P-50/T-135AC Tornado Siren Alert & Attack Test West Allis, WI 4/08/09

Test of an ACA P-50 (also known as ASC T-135AC). It is owned and controlled by Milwaukee County Sheriff's Office of Emergency Management. The test is comprised of 1 minute each of alert and attack signals. This is the second time I've recorded this siren because I wanted to record it in stereo with my Canon S5IS.

[@dank980]

I love how you can literally hear the air rushing in and out the front

[@TheRepublicOfJohn]

I grew up in milwaukee and I remember the sound of this siren scaring the shit out of me when i was a little kid. Now i can't get enough of it. It's one of the lowest pitch start-ups I've found. Anybody else remember this from when they were a kid?

[@CallistoBetch]

OHHHH SHIT DID YA HEAR THE ACA HURRICANES?

[@Siren1000T1]

That still sounds healthy but is slightly damaged on the outside. I loved how that pole rocked back and forth after the attack signal. Nice catch John!

[@tyaju7574]

Wait, is RamFett called John?

[@Siren1000T1]

@@tyaju7574 Yes. His name is John.

[@tyaju7574]

@@Siren1000T1 Well, cool i guess.

[@seanjuth]

What a beautiful siren

[@ngaomitaiaroa9847]

Sounds lovely

[@jackwelch5429]

That what she said

[@wildsassy153]

*amine* WHOA THATS LOUD

[@seanjuth]

@@jackwelch5429 lol that was a horrible one

[@CentralOHSirens]

@@jackwelch5429 what

[@RamFett]

Thanks. I personally like the first few seconds of the wind down. The high and low tones almost seem to separate, sounding like two different sirens.

[@RamFett]

If I had 50 grand laying around, I'd have one of them put up in my yard.

[@westshore6899]

@Fernando Cortez and it’s bigger than a car

[@Coldfire1010]

@Fernando Cortezactually no. It’s not. The Chrysler bell victory air raid siren is.

[@shadowknightpg3d694]

@@Coldfire1010 he might have meant that the us still uses

[@TheEST270SPO]

@@Coldfire1010 yes the Chrysler is one of the biggest sirens ever made.

[@The-ultimate-Tornado-Channel]

@SHERIFF FERNANDO it saids Chrysler is the loudest but I think it’s false this video this the most loudest tornado siren

[@xaptus]

This is, and has always been, the best video of a P-50 out there

[@The-ultimate-Tornado-Channel]

Ikr

[@ChicagoSirens]

Its so scary hearing these in the distance during a tornado warning! Even thought they are faintly heard.

[@johnseeger9232]

Has this siren been replaced? I think I saw another video that was a 2001 with the exact same baxkground

[@schztinky2820]

In Memphis there is an ungodly amount of aca p10 15 and 50s and they restore them when they take damage same with thunderbolts which there is about 20

[@EASsirenVids01]

[deleted account] good

[@katherinetyler5543]

Do they get tested at the same time every month?

[@EASsirenVids01]

Katherine Tyler IDK

[@franuardo1]

This just calmed my one month old child.

[@arey721]

This siren has not been replaced. And even if it were to be replaced, a T-135 would take it's place, since Milwaukee County runs only on ACA/ASC Sirens. Milwaukee County only has the money to repair sirens, so if anything were to happen to this siren, a repair would happen

[@edwardinvegas]

hey ramfett i am a big fan of your siren videos!

[@BRISTOLFORCE2009]

Hard to believe this was recorded the day after I was born

[@RamFett]

Thanks Dan. The damage seems superficial, just wear and tear from exposure to the elements. The two holes in the fiberglass appear to be along what may have been seams or thin spots from assembly. You'll notice there are a couple of horizontal depressions along the projector as well. I wish I could rent a lift truck and get up there to patch all those up.

[@RamFett]

I've heard the video of that one (taken from the base of the pole). It's exactly the same model of siren as this one. How exactly does it sound like crap? Please explain.

[@MarcusDiazWX]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't the attack mode used (or was used) for stuff like missle strikes? I remember when the Cuban Missle Crisis happened they were to use the attack mode for missle launch.

[@katnob]

I really like the full wind up on this one -- the low, growling tones are fantastic! It's really disappointing when you compare any modern siren model to older ones like this, thunderbolts, xt22s etc...there's no comparison.

[@RamFett]

Yes, the 8/12 port ratio produces a very distinct, creepy sound. Especially from a distance.

[@RamFett]

Interesting. I've not heard of them that far west. I've only heard of ones in Wisconsin, Illinois, Texas and Tennesee. Was it an active installation and if so, do you know what it is intended to warn of?

