Japanese Warning Siren

[500AT]

Ever want to use a siren to let you know it's lunch time? In Japan, by the ocean this is a common occurrence, and it's a great way to test the sirens to see if they work or not.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bBR3NigaxCM

[AllSafe]

Sounds like a low-tone Model 5 or 7. It seems the power grid is divided in Japan. In the East, it's 100V 50Hz, in the West it's 110V 60Hz.

[2001srnfan]

It sounds like the sirens in Israel.

[Daniel]

It could be one of those Toshiba sirens also.

[Robert Gift]

It seems the power grid is divided in Japan. In the East, it's 100V 50Hz, in the West it's 110V 60Hz.

Is this true??
I'd think they'd have it ALL standardized by now, if not long ago.
China is 220 V 50 Hz.

Do I recall correctly the NYC had some areas on 110 VDC into the early 60s?

Thank you,

[Daniel]

The story I'd heard was that when Japan began to electrify in the late 1800's, they bought American-made generators for their power plant that produced a 60 Hz. frequency. Later, when putting in electric lines in another part of the country, they bought generators from Germany that produced 50 Hz. I don't know whether the dividing line follows prefecture (province) boundaries, but they have never bothered to change it. The voltage thoughout Japan, though, is 100 volts.