ACA Cyclone
The ACA Cyclone was an outdoor warning siren manufactured between 1968 and 2007 by Alerting Communicators of America. It is an omnidirectional, dual-tone siren originally intended for civil defense warning purposes.
History
The Cyclone was designed in 1968 by Jim Biersach. The first version, the Cyclone 120, used a 40-horsepower motor and produced a sound output of 120 dB at a distance of 100 ft.
In 1980, the Cyclone was redesigned and renamed the Cyclone 125. It received a new rotor–stator assembly and a 50-horsepower motor, increasing the sound output to 125 dB at 100 feet (30 meters).
Technical information
| Years | Type | Motor HP | Rotor/Stator interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–1970 | Cyclone 120 | 40 HP | 8-12 port | a stator with angled bottom-row ports |
| 1970–1980 | Cyclone 120 | 50 HP | 8-12 port | stator intake has large air valve beneath; active examples include Toluca, Illinois, and New Richmond, Minnesota |
| 1980–2007 | Cyclone 125 | 50 HP | 8-12 port | parallel stator enabled an five-fold increased the decibel rating over previous model |
Cities with Cyclone sirens
Carrollton, Missouri Cyclone 120
Bensenville, Illinois 3 Cyclone 125s
Amarillo, Texas Cyclone 125
Williams Bay, Wisconsin Cyclone 125 (Inactive)
Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
Nekoosa, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
Park Falls, Wisconsin 2 Cyclone 125s
Howards Grove, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
Kiel, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
Campbellsport, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
La Farge, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
Somerset, Wisconsin Cyclone 125
Toluca, Illinois Cyclone 120
Orangeburg, South Carolina Cyclone 125
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Cyclone 125
Zions View, Pennsylvania Cyclone 125 (Inactive)
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania Cyclone 125 (Inactive)
Eldon, Missouri Cyclone 120
New Richland, Minnesota Cyclone 120