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Vey198885
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AL-12000

Thu Oct 20, 2016 7:26 pm

Hey guys, I was browsing the interwebs and came across a siren I have never seen before; the AL-12000.

I did some research, and found that Oak Ridge, TN used to have a system full of them, but were disconnected/removed 5-ish years ago.
This is the only place these were installed, from what I can tell.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OETTfd73SYE
A 14(!) year old recording of one at the Oak Ridge City Centre. Replaced by T-128.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeXej5uHxfo
A recording 4 years ago of one at TN-95 Oak Ridge Tpk, has been replaced.

What I want to know is why they were only installed in Oak Ridge.

Were there more? Were they not popular? And if so why?

Thanks

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Chem_Boffin_6589
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Re: AL-12000

Thu Oct 20, 2016 7:29 pm

Made by ACA. I remember this being documented on youtube some time ago... (also the controls are typical ACA kit, so is the mounting bracket). That's all I know. Oh, and the title of the last video shows this as well. Oops.
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Vey198885
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Re: AL-12000

Thu Oct 20, 2016 7:34 pm

Chem_Boffin_6589 wrote:Made by ACA. I remember this being documented on youtube some time ago... (also the controls are typical ACA kit, so is the mounting bracket). That's all I know. Oh, and the title of the last video shows this as well. Oops.
I thought so. Sounded like an ACA Controller

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4J25
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Re: AL-12000

Thu Oct 20, 2016 9:06 pm

Yes, these are ACA Alertronic AL-12000's. These, along with AL-6000R's were installed in and around the various sites in Oak Ridge. The use old ACA analog controllers. I have seen them, and at least 1-2 AL-12000's remain active, while a large portion of 6000R's remain active.

As for why they were only installed in Oak Ridge, most likely because they were a very early model, and the next time Alertronic sirens were installed they had updated to the next AL omnidirectional series we all know.
Christian Bricking, living in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area.
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DJ2226
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Re: AL-12000

Fri Oct 21, 2016 3:31 am

The Oak Ridge area as a whole had at least 19 of these omnidirectional Alertronics, 52 total. They were basically early forms of the AL-6000 where each speaker is tied to a single 100 watt driver. The later models that are more abundant have 2 drivers per horn, so they only require 12 speakers as opposed to the 24 these had. Surprisingly for how old they were they did have two way capabilities. This neat PDF detailed results of a test conducted in 2000. They took good care of them from the looks of it.
http://www.osti.gov/scitech/servlets/purl/782768

The active Alertronic's are located at the K-25 plant. The plant itself contained 4 of these beasts and an old building mounted Model 7. The 7 and 3 of the 12000's were taken out of service, while 1 remained along with the 15 6000R's that covered the plant's 2 mile EPZ. They still test them on the first Wednesday of the month at around 11:00 AM.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrCITZepzjc

It appears that they never upgraded these to newer Tempest and I-Force sirens because of the facility being defunct. The ones at the city of Oak Ridge and the Y-12 plant were replaced by T-121s and T-135AC/DCs, while the ones at the lab, more than likely 6000Rs, where replaced by what appears 3 T-135s and the lab's own system of I-Forces.

If I'm not mistaken the last standing diffusion building left there is K-27, and it's supposed to come down in the near future. Eventually this area will make way for new industries. The question at this point is what will come of the sirens once the project is completed.
Proud owner of a Model 1.
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4J25
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Re: AL-12000

Fri Oct 21, 2016 3:49 am

I have tried to contact the various plants about their sirens, and believe me, it is a trip through phone number after phone number! I everntually got word that the sirens that have already been taken down will not be given out, or sold if I remember correctly. The lab sirens were indeed 6000R's, and two of which appear to not have been replaced. A recording of these sirens is planned in the near future, it's just a choice between 12000 or 6000R...
Christian Bricking, living in the Cincinnati Metropolitan Area.
Owner of a WPS-2804, Model L, and B9.
Certified Skywarn spotter since April 5, 2016.
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Vey198885
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Re: AL-12000

Fri Oct 21, 2016 6:46 am

4J25 wrote:I have tried to contact the various plants about their sirens, and believe me, it is a trip through phone number after phone number! I everntually got word that the sirens that have already been taken down will not be given out, or sold if I remember correctly. The lab sirens were indeed 6000R's, and two of which appear to not have been replaced. A recording of these sirens is planned in the near future, it's just a choice between 12000 or 6000R...
Thanks for the info - I'd take the 12000, seeming we haven't had a recording in years

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CarolinaHurricane20
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Re: AL-12000

Sun Jul 12, 2020 2:20 pm

So guys, the siren you have all been talking about is the AL-7200. The AL-7200 was eight speakers around and three tall, for a total of twenty-four speakers. Each speaker was likely connected to two or four 100-watt drivers for a total of either 4800 or 9600 watts. Now the AL-12000, was six speakers around and five tall, for a total of thirty speakers. Each speaker was connected to four 100-watt drivers for a total of 12000-watts. These two sirens appear to have been very short-lived, as only a few AL-7200s have been located in Oak Ridge, TN with no AL-12000s being documented

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