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The ACA Cyclone is an electro-mechanical, omnidirectional, dual-tone outdoor warning siren produced from 1968 to 2007 by Alerting Communicators of America (ACA). Originally intended for civil defense purposes, early versions of the Cyclone are rated at 120dB from 100ft, and later models are rated at 125dB.
The ACA Cyclone was designed by James E. Biersach of Alerting Communicators of America and presented at a Civil Defense convention in November 1968. It was originally rated at 120dB at 100 feet, but was eventually redesigned to the point of reaching 125dB at 100 feet. It utilizes a 40 HP motor (120) or 50 HP motor (125) due to the drag-heavy rotor design. The rotor consists of a "double intake" design, which is believed to have been inspired by Federal's 500 SH-TT siren rotor.
The first version, the 1968 Cyclone 120, had both rows of ports angled downwards. Like some of the other 1968 ACA siren designs, it was changed shortly after to improve performance. These improvements included a new, simple intake, and most notably the top row of ports being straightened out, as to direct the low tone outwards for maximum range while projecting the high tone downwards to the immediate area. At some point afterwards we also saw the use of the long, curved intake as seen on their 3 signal sirens. This allowed for an optional coding damper to be added, which produced a pulsating "local code" tone.
In 1979, ACA was experimenting with the design of the Cyclone 120 to try and get the best performance possible. This included a slightly re-designed top cover, and a ring placed around the bottom of the stator to direct the sound outwards more smoothly. In 1980, this design was scrapped, and ACA unveiled the Cyclone 125, which came fitted with a new intake, a sound dispersion cone in the intake, and most notably a parallel stator, projecting both the high tone and low tone outwards. This was further assisted by a lip or "ring" added to the top cover of the siren. At this time, ACA unveiled the Penetrator-50, a 135dB rotating siren which replaced the Hurricane 130. The P-50 reused the rotor and stator of the Cyclone 120, and was produced alongside the Cyclone 125 until the early 2000s when both sirens were discontinued in favor of more modern sirens. [1]
| Years | Type | Motor HP | Rotor/Stator interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–1970 | Cyclone 120 | 40 HP | 8-12 port | Stator with angled bottom-row ports |
| 1970–1980 | Cyclone 120 | 40, 50 HP | 8-12 port | Stator with angled bottom-row ports, larger intake. Allowed for a 3-signal coding mechanism |
| 1980-1995 | Cyclone 125 | 50 HP | 8-12 port | Parallel stator, Redesigned Intake, later in 1990's Skirted Option was available using Banshee bottom Skirt |
| 1995-2007 | OM-125-AC / C-125-AC | 50 HP | 8-12 port | Parallel Stator, Redesigned Intake, Skirted versions now using OM-120 Bottom skirts |
| Town | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hereford, TX | 125 | 7 | Active |
| Bunceton, MO | 120 | 1 | Removed, Replaced by 2T22 |
| Carrollton, MO | 120 | 1 | Active |
| Cheyenne, WY | 120 | 4 | Removed, some units were 50HP Powered. Replaced by 2001's |
| Toluca, IL | 120 | 1 | Active, has "hourglass" intake but no signs of a coding mechanism |
| New Richland, MN | 120 | 1 | Removed, Replaced by Eclipse-8 after it was struck by lightning, sold on auction |
| Eldon, MO | 120 | 1 | Inactive |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 120 | 1 | Removed, Ran in Pulse and Attack during attacks |
| Nekoosa, WI | 125 | 1 | Inactive, Motor died out |
| Philadelphia, PA | 125 | 1 | Active, Philadelphia Gas Works siren |
| Harrisburg, PA | 125 | 60 | Removed. Three Mile Island Nuclear, two units remain inactive. |
| Gore, OK | 125 | 1 | Inactive. Ex-Sequoyah Fuels |
| Newkirk, OK | 125 | 1 | Active. Reverse wired |
| Boynton, OK | 125 | 1 | Active |
| Bensenville, IL | 125 | 3 | Active |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 125 | 9 | Active, most used for Chevron Richmond Refinery |
| Orangeburg, SC | 125 | 3 | Active. SI Group sirens |
| Williams Bay, WI | 125 | 1 | Inactive |
| Park Falls, WI | 125 | 2 | Active |
| Howards Grove, WI | 125 | 1 | Active |
| Kiel, WI | 125 | 2 | Active, one was replaced by ASC AT-121 |
| Campbellsport, WI | 125 | 1 | Active |
| La Farge, WI | 125 | 1 | Active |
| Somerset, WI | 125 | 1 | Active, optional 3-signal coding damper equipped |
| Waupun, WI | 125 | 3 | Removed, replaced by Federal Signal 508-128's |
| Cedarburg, WI | 125 | 5 | Removed, replaced by T-121's |
| Columbus, NE | 125 | 3 | Removed |
| Two Rivers, NE | 125 | 1 | Removed, replaced by T-128. Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant |
| Two Creeks, WI | 125 | 1 | Removed, originally replaced an ACA Hurricane, was replaced by T-128. Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant |
| Mequon, WI | 125 | 6 | Removed, replaced by T-135's |
| Amarillo, TX | 125 | 8 | Removed, some replaced by FS 508-128's |
| Canyon, TX | 125 | 1 | Inactive |
| Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, NJ | 125 | 31 | Removed, most replaced with T-128s, only 2 remain |
| Seaside Park, NJ | 125 | 1 | Active as Fire Siren, Ex-Oyster Creek N.G.S. |
| Beach Haven, NJ | 125 | 1 | Inactive, former Coast Guard siren |
| Quinton, NJ | 125 | 1 | Removed, replaced by T-121, Was a part of Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was Skirted |
| Salem, NJ | 125 | 1 | Removed, replaced by T-121, Was a part of Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was Skirted |
| Alpha, NJ | 125 | 1 | Removed, placed near Rt. 80 and was a warning siren for Merrill Creek Reservoir |
| Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, MA | 125's | Unknown | Removed, were mentioned in an A.C.A. Demonstration Tape |
| Clydach, Wales U.K. | 125 | 1 | Removed, only cyclone in the entire European continent, possibly scrapped |
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