Federal Signal 12 volt Vibratone Model 33

167

Member
May 27, 2010
324
Memphis, TN
Need wiring instructions. 2 wires coming out of the back of horn. Need to know if its hot and ground or hot, hot and grounds to the horn chassis.

Thanks.
 

Skulldigger

Member
Aug 23, 2015
1,739
Georgia / USA
If you have a black and white wire, they are positive (b) and ground (w). this is a vibrating diaphragm.

 

167

Member
May 27, 2010
324
Memphis, TN
Maybe I'm calling it the wrong thing, but this thing is old. It's not any of their current stuff.

Both wires are black. That's why I was wondering if it ground to the horn itself and the wires just closed a positive circuit like when wiring the horn function on a siren.
 

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Jun 18, 2013
3,709
PA
You would figure if it was AC you would have 3 wires coming off of it..

Zooming in on the tag it reads 12V which I am assuming... DC.
reversing polarity should make the motor spin in a reverse direction.

If the horn is grounded to itself you could get a meter out and test for continuity..
whichever wire shows you a reading is ground.
 

167

Member
May 27, 2010
324
Memphis, TN
You would figure if it was AC you would have 3 wires coming off of it..

Zooming in on the tag it reads 12V which I am assuming... DC.
reversing polarity should make the motor spin in a reverse direction.

If the horn is grounded to itself you could get a meter out and test for continuity..
whichever wire shows you a reading is ground.
It is 12volt DC. I'll try what you suggested.

This is a vibrating diaphragm mechanism. No motor.
Know how to wire it?

I tried it last night as 1 hot and 1 ground for a quarter second on a programmer that I have. It sounded , but immediately blew the fuse.
 
Jun 18, 2013
3,709
PA
So like a voice coil on a speaker? I'm not sure how a vibrating diaphragm works.

If its a voice coil you'll need an amp to drive it.. like a siren.

I figured it was a mechanical siren
 

Phillyrube

Member
May 21, 2010
1,272
Flatistan
Older AC used 2 wires. The vibratones were the horns they used to use in school to announce end of periods.
Maybe try 12 volts and then the ultimate smoke test with 115?
 
Jun 18, 2013
3,709
PA
You might want to reach out to Federal on this @167 to confirm if its AC or DC powered.
 

cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
@167
What is the name tag saying?
I can see voltage: 12 but not exactly cycles: ? and amps: ?

There is also a sticker that give a hint that the horn is UL-listed.

To me the stamping at the cycles look like AC and the UL sticker tells me that this is a horn for Alternating Current (AC) and not Direct Current (DC).

Michael
 

167

Member
May 27, 2010
324
Memphis, TN
So I supplied it with a more substantial 12 volt source. It basically “pops” the same way that a siren speaker does when you out 12volts to it, but that’s it.
 

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cmb56

Member
May 22, 2010
746
Norrköping, Sweden
@167
The cycles says 60 that mean that it is 60Hz and that also mean that the horn is AC.
The Voltage is 12V but NOT DC (Direct Current) but AC (Alternating Current) with the frequency 60Hz.
DC can not have any frequency because it is as the name says Direct Current.

You must find a converter for 115VAC to 12VAC that gives out more than 4,5Amps (54Watt).

Michael
 
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Jun 18, 2013
3,709
PA
See if you can locate some of the old industrial bell relay systems.. When upgrading old buildings we find them regularly.. most are 24v AC but I have seen some 12 and 14 volts AC.
 

167

Member
May 27, 2010
324
Memphis, TN
@167
The cycles says 60 that mean that it is 60Hz and that also mean that the horn is AC.
The Voltage is 12V but NOT DC (Direct Current) but AC (Alternating Current) with the frequency 60Hz.
DC can not have any frequency because it is as the name says Direct Current.

You must find a converter for 115VAC to 12VAC that gives out more than 4,5Amps (54Watt).

Michael
Curses.
 

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