Louder than a PowerHorn

[jediagh]

I was doing some testing in terms of the "loudness" in my home with the 4 power horns and the SC1200 (on mute) and while the horns are loud I don't think they are that loud.  Mind you I'm going based on what I hear (no actual equipment to measure the loudness).  But it's not as painful as say being on a rifle range (have been to several) and having an AK-47 or AR-15 rifle being shot near you.  Those are freaking loud and it's a painful loudness if you hear too many of the rounds going off close together.  It's that level of loudness (typically 140 db) that I am looking for.

Here is a DB chart BTW for comparison purposes.


So since the powerhorns are 110db they just won't do in terms of loudness that I am looking for.  Adding more won't "increase" the overall DB in the house.  So that has me thinking I'm going to need a louder siren.  Which in turns means how am I going to get the SC1200 to control it.

Ideas?

Perhaps if the siren can be plugged into a wall outlet I would use one of those applicance modules and set it to the same channel as the security lights.  So when the lights go on/off so does the siren.

Question.  What is the actual series of events that occur when you trip the alarm.  I have never had the alarm trip for more than 2 cycles of the power horns.  Do the lights (scurity ones) stay on after a while of turning off/on or do they just tuirn off? 

[Brian H]

Are the Powerhorns new?
The older ones where measurably louder.

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=1k7sk66r4lgsr7eat23281t3a4&topic=22928.90

Also if they are later revision ones. They may start then stop then start again on an alarm.
The SC1200 sends the HouseCode/Unit Code &House Code/Unit Code+1 On
The the sequence again with an Off.

Panic Alarm from KR32A:
R: B1 - 4:28:40 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:40 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:41 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:43 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:43 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:44 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:45 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:46 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:46 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:47 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:48 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:48 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:49 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:49 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:50 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:51 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:51 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:52 PM 2/28/2011

[Brian H]

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=a7e8rghplsdniorosnjku24580&topic=21998.0

[orcusomega]

I am not an expert, but this seems to work for me...

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=23526.msg134104#msg134104

I am working on one that will use a standard appliance module, too...

[jediagh]

Are the Powerhorns new?

I bought them from x10.com in JUN 2011.  I don't have the code on the back of them with me but do recall seeing an "11" on them.

Also if they are later revision ones. They may start then stop then start again on an alarm.
The SC1200 sends the HouseCode/Unit Code &House Code/Unit Code+1 On
The the sequence again with an Off.

Panic Alarm from KR32A:
R: B1 - 4:28:40 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:40 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:41 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:43 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:43 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:44 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:45 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:46 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:46 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:47 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:48 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:48 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:49 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:49 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:50 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:51 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:51 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:52 PM 2/28/2011

So if I'm reading the above correct.
When the SC1200 alarm is triggered for the next 12 secs the security lights will blink on/off (3 times) and the power horns will come on/off (3 times) as well?  After 12 seconds the system does what?  Do the lights continue to flash, do the horns continue to sound off? 

[jediagh]

I am not an expert, but this seems to work for me...

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?topic=23526.msg134104#msg134104

I am working on one that will use a standard appliance module, too...

I did see that thread and do like the concept but the siren is only 102db which is "quieter" than the power horns at 110db.  Looking online it seems that you can get a 130 to 140 db siren intended for car alarms.  Will have to wire something up for those however as they look like this:


Guess you would need a AC to DC transformer say 120AC in to 12V DC out and hook up the wires and boom! (NOISE).
Then figure you connect the transformer to an applicance module and just turn it on when the alarm trips.

Also found some 130db personal alarms like these:


Might be worth looking into how they pack such a small "horn" into this device.

[Brian H]

We are talking about the PH508 Large Powerhorn and not the SH10A Small Powerhorn?

No I stopped the alarm after that time. I believe it goes for up to four minutes.

The Powerhorns do not instantly sound. They are triggered by a one second cycle of On, Off commands or All Lights On, All Units Off commands. To its address on the power line.
Takes about four seconds to trigger a Powerhorn. After the cycle of commands stops. They continue to sound for about four seconds.

A single On or Off will not trigger it. Except for the ones where X10 tried to make them work better with the RS 49-1000MC and SC1200A consoles a few years ago. They seem to sound with arming the consoles.

Remember the Appliance Module will react to the lights going On and Off when the system is armed. Thus sounding the siren each time the system is armed.

[JMac]

I used the mod that Brian H. gave the link for (the DWP posting).  It drives a power supply and an ELK-150 Siren, rated at 118dB @ 1 meter, 14 Vdc.  Guaranteed to alert the neighborhood, if the siren is in the right location.  Not too difficult to assemble and works very well.

[Brian H]

The earlier PH508 Powerhorns. Before X10 redesigned them. Had a whole area on the circuit board that was not stuffed with parts.
It was where an external relay output option was to be installed.
There was a modification article on how to add the parts and get an external relay closure when the PH508 was triggered.
The new ones are not as loud as the older ones.

[tom j]

Are the Powerhorns new?
The older ones where measurably louder.

http://forums.x10.com/index.php?PHPSESSID=1k7sk66r4lgsr7eat23281t3a4&topic=22928.90

Also if they are later revision ones. They may start then stop then start again on an alarm.
The SC1200 sends the HouseCode/Unit Code &House Code/Unit Code+1 On
The the sequence again with an Off.

Panic Alarm from KR32A:
R: B1 - 4:28:40 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:40 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:41 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:43 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:43 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:44 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:45 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:46 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:46 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:47 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:48 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:48 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:49 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:49 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOn - 4:28:50 PM 2/28/2011
R: B1 - 4:28:51 PM 2/28/2011
R: B2 - 4:28:51 PM 2/28/2011
R: BOff - 4:28:52 PM 2/28/2011

Say Brian are the newer power horns really not as loud as the older ones I was going to pick up a few as backups. Thanks

Tom j.

[Brian H]

I can hear the difference between an older and newer version PH508. The old ones are louder.
My rough voltage readings in the link in your last quote. Show the difference in voltage. I don't have a sound meter to get the DB differences.