Federal Signal PA300 and Priority alert

mavericknet · Post by **mavericknet** » Sat Sep 21, 2002 10:51 pm

Members of my ambulance company don't consider Hi-Lo to be anything other than a car alarm. But it's the standard they seem to love to buy when they get sirens. I know they make the PA300 with a Priority siren tone (kinda like hyper-yelp). Now here's the question... anybody know what to replace in or to make a Hi-Lo PA300 sound the Priority tone instead of Hi-Lo.

Thanks in advance

kb9rre · Post by **kb9rre** » Sun Sep 22, 2002 1:11 pm

i have manual on pa300 and there is nothing in there about it

mavericknet · Post by **mavericknet** » Sun Sep 22, 2002 3:10 pm

They're two seperate models, but I can't figure it being much more than some transistors and maybe a microchip difference. But I can't get my hands on a "spare" to tinker with... at least not soldering wise.

kb9rre · Post by **kb9rre** » Sun Sep 22, 2002 3:52 pm

i have a friend of a friend who works for federal i will see if he can get me some info.

Jay G. · Post by **Jay G.** » Wed Nov 06, 2002 7:45 pm

I called Federal a while back. The boards in the two units are totally different. From what the tech told me, BUY A NEW ONE! Thats what I did!

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 12:59 pm

Steps to remove the HiLo sound from you unit's PA300 siren:

1: Loosen and remove the Federal Signal siren from it's mounts.

2: Unplug the Federal Signal Siren.

3: Insert Whelen HFS1A siren and Whelen adaptor harness to plug into existing PA300 wires.

4: Use a haligan or pick-head axe and relieve any built up stress on the unit from step one.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 3:35 pm

That's pretty harsh to one very hard working series of sirens. I'll bet there are more Federal's out there than whelen units.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 8:39 pm

perhaps, but the whelen ones don't sound like they are an ambulance moving through the country side of France...

DEEEEE dooooooooo DEEEEEEE dooooooooooo DEEEEEEE doooooo.

I sometimes turn that one on when I on our rescue just as a nerve relaxer. It makes us all laugh.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Thu Nov 07, 2002 8:54 pm

Its not even close to the hee-haw that europe used at one time. They accomplished that by cycling actual air horns to make that tone - pre electronics siren days.

I'll stick to my federal... I've trusted my life to PA300 and Q series, they get the job done.

PA300 sounds pretty damn good in 200w mode on an ambulance chassis

mavericknet · Post by **mavericknet** » Fri Nov 08, 2002 7:34 am

All of our f/r vehicles (except our newest) have PA300s, the drivers whine about having that hi-lo... when they went and bought a replacement for a coffee spill they got the same damn model (w/HiLo).... go figure.. anyway, thanks bunches for shooting down hope of stopping the whining... not that they wouldn't start whining about the radios not having lcd displays....

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 1:00 pm

Even better... Drop in a Whelen X-Ecutor. You get wail, yelp, piercer, "The Q Sound", a grover airhorn, and a ringing bell. And it draws only 10 amps as opposed to a few hundred that a regular Q draws.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 3:51 pm

But the Q is just cool if you're out to make some LOUD noise!

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Sat Nov 09, 2002 4:46 pm

Interestingly enough, the dB out of of the Federal Q is actually less than that of a Whelen X-Ecutor. I am not a salesman but I have been working on specs for our new rescue and have been researching this stuff.

Also, think about this. On a Federal Q, the sound comes out all around the sides on a vertical plane up, down, and to the sides, NOT out the front. Yea, it is loud as hell, but that sound isn't all going where you need it. What good is sound that goes up into the sky and into the pavement and into the trees. Oh yea, that sound that goes up also goes straight into the cab of the vehicle.

The X-Ecutor's sound is all projected out the front of that nice big speaker and at a higher dB than the Q in the first place. And the whole 10 amp thing, thats nice too. You don't watch the volt meter drop when you hit it.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Sun Nov 10, 2002 5:00 pm

You are right. The Q is old technology and like so much of the fire service enjoys a place of tradition within it. I don't think anyone out here has a whelen unit at all. Its all either Q or dual speaker electronic sirens.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Thu Nov 14, 2002 12:58 pm

The first thing we learned back in Fire I:

"A hundred years of tradition unhampered by progress."

