Latest toys for my visibar

[Thomas1234]

took a while to find these, but i really like the wide FS speaker config.
Came also with the Federal signal Interceptor, going to post the restoration right here..wish me luck!

 

[kerry4951]

A good paint match on those Federal sirens is Krylon Satin Pebble in the spray can. I did my PA15 Director and it was a dang near perfect match. Some of the Interceptors had a speckled finish but if you want just a solid color the satin pebble is very close.

 

[Thomas1234]

Do i need a additional amplifier, to place between the Interceptor and the siren? Or is the Interceptor an amp by itself? Any help appreciated

 

[cmb56]

The PA-20A (I think it is a PA-20A and not a PA-20), is the siren that generates the sounds and amplify the power to the speaker.

The speaker is only a speaker and not a siren.

The PA-20A is rated 58 Watt (some specifications says 75 Watt) and the speaker is 58 Watt/11 Ohm.

The driver in the speaker is most probably an Atlas-Sound SD-70 and that driver is rated 58 Watt/11 Ohm.

You only need to put power to the siren amplifier and connect the speaker to the output and you hopefully get sound.

Michael

 

[Thomas1234]

and you hopefully get sound.

Thanks for the help Michael!

sadly i only get some very soft "ticking" sound when i put the PA-20A to yelp...the speaker works, i check with my stereo.

 

[cmb56]

I assume that our PA-20/20A expert, Wailer, will cut in and give you some connection and repair advices.

Michael

 

[Thomas1234]

With some further inspection, i noticed the PA is actually working, but very very soft, could barley hear the siren, (its even softer then the repeating "click" sound.)

Can i use the gain control to adjust the volume, or is it only used for the Radio and Mic?, it does not seem to work for the siren.

 

[kerry4951]

The volume control is only for the PA/Radio function. There is no way to louden or soften the siren tones.

 

[Maxim2Eng]

Could be a blown speaker driver or a grounded wire to the speaker. Check to make sure the bare speaker wires do not touch each other or anything else.

 

[Skulldigger]

 

[Maxim2Eng]

Also check the wires inside the pin connector housing....

 

[Thomas1234]

 

[Thomas1234]

Still not working, sure the siren does not to be grounded?
i am now powering the PA with 12v DV, red and black wires. and i hear the siren at a 0,0001 decibel

 

[shues]

Consider using something other than a computer power supply to power your siren. Switching power supplies work well enough to drive halogen lights and such, but many of them seem to make power that some electronics just can't handle very well.

Using a linear power supply would be better. Using a charged automotive battery would probably be the best.

There is a wealth of knowledge here: https://elightbars.org/forums/threads/running-12v-dc-equipment-on-120v-ac-indoors.7483/

 

[Stampeed Valkyrie]

Shues makes a good point.. Try a battery or simply a jump pack to test.. just make sure it's properly fused!

 

[Thomas1234]

@Stampeed Valkyrie and @shues thanks for the help, i will try that out.

 

[Wailer]

A good paint match on those Federal sirens is Krylon Satin Pebble in the spray can. I did my PA15 Director and it was a dang near perfect match. Some of the Interceptors had a speckled finish but if you want just a solid color the satin pebble is very close.

The PA15 and PA15A typically had beige chassis covers, while the PA20 and PA20A had light grey covers with a white speckled finish.

 

[Thomas1234]

Anyone knows what type of alley light they would use and the Visibar sides? could it be a Hella fog light?

 

[u387962]

Look at the fuse holder on the bottom of the siren it looks like the cap and fuse are missing. There appears to be a piece of red wire in the fuse holder body so perhaps someone has modified the wiring.

 

[cmb56]

Anyone knows what type of alley light they would use and the Visibar sides? could it be a Hella fog light?

A very common manufacturer in the 70s for both takedown and alley lights was Carello.
It was used in both a round version as a rectangular version.

I do not know if Hella has been any common as alley light in the US.
The only department that I know of that used the Hella with dubble reflectors was LAPD.

Michael

 

[Thomas1234]

Now i'm thinking of adding some extra blue lights to this bar, i have found these (NOS) grille lights, for cheap..what do you guys think...did any police corps used it like this?

 

[cmb56]

Seems to be a pair of Federal GL1 made by IPF in Japan.
A little backdraft of IPF is the side mounted lamp holder that mask of the reflector.
These lamps could use either a halogen bulb or Federal’s special strobe tube with ba15s base.

Michael

 

[Thomas1234]

Do they have any value, collecting wise, and would this be from the same timestamp?

 

[cmb56]

Value?
I do not know. I only collect and do not care about value because I never sell anything.
They are from the 80s.
About the same time as the JetSonic came. The strobe tubes and power supplies was used in the JS.

Michael

 

[Thomas1234]

Hmm together with my R/B Jetsonic lightbar it would look also cool. guess for $25 its not a big risk..

 

[cmb56]

$25 including shipping and tax or only for the lights?
Regardless, that is OK for me and in any case they are NOS so compare of what a set of lights cost today.

Michael