOhio]

I got a link, actually, www.helwigcarbon.com/product-category/carbon-brush/spring-loaded/

[@cooldomino1800]

@@EASOhio Nice! there are a lot of brushes on there, Do you have a link for the exact set of brushes?

[@EASOhio]

@@cooldomino1800 I'm not sure which one's exactly, but I do know that they're the one's West Shore Services uses.

[@cooldomino1800]

@@EASOhio ok. Of I can find it, I’ll pin the link to brushes.

[@shawnahalbur4941]

I never seen a inside a thunderbolt sirenn😁👍

[@huskerman8850]

What do the brushes do again?

[@cooldomino1800]

For the collector rings, they push on the rings making a contact. The motor brushes will push against the commutator making a connector to energize the rotor.

[@TheJellyCan]

Hello, so I got a question how do you connect the wires to the thunderbolt to the control panel or plug. I have a thunderbolt 1000B in my garage and I’m trying to get the thing running again.

[@cooldomino1800]

So. What you need to do is locate 2 sets of wires. One if for the rotator and another is for the chopper. You need to connect 2 plugs to the system. (120vac or 240vac). Locate the 2 wires coming from the rotator motor and connect your power cord to that. Look for a black cable that has 2 wires in it that goes into the stand pipe. That is your chopper. I hope This helps.

[@TheJellyCan]

Can u pls make a video how to do that, I'm sorry I'm just not good at wiring lol. The people take took down the siren they disconnect meaning cut the wires off and I have no idea where to get the power to hook up the control panel

[@TheJellyCan]

And btw, where do I get the power to turn on the control panel too

[@cooldomino1800]

@@TheJellyCan sure. It may be a while. I also recommend looking at the thunderbolt manual.

[@cooldomino1800]

@@TheJellyCan I used a breaker panel. When I get a RCM, I’ll make a follow up video. I made a video on my 2nd channel on how to get 240vac.

[@ndvglowbass4631]

“Fs Thunderbolt 1000T Teardown”

[@cooldomino1800]

Yup. Pretty much!

[@EnDerCOmManNdeR]

Where did you get this siren from?

[@cooldomino1800]

From a friend.

[@nagitokomaeda5678]

I thought the warning said "do not watch with headphones"

[@cooldomino1800]

Darren8373 nope. It’s just harm to siren risk. Lol.

[@Nicmrict879]

I know you work chopper on 120vdc my thunderbolt 1000at is working at 12 vdc normally and safety voltages + vfd esc motor non brushes

[@MinecraftPro97k]

So, it would be impossible to do an Induction conversion?

[@cooldomino1800]

Shepherd Wolf like a phase converter?

[@Joethaboss66]

@@cooldomino1800 I think he means to replace the brushed chopper motor with an AC induction motor. Also, do you have a proper thunderbolt blower

[@cooldomino1800]

@@Joethaboss66 I don’t have a proper blower. So maybe if I had one.

[@doge4798]

How do you buy thunderbolt ?😭

[@cooldomino1800]

They are very hard to come by. I’m fixing this one for a friend. Also if you really want a full thunderbolt, I would look at west shore services for one. They are expensive tho.

[@doge4798]

@@cooldomino1800 Ok nice video

[@cooldomino1800]

@@doge4798 thanks!

[@doge4798]

@@cooldomino1800 no problem

[@zachz96]

Why does the chopper use a universal motor with brushes and not an induction motor?

[@cooldomino1800]

Zach Z because the motor runs on 1 phase and you can get higher horse power and RPM with a small motor. If this was a induction motor with the same horse power and RPM, it will be bigger and heavier. I hope this makes sense.

[@zachz96]

@@cooldomino1800 It makes sense now. The reason I asked is that an Induction motor does not have brushes and would not require as many consumable parts. Only the contact ring brushes would need to be replaced

[@cooldomino1800]

Zach Z yeah. As long as the commutator is good.

[@MinecraftPro97k]

@@cooldomino1800 But what about brushless DC motors?

[@cooldomino1800]

Shepherd Wolf that’s pretty much the same thing as a 3 phase induction motor.

[@LuxTinkering]

These are a lot bigger than i thought.

[@Chevy_Camaroz28]

1003's are 1000T's with solenoids

[@joemama38]

how would i obtain one

[@cooldomino1800]

They are very hard to find and get. Your best bet would be west shore services. You can also ask someone who is selling one. Or a fire department or city that has a inactive one.

[@lonely.toaster]

I like the video, but a lot of the time I hear “right here” at the beginning parts

[@soum23]

Btw How do you secure the Thunderbolt to the ground?...

[@cooldomino1800]

I would read the thunderbolt manual. But normally you will secure the stand pipe to a pole that’s in the ground.

[@soum23]

@@cooldomino1800 but I’m just wondering how you get the thunderbolt to rotate in the garage without it falling over...

[@cooldomino1800]

@@soum23 I mounted it to a shipping pallet.

[@soum23]

@@cooldomino1800 smart!

[@soum23]

@@cooldomino1800 what if I put rollers on the shipping pallet and put a thunderbolt on there do you think it would still rotate without falling over?

[@jeridtroncoso4090]

I was wondering how these beasts work

[@cooldomino1800]

Yeah. These are pretty cool!

[@noahandrewsandrews7830]

@@cooldomino1800 I agree with you the Thunderbolt is one of my favorite sounds plus I believe it's the only sign that run him a blower instead of a chopper correct me if I'm wrong

[@EnDerCOmManNdeR]

Can you do a maintenace on a p-50 pls??

[@cooldomino1800]

If I have one. Yes. But I don’t have one.

[@EnDerCOmManNdeR]

@@cooldomino1800 ok

[@nolongerused0000]

Nice

[@cooldomino1800]

Thanks

[@TylersSirensandEAS]

Is that an sd-10 at 33:57? Also I love that ending!

[@cooldomino1800]

Tylertheawesomdude2988 yup. It sure is.

[@1000BT]

is it a 4/5 or a 5/6

[@cooldomino1800]

5/6.

[@thelampcollections8190]

We did have a Thunderbolt siren but got replaced bc they did not watch this video

[@blurplemurple4960]

lol its a free exercise doing this

[@coolweathervids1849]

i would say you never told us what to do if there is something wrong

[@cooldomino1800]

True.

[@coolweathervids1849]

@@cooldomino1800 still i great tutorial i am hopefully getting a 2t22 and i don't see a lot of information on how to do maintenance on that

[@cooldomino1800]

@@coolweathervids1849 yeah. There’s a video out there on how to pull the rotors off on one of those.

[@coolweathervids1849]

@@cooldomino1800 ok if i get mine its a single phase so it has brushes i think soim going to have to look at

[@cooldomino1800]

@@coolweathervids1849 ok. All Thunderbolt choppers are 1 phase. Like a model 2.

[@sirensofwyoming2561]

IN THIS CASE

[@nelpitogo6813]

I Literally See A Brushed Motor

[@cooldomino1800]

Yup. That’s pretty much what a thunderbolt chopper motor is.

[@christinesalonga13]

ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

[@Youraveragecorrvette]

I don't have one but not toys

[@cooldomino1800]

good luck finding one

[@lutrav8615]

Flathead Screwdriver Philips Head Screwdriver

[@hectorquinteros5740]

I’m going to be honest you talk a little bit too fast

[@cooldomino1800]

Hector Quinteros sorry. Feel free to slow down this video. Lol.

[@boyfriend-z3o]

1003

[@cooldomino1800]

I would do a 1003 if I have one.