Post by Pj » Thu Nov 14, 2002 2:23 pm

nmfire10 wrote:....a grover airhorn, and a ringing bell....

Does this come standard with the Ocar the Grouch officer in the front seat?

Those new Whelen sirens are LOUD. Pretty cool, but nothing will replace stepping on the Q foot pedal and watching all the lights dim out in the truck...

007 · Post by **007** » Tue Nov 26, 2002 9:48 pm

I've got the "Priority" selected on my SmartSiren, instead of Hi/lo, but it will drive you insane if you leave it on for more then clearing an intersection gettting a vehicle to move. It's a very obnoxious sound.

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 7:34 am

I got a hundred bucks that says that even a 10 year old PA300 will outlast any new Whelen siren by four times the life (if installed properly).

The only reason you find Whelen as OEM on many vehicles is the fact that they literally give it to the manufacturers for just about nothing. The other manufacturers have good products- and they know it. They don't give things away for peanuts. If y'all noticed, there are many more Federal and TOMAR lighting/audible packages showing up on the higher-line type ambulances and fire engines now.

As for the "fake Q".......burn it! It's not nearly as penetracting as the Magnum dual tone sirens. They can preach all they want about dB (all four standard weighings) ratings and such, but the electronic Q is a joke. Granted, the Q2B pulls 350 amps on startup and maintains a 160 amp draw when up to speed, there is no substitute for it. Many have tried and they all have failed.

Code 3 sirens: they're powerful and have a bunch of cool sounds, features and other toys, but......keep a spare one or two on hand at all times.

The GE Power Call/Siren and the old Motorola T1300A (both 58 watts) are still louder than most of the modern ones when driving the same type speaker- and they sound so cool!

The bottom line: if you want your PA300 to sound different, buy another siren or take it apart and start playing around altering resistances. You can make some really unique sounds like this and chances are, you want want the new one.

I'll always recommend the North American Signal Co. S!-75 series units with the "RIOT" mode. They're pricey, but you'll have a penetrating sound unlike anyone else around.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 9:07 am

And they are ALL made by Sound-Off!

jim · Post by **jim** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 11:40 am

We don't need smart asses out here. Some of you just can't take it when somneone knows more than you. Maybe some day you too will do this work 70 hours a week an own a successful business that specializes in this type of equiment. Just because I DO INTERNAL REPAIRS AND SEE WHAT IS INSIDE and some people obviosly aren't up to this (or have no clue whats going on- these guys I call "butt-splicers" ), there is no need to be sarcastic because I know something that you don't!

And for the record, wise guy, no- Sound-Off doesn't make them. They are produced in-house.

nmfire10 · Post by **nmfire10** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 1:04 pm

Dude, you need to take a few deep breathes and relax. Every time you post, it something angry and bashing. "This product sucks. Why would you ever buy that. I am smarter than all of you. You don't know anything, etc etc." Perhaps there is some medication that can assist you.

You will never live down the flasher thing because you are simply wrong about it. Brag about yourself all you want. I don't care. Everytime you speak, it makes me take what you say less and less seriously. I am begining to find it funny. Maybe you shouldn't be working 70hrs a week, I think it is starting to get to you. I take that back. It HAS gotten to you.

apco25 · Post by **apco25** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 2:07 pm

I agree the $100 post. PA300 will last just about forever!

007 · Post by **007** » Wed Nov 27, 2002 9:31 pm

Our cleantop cars have PA300's, most still being the old silver face '300's....in two years, I've seen one particular PA300 out last 18 Code 3 V-Con sirens...no s&%t!! I kept track of how many were replaced compared to my control sample '96 Crown Vic.

Anyone who bets against the PA300 is a foolish man.

motorolamonster911 · Post by **motorolamonster911** » Mon Dec 02, 2002 3:27 pm

I do agree that the PA-300 is a very well made siren, but the stupid Hi-Lo tone gets on my nerves.

I have a Whelen 200W, hands-free with wail, yelp, piercer, airhorn, radio re-broadcast ,back-lit functions, and a pa mic that gets moved around from vehicle to vehicle, and it has outlasted any Federal Siren I have ever seen. No doubt. Stick with a Whelen.

Federal Signal PA300 and Priority alert

Federal Signal PA300 and Priority alert

pa300

I figure its gotta be circuitry

pa300

Thanks Jay G

Nothin beats a Whelen