Page 2 of 6

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 1:40 am
by Stormsetter4
This isn't very surprising to me as the NRC allows alternate methods of warning other than outdoor sirens. Let's do some quick math.
109 sirens in the VC Summer EPZ
109 x 4 batteries at each siren site
= 436 batteries
If you figure about $100 a battery, that's $43,600 every 3 years or so to replace the batteries, plus probably another $50,000 in labor costs to change them out. Add yearly maintenance to the system and then parts and you're likely looking at well over $200,000 every 3 years to maintain the system. From a business standpoint, I'm sure the IPAWS system is substantially cheaper than this since the framework is already there, and would arguably be more effective than the siren warning system by itself. However, I believe in a multi faceted warning system, so from that standpoint this isn't the greatest of ideas. I'm sure that the sirens will likely be offered to the local municipalities and counties surrounding the plant, however, so this likely isn't the end of the entire system, granted the agencies that they are offered to decide to maintain them.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:48 am
by OnlineRecords0
Sorry if I’m going off topic, but what type of sirens are they?

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:59 am
by TrainsAndSirens1
Orange wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:48 am
Sorry if I’m going off topic, but what type of sirens are they?
2001-SRNBs, 2001-130s, and 3 Modulators.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 1:59 pm
by 07VFDInLCD
Oh, so they're not ancient sirens...well, that makes decommissioning them even more not-smart. Hopefully they get reused by the county or city...

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:38 pm
by Ohio_Man
Yeah, I can understand decommissioning older sirens like thunderbolts since they require oil and belt changes, but something as new as modulators and 2001's is pretty silly. Of course this is the nuclear industry which has a history of sillyness. There's a video on YouTube of the first test of the zimmer sirens (the first 1212 prototype installed) and instead of attack or alert it did the chimes.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:51 pm
by nvanw27
I think they originally wanted to test the chimes for that test.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:08 pm
by DRDOG101
TrainsAndSirens1 wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:59 am
Orange wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:48 am
Sorry if I’m going off topic, but what type of sirens are they?
2001-SRNBs, 2001-130s, and 3 Modulators.
Then what is their excuse? those are like the easiest sirens to maintain! and they are also very reliable.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:09 pm
by Stormsetter4
Ohio_Man wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 5:38 pm
Yeah, I can understand decommissioning older sirens like thunderbolts since they require oil and belt changes, but something as new as modulators and 2001's is pretty silly. Of course this is the nuclear industry which has a history of sillyness. There's a video on YouTube of the first test of the zimmer sirens (the first 1212 prototype installed) and instead of attack or alert it did the chimes.
Except that Thunderbolts aren't that bad to maintain- they don't require a battery changeout every 3 to 4 years to continue to operate. A fully battery backed siren system is a maintenance hog. They're more susceptible to lightning in my experience as well.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:10 pm
by Stormsetter4
DRDOG101 wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:08 pm
TrainsAndSirens1 wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:59 am
Orange wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:48 am
Sorry if I’m going off topic, but what type of sirens are they?
2001-SRNBs, 2001-130s, and 3 Modulators.
Then what is their excuse? those are like the easiest sirens to maintain! and they are also very reliable.
The cost and the effectiveness of the system, as I clearly outlined in my above replies.

Re: VC Summer Nuclear is Decommissioning their sirens

Posted: Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:23 pm
by DRDOG101
Stormsetter4 wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:10 pm
DRDOG101 wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 7:08 pm
TrainsAndSirens1 wrote:
Wed Dec 16, 2020 3:59 am


2001-SRNBs, 2001-130s, and 3 Modulators.
Then what is their excuse? those are like the easiest sirens to maintain! and they are also very reliable.
The cost and the effectiveness of the system, as I clearly outlined in my above replies.
Pardon me, only saw that after I posted, but how would labor be that expensive, and I think Federal Signal devices are very effective.