[@TheRepublicOfJohn]

that slow wind up to full speed and that particular ratio of tones... still freaks me out after 20 years. a couple p-50s (the one on 76th and Oklahoma in particular) mixed with a couple allertors was the nightmare sound of my childhood, and the p-50 still makes me anxious

[@theboywhodroveaway7954]

Well, thats not funny.

[@RamFett]

Thank you. Yes, this is the Greenfield Park siren. I honestly wasn't expecting a test, so around 11:00 I called the EM office and when I got an answer in the affirmative, I didn't have a new siren scouted out to record. So I went to this old standby, which I wanted to get a better video of anyway. Plus I really like the yellow on this one.

[@bait28]

hey dude. how loud is this to you. i'm after one for it's next test i NEED saftey warnings. i was planning on about 70-90 ft away on a tripod. dosen't mean i'll be that close but i may put the camera there. i may bak up if i must. should i use hearing protection?

[@RamFett]

@ESP472 The attack signal is the rising/falling signal that starts at 1:42. It is used to warn of an impending disaster and basically means take cover immediately. The alert means that a potentially threatening situation is developing and to seek further information via tv, radio, etc. Alert is what is used for tornado warnings. Except for tests, I can't remember the attack signal ever being used.

[@KawaiiHippityHop-cl5bb]

Everyone: chilling in class That one kid in the hallway:

[@murrfarms]

Oh wow, I was thinking this was the only yellow one in Milwaukee County! Where's the other one located? I'll have to scout those out and take pictures when I come out there either this month or next.

[@dilloncarpenter]

dude i swear, you have some of the best siren videos on youtube. i like how this thing sounds like a monster on the wind up.

[@artichokedip5.972]

Back then he had some of the ONLY siren videos on KZbin

[@SirensOfSEWI]

All siren poles do that. that's the natural bending of the wooden pole. it's not broken. It's meant to bend so it doesnt snap in half when a major storm comes through.

[@RamFett]

As in sirens that I own? There are two right now: I have an ACA Howler & a Federal Signal 3T22A. I'm working on getting a thunderbolt.

[@Backyardmech1]

I remember seeing one of these on the East side of Paris, TX behind a shopping center as a little kid. Brings back the memory of the noon time tests.

[@superjoe87]

Just with the zoom you have proves how MAMMOTH these things are. Great video dude!!!

[@J19_vlogger74]

2:00 Is it me or can you see the horn vibrating from the sound?

[@RamFett]

That's because it has two motors: One spins the rotor, making the noise and a separate one rotates the entire siren head. When the siren is shut off, the rotator simply stops, while the rotor winds down. Some other sirens have only one motor with a gear or belt drive that powers the rotation. Those types of rotators slow down at the same rate as the rotor does, as opposed to stopping abruptly.

[@Nicsirens]

The Aca P-50 must be soo loud how can know one hear that Echo like 😊

[@brandonburkest6229]

one of the healthiest P50's out there on KZbin. This might be the healthiest

[@RamFett]

@icecoldprincess2009 If you're talking about how long it takes to go from the alert signal to the attack signal, that's because the person controlling them took a minute to start the second part of the test. It has nothing to do with the siren itself. Sometimes they wait a minute like this, other times they start the attack part immediately.

[@zappatx]

I don't see how these stay up with the wind capturing them. Perhaps the hole was a wind relief which just rusted out? What year were these made by the way?

[@TspesVladD]

@RamFett, so your saying that a lot of the times, they get tested, every other month? It seems very rare in the Chicago area for the test to be cancelled. Even if bad weather is coming, they might at least turn it on, and let it rotate once, maybe.

[@SouthernRailfan]

What if they made a double headed rotor with 2 horns in each side like the Federal Signal 550-AT siren in Calhan Co.

[@BossCoins2]

This is an ACA P-50, because it stopped rotating before wind down, unlike ASC T-135s which stop rotating after they wind down, and during attack, T-135s don’t stop rotating until they almost completely wind down after the attack.

[@wolfmaster873]

introducing the worlds biggest bucket

[@murrfarms]

They can still make the most recently-dropped ones on special order (i.e. the P-50/T-135, Cyclone, Allertronic, etc), but from what I hear it's expensive since they have to make them from what parts they have left over. If I had to guess, I'd say the P-50/T-135AC would be in the neighborhood of $50,000 or more now, which is why you don't see anyone buying them anymore.

[@Bonemeal2]

Looking at pics of a 135 that was removed in Allen, TX, that thing has to be what...8' in diameter? I see in both the T-135/P-50 vids that these sirens rock back and forth. I know they've gotta be heavy sirens, but isn't there any way to re-enforce the pole just a bit? I mean, if there's any risk one could come toppling down? Sorry if this was already discussed. I would've read more, but I could see you (RamFett) had an incident with a spammer or something. It dwarfs my puny FS-2001.

