ACA Cyclone
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The ACA Cyclone is an electro-mechanical, omnidirectional, dual-tone outdoor warning siren produced from 1968 to 2007 by Alerting Communicators of America (ACA). Originally intended for civil defense purposes, early versions of the Cyclone are rated at 120 dB from 100 ft, and later models are rated at 125 dB.
History
[edit]The ACA Cyclone was designed by James E. Biersach of Alerting Communicators of America and presented at a Civil Defense convention in November 1968. It was originally rated at 120 dB at 100 feet, but was eventually redesigned to the point of reaching 125 dB at 100 feet. It utilizes a 40 HP motor (120) or 50 HP motor (125) due to the drag-heavy rotor design. The rotor consists of a "double intake" design, which is believed to have been inspired by Federal's 500 SH-TT siren rotor.
The first version, the 1968 Cyclone 120, had both rows of ports angled downwards. Like some of the other 1968 ACA siren designs, it was changed shortly after to improve performance. These improvements included a new, simple intake, and most notably the top row of ports being straightened out, as to direct the low tone outwards for maximum range while projecting the high tone downwards to the immediate area. At some point afterwards we also saw the use of the long, curved intake as seen on their 3 signal sirens. This allowed for an optional coding damper to be added, which produced a pulsating "local code" tone.[1]
In 1979, ACA was experimenting with the design of the Cyclone 120 to try and get the best performance possible. This included a slightly re-designed top cover, and a ring placed around the bottom of the stator to direct the sound outwards more smoothly. In 1980, this design was scrapped, and ACA unveiled the Cyclone 125, which came fitted with a new intake, a sound dispersion cone in the intake, and most notably a parallel stator, projecting both the high tone and low tone outwards. This was further assisted by a lip or "ring" added to the top cover of the siren. At this time, ACA unveiled the Penetrator-50, a 135 dB rotating siren which replaced the Hurricane 130. The P-50 reused the rotor and stator of the Cyclone 120, and was produced alongside the Cyclone 125 until the early 2000s when both sirens were discontinued in favor of more modern sirens.[1]
Technical information
[edit]| Years | Type | Motor HP | Rotor/Stator interval | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1968–1970 | Cyclone 120 | 40 HP | 8-12 port | Stator with angled bottom-row ports |
| 1970–1980 | Cyclone 120 | 40, 50 HP | 8-12 port | Stator with angled bottom-row ports, larger intake. Allowed for a 3-signal coding mechanism |
| 1980-1995 | Cyclone 125 | 50 HP | 8-12 port | Parallel stator, Redesigned Intake, later in 1990's Skirted Option was available using Banshee bottom Skirt |
| 1995-2007 | OM-125-AC / C-125-AC | 50 HP | 8-12 port | Parallel Stator, Redesigned Intake, Skirted versions now using OM-120 Bottom skirts |
| Town | Type | Amount | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hereford, TX | 125 | 7 | Active |
| Bunceton, MO | 120 | 1 | Removed, Replaced by 2T22 |
| Carrollton, MO | 120 | 1 | Active |
| Cheyenne, WY | 120 | 4 | Removed, some units were 50HP Powered. Replaced by 2001's |
| Toluca, IL | 120 | 1 | Removed; replaced by 2 14Vs. |
| New Richland, MN | 120 | 1 | Removed, Replaced by Eclipse-8 after it was struck by lightning, sold on auction |
| Eldon, MO | 120 | 1 | Inactive |
| Nekoosa, WI | 125 | 1 | Inactive, Motor died out |
| Philadelphia, PA | 125 | 1 | Active, Philadelphia Gas Works siren |
| Harrisburg, PA | 125 | 60 | Removed. Three Mile Island Nuclear, two units remain inactive. |
| Gore, OK | 125 | 1 | Inactive. Ex-Sequoyah Fuels |
| Newkirk, OK | 125 | 1 | Active. Reverse wired |
| Boynton, OK | 125 | 1 | Active |
| Bensenville, IL | 125 | 3 | Active |
| Contra Costa County, CA | 125 | 9 | Active, most used for Chevron Richmond Refinery |
| Orangeburg, SC | 125 | 3 | Active. SI Group sirens |
| Williams Bay, WI | 125 | 1 | Inactive |
| Park Falls, WI | 125 | 2 | Active |
| Howards Grove, WI | 125 | 1 | Active |
| Kiel, WI | 125 | 2 | Active, one was replaced by ASC AT-121 |
| Campbellsport, WI | 125 | 1 | Active |
| La Farge, WI | 125 | 1 | Active |
| Somerset, WI | 125 | 1 | Active, optional 3-signal coding damper equipped |
| Waupun, WI | 125 | 3 | Removed, replaced by Federal Signal 508-128's |