[@TspesVladD]

@RamFett, so, could they one month, just do alert, and the next month, do both alert and attack? Thanks!

[@TspesVladD]

If I were to collect some sirens, I would get an allertor, or a siratone 612 would be cool. Do you just have these on display?

[@RamFett]

@TspesVladD Milwaukee County does perform growl tests sometimes, when they feel that full testing is not an option. You can tell because all the sirens will be about a quarter turn from their positions before. And the county claims to pefrorm silent tests and equipment polling even more often. But yeah, it is fairly rare for full testing to take place in two consecutive months.

[@TspesVladD]

I agree with you, T-135s are one one of my all time favorite sirens. They are so powerful when they wind up.

[@wildsassy153]

Its a p-50

[@brandonburkest6229]

this is the healthiest on youtube

[@jmnolasco6415]

Happy birthday tornado Siren

[@brandonburkest6229]

best p50 video

[@oakcreekrailroadproduction3907]

I didn't know there were yellow versions of that siren, are there any of those sirens in other colors?

[@RamFett]

Several holes, actually. The projector's fiberglass is deteriorating. Watch in full screen and HQ and you'll see how much the siren itself vibrates the fiberglass. No wonder it's coming apart after being in sevice for 20+ years.

[@d00mhound]

Imagine that as a carnival ride

[@seanjuth]

It would blow you up Louder than the stupid bell on a carousel

[@springlocksD]

I thought of that too except with a thunderbolt

[@childishtombino1275]

This isn't an ASC as it stops rotating during the attack mode. Only ACAs stopped rotating, so this is actually just a P-50.

[@form109]

@RamFett is the Whole Signal Housing Made of Fiberglass,or Just the Projector Horn?

[@TspesVladD]

Do you have any other sirens in your collection?

[@aidantherailfan2175]

Aca allertor: hey P50 your a bucket! P50: and your a toilet Aca allertor:

[@mikopup1309]

aidan Traindude21 to be honest that’s true

[@RamFett]

@zappatx They are well anchored in the ground and have a lot of weight to hold them there, wind is not much of an issue. The holes are on a fiberglass part, so they are not caused by rusting. It becomes brittle and cracks due exposure to the elements, as well as extreme vibration produced by the siren itself. There are no relief holes in the projector, as they would disperse sound. I do not know the exact years of production, but this one is from the 1980's.

[@harrodsburgNSfan]

besides the chrysler air raid siren, aren't these the largest and loudest sirens around?

[@littlecampers9828]

Make sure that if I pause , IT WONT KEEP GOING

[@rdfox76]

Damn, look at the torque that sucker puts on the pole whenever the rotator starts or stops. How much do these things weight, anyway?

[@RamFett]

You're not seeing things, the shroud is rippling when the siren runs at full. At first I thought the tree branches were distorting the video, but you'll notice it only happens when the siren hits its peak. Considering how much vibration I could feel from 150 feet away, the fiberglass right next to the source of the noise would definitely experience the same thing, just a lot stronger.

[@WAYNE1980AA]

yes. may i use some of the audio of your videos for my simcity movies?

[@RamFett]

@impoll Fiberglass doesn't rust. It is an older one, though. ACA seems to have only produced their earlier P-50's in yellow.

[@Incurso91]

@RamFett I think he means the P-50 needs to continue rotating throughout its Attack cycle. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe if it stops rotating during Attack, then the chopper motor and rotator are wired together.

[@Bonemeal2]

Well, if it's of any help, "T-135" is more than just the model; it's also a description. T, of course, is short for "Tempest". 135 is the measurement. 135 decibels at 100 ft. That's what I read at the American Signal website. Hope that helps.

[@RamFett]

@truemetalist89 ACA, which became ASC. After the company changed names, the siren was re-named the Tempest 135, or T-135.

[@form109]

@AcaAllertor127 Cool...where did you find out? it Sounds Right...a 50 HP Motor has to be VERY heavy.

[@RamFett]

No shootigs. The shroud's coming apart because it is old, brittle fiberglass housing a siren that creates intense sound vibrations that are ripping it apart. I'd bet the fiberglass is at or beyond it's intended lifespan by now. Yes, I was happy with the postiions it stopped at for wind-downs. My freshly charged rechargable batteries gave out and cut off the very end of the wind down. I apologize. P-50 stands for Penetrator-50 hp. Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Gift.

[@Bonemeal2]

@spotandtiggerbug What's the difference? Isn't the T-135 the exact same siren as the P-50? Only thing I noticed was that THIS particular siren is yellow. Not bad, that shade of yellow.