| Cedarburg, WI | 125 | 5 | Removed, replaced by T-121's |
| Columbus, NE | 125 | 3 | Removed |
| Two Rivers, NE | 125 | 1 | Removed, replaced by T-128. Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant |
| Two Creeks, WI | 125 | 1 | Removed, originally replaced an ACA Hurricane, was replaced by T-128. Kewaunee Nuclear Power Plant |
| Mequon, WI | 125 | 6 | Removed, replaced by T-135's |
| Amarillo, TX | 125 | 8 | Removed, some replaced by FS 508-128's |
| Canyon, TX | 125 | 1 | Inactive |
| Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station, NJ[2] | 125 | 31 | All but one were removed, and all were replaced with ASC T-128s in 2013 after many of the sirens failed to sound for a warning during Superstorm Sandy[3]. Only 1 remains located in Seaside Park, NJ.[2] |
| Seaside Park, NJ[2] | 125 | 1 | Unknown status[2]; was used as a siren for the Oyster Creek Nuclear Generating Station until it was replaced in 2005 (date is unconfirmed) with an ASC T-121 and then an ASC T-128[2][3] in 2013. Control of the ACA Cyclone 125 was reportedly given to Seaside Park and remains there today. |
| Beach Haven, NJ[4] | 125 | 1 | Disconnected, former Coast Guard siren[2] |
| Alpha, NJ[5] | 125 | 1 | Removed in mid to late July 2007. Installed between 1992 and 1997 and placed near the ramp between Rt. 78 and Snydersville Rd.[6] Used and owned by Merrill Creek Reservoir for emergencies. |
| Quinton, NJ[7] | 125 | 1 | Removed and replaced by ASC T-121 in 2006. Was a part of the Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was skirted.[2] |
| Salem, NJ[7] | 125 | 2 | Both were removed and replaced by ASC T-121 in 2006. Was a part of the Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was skirted.[2] |
| Bridgeton, NJ[7] | 125 | 1 | Removed and replaced by ASC T-121 in 2006. Was a part of the Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was skirted.[2] |
| Lower Alloways Creek, NJ[7] | 125 | 1 | Removed and replaced by ASC T-121 in 2006. Was a part of the Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was skirted.[2] |
| Pennsville, NJ[7] | 125 | 1 | Removed and replaced by ASC T-121 in 2006. Was a part of the Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was skirted.[2] |
| New Castle, DE[7] | 125 | 1 | Removed and replaced by ASC T-121 in 2006. Was a part of the Hope Creek Nuclear Power Plant and was skirted.[2] |
| Maine Yankee Nuclear Power Plant, MA[1] | 125's | Unknown | Removed, were mentioned in an A.C.A. Demonstration Tape[1] |
| Clydach, Wales U.K. | 125 | 1 | Removed, only cyclone in the entire European continent, possibly scrapped. Was used in the Clydach Refinery plant as an early warning siren or a chemical spill siren, specifics are not known. The siren ran on a 50hz power source. |
| Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | 120 Coded | 3 According to very old documents and conversations | Removed, was used in the gulf war in 1991. Sounded pulse during attacks. Approximate locations unknown. Date installed unknown, remains to be the second known coded ACA Cyclone 125 in another country other than the United States of America. |
| Taiwan | 125 modified | 26 confirmed | Part of the Early Warning System in Taiwan used to warn of the possible Chinese invasion, specifics are unknown. But seems to be that they have an 8 port small cyclone and a standard 8/12 port cyclone, usually mounted in pairs or with ECN Sirens. |
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "Alerting Communicators of America - 1979". YouTube. 21 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "New Jersey Statewide Siren Map 2.0 - 39.785".
- ^ a b Piniat, Elaine; src="https://patch.com/img/cdn/assets/layout/badges/verified-patch-staff.svg"/>, Patch Staff<img alt="Verified Patch Staff Badge" class="styles_Badge__PNwMX" (2013-02-26). "Q&A: NRC Responds to Senator's Oyster Creek Concerns After Sandy". Lacey, NJ Patch. Retrieved 2025-11-08.
- ^ "New Jersey Statewide Siren Map 2.0 - 39.553".
- ^ J. A. Seidel (2004). Alpha, NJ. The Siren Archive. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
- ^ "New Jersey Statewide Siren Map". Google My Maps. Retrieved 2025-04-13.
- ^ a b c d e f Powell, D. R. (1998). "Request for Approval of Changes to the Nuclear Business Unit (NBU) Emergency Plan Salem and Hope Creek Generating Stations Docket Nos. 50-272, 50-311 and 50-354" (PDF). www.nrc.gov. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 3, 2025. Retrieved April 12, 2025.
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