[@olegsidorow9089]

Bonemeal2 the AC Version

[@coolmendotdot2]

What do the signals "Alert" and "Attack" mean? I only know the german ones :)

[@lumpysnake]

Is it just me or does part of the fiberglass projector in line with the chopper vibrate a bit? It looks like it ripples a bit when the siren is at full speed. That might be the source of the holes. Lol, the siren is so loud it literally destroys itself with sound waves. :P

[@IAIS96]

Lol it tested on my Birthday lol nice sounding siren one of my favorite sirens!

[@DiceMau5er]

do these have an some kind of fan blade in them or impeller?

[@gajda1984]

One of the best P50 vids on youtube! 5 stars!

[@RamFett]

@Bigrick356 I believe ASC has already done that with the new T-135's, which are roughly 1-2 db louder than the P-50, although neither is actually 135 db. As is typical of manufacturers, the advertised db ratings are higher than the actual ones, even in perfect conditions. The P-50 is still my favorite siren, though.

[@AKSoapy29]

If you add a blower to it, would it be alot louder?

[@form109]

These Sirens are 135 DB at 100 Feet....they are currently the Largest,Loudest Dual Tone Sirens being Made.....one of my Personal Favorites also :-)

[@twotailedavenger]

I forget, what are the projectors of 2001s made from? Plastic?

[@krystalbonsall9416]

I think it’s at 474/713 hz. Right?

[@NickSilcox3]

@Frefind this is supplied with a 50HP motor, with the name, p-50 (penetrator-50hp) since the diameter of the projector is 6FT, i think the chopper is 2-3feet in diameter, so you need some serous horses to turn an impeller that big! biggest and loudest(135dB at 100ft) ROTATING siren in the world, Chrysler don't rotate(138dB at 100ft)

[@barbaraespino62393]

The attack signal is not right. It’s Supposed to stop every half rotation.

[@TheSleepyMechanic0524]

I wonder how loud a single tone P-50 could've been. Since single tone sirens are louder than their dual tone counterpart. For example: an FS Thunderbolt 1000(single tone) is 127 DB @ 100 FT. The 1000T/1003 is 126 DB @ 100 FT

[@benriek8492]

P-50s are not single toned. All of them are Dual toned

[@acap5084]

how far away were you from that siren cause that is very very loud!!!!!!!!??

[@Murr1can]

P-50 holds the record for the second loudest siren at 135 decibels at 100ft, which to put in perspective, a gun being fired is around 145 decibels, and a 400,000 watt rock concert sized speaker can be 130-150 decibels.

[@will09666]

15 years later it's still up but scheduled for replacement

[@RamFett]

It's in Jackson Park on the south side of Milwaukee, in some woods near a Union Pacific's Mitchell rail yard. Archon took pictures of it, you can see them on the siren archive.

[@RamFett]

Thanks. Yeah, there's a hole. The last time I recorded this siren I saw a little piece of the fiberglass fall out, but the crappy camera couldn't zoom in close enough to show it.

[@loryr405]

is it just the camera or is the siren tilting back and forth at 1:10

[@sirenmaster1735]

Why does the wind down sound like a 125?

[@quadrensiren1092]

is that sirenstill operational?

[@barton1931]

All your postings are so cool. I'd love to have one these babies in my yard, but I suppose it would annoy the neighbors. Is there a hole rusted through the resonator? Did you ever record the siren in Jackson Park? Looks like the same siren I think, and it overloks the baseball diamond. Plenty of room to set up camera and mics. Do you use PZM mics or what?? KEEP THE SIRENS COMING!!

[@CharlesD72681]

Never seen one up close before how big are these things???

[@form109]

now that i think of it...it seems the Federal Signal 2001 copies just a little Bit from this Design?

[@RamFett]

@misterwhelen4004 That would be true, except that they're not in production anymore. The ASC T-135 AC/DC now fills the role of loudest siren in production. Neither siren actually produces a full 135 decibels (ratings are almost always hyped up by the manufacturers), and the new one is slightly (1 or 2 db) higher than the old P-50. I still prefer the old ones. Thanks for subscribing, though.

[@theogt821]

These are definitely loud sirens. We had a Thunderbolt 1000T that really put out the sound, which was replaced by a T-128 about five years ago. The T-128 is a pretty good siren, but I think the T-135 would be much better as it is much louder. I know this is similar to that, so I do admire the video as it is a really great siren.

[@minkyblack]

do they even make these anymore?

[@StormChasersofOhio]

is it true that a person can stand in that?

[@hawkplaya94]

i get to see this in exactly two weeks at 12 noon here in san angelo texas this siren is an effin beast!!!!!!!!!!

[@hotdogstockimage]

Does anyone know if this P-50 is still in service or was replaced?

[@icecoldprincess2009]

Great quality recording!!! This sounds a little strange as it gradually quietens itself after sounding and seems to take forever to start it's next sound